The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-08-30


you will not feel inclined to fret about
me-"
So he bent over her tenderly and
kissed her, and, looking at her for
moment with infinite love, he left her.
He spent a most successful month at st.
Moritz, working every day and earning
more than he had ever done before; but
as his wife wrote to him anxiously and
was, besides, according to her fathers
account, anything but strong or well,
he decided not to stay away from her
after the 9Th of September,
On the afternoon of the 4th, as ne
was in his room arranging matters for
an early start home the next morning,
there was a knock at the door and
Stanley came in. The two men, who
had not seen each other since the year
before, met with pleasure on both
sides, and Stanley, accepting the chair
Jeni offered him, sat down for long
chat on mountaineering matters. He
had only just come over from England,
where business had kept him later than
usual, and was eager to know the con-
dition of the snow and how many high
expeditions it would be safe to under
take so late in the year.
81 think at present you may do any
thing you like" was Jeni's favorable
answer.
''Ihen I'll engage you for as long as
this fine weather lasts, and we will see
if we cannot manage something alto
gether astonishing"
30, no, sir! not this year, | am sor-
ry to say, for | am going home again
tomorrow morning"
Perhaps Jeni was almost as disap-
pointed at having to say this as Stanley
was to hear it: for, Notwithstanding his
love for his wife and child, Jeni vas, as
he always had been, a keen mountain
eer; and the prospect of week ortwo's
work with such good waller and
climber as Stanley, and such a pleas
ant companion, too, was veY attrac-
tive to him. From Stanley there fol-
lowed long protestation. lie did not
care for the Engadine; he did not care
for his holiday; and, in fact he might
as well 90 straight back toEngland, he
said, since Jeni would not change his
mind and consent to stay.
''And, indeed, | would give the whole
thing up" ne concluded eff it wasn't
for another fellow who S out with me,
and with whom l haze promised to
make at least one or twp ascents. Look
here, Jeni, put off leaving just for
day, and take us up he Piz Bernina,
and [ won't plague yU to do anything
else, but will be eterlally grateful to
you"
"Up the Bernina! You never would
be as foolish as to stsrt with that for a
first ascent?"
II should not choose to, but I'm
determined to 90 up it this year, and
so is my friend Langley. He has got
into training already in the Tyrol, and
well, I'm never 50 much out of it,
you know"
Jeni looked at the wiry, muscular fig
ure of the speaker, and believed aim.
"Come, now, you won't refuse me
this" Stanley persuaded. I'm ready
to start to night; and instead of your
reaching your wife tomorrow evening,
why, it will only be the evening after;
for | suppose you will go down in the
diligence now you are a married man.
You'll do this to oblige an old friend,
am sure"
Eyes, will do it, if you think that
everything can be got ready and an
other guide found; for if your friend is
going we must have a second guide;
and them he added suddenly, "how
about your friend? Is he safe? l do
not like going up the Bernina with an
untried man"
"You may trust me that he is all
right. | am no fool to risk your life and
mine with fellow who does not know
what he is about Langley is a member
of the Alpine Club, and has this sum-
mer been up the Ortler Spitz and Monte
Cristallo"
81 trust to you, Mr.. Stanley"
And they fell to arranging details of
the expedition.
The Piz Bernina is the highest noun
tain in the district, but by no means the
most difficult to ascend, and Jeni, who
had once been up it in mid winter, tax
ing twenty-seven hours without any
rest over the expedition, thought lightly
of it, now that all the conditions were
favorable. After some discussion he
decided to leave the preparations to
Stanley, who thoroughly understood
such matters, as he was anxious to keep
a promise he had made long ago, and
visit that afternoon a cousin of his wife s
in the neighborhood. Stanley sugge sted
as second guide man called Hardt,
whom Langley had brought with him
from the Tyrol, and to this Jeni con-
sented.
81 sent on my ropes to Coire yester-
day." Jeni said. "Will you see that
Hardt brings sufficient and strong?"
Stanley promised to do this, and every
thing else, and Jeni having arranged to
call for him at one a, M, the two men
separated.
Jeni was vexed with himself, now the
whole thing was settled, for he disliked
having to telegraph to his wife, and he
disliked, too, having, for the first time
in his life, entrusted the preparations
to some one else; however, there was
no help for it now He went to the
telegraph Office and sent off the follow
ing telegram: "Sorry, but cannot come
till the 6:20 p. m. train on the 6th."
And then he dutifullv started to see
Christmas cousin, because he knew his
little wife would be sadly vexed if he
failed to do 80. He did not get back
before $3.50 p. m, when he threw him
self on his bed, and, with his useful but
acquired faculty of going to sleeD and