The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-12-11
4 TALE or THiR RED PIKE.

. been with us, We've had. such.
. scramble over Honisterf Crag,, an
, brought. back no end Of flowers 70
Gertrude. But one thing I must say
; that fellow Losford is jolly muH
though he doesn't look it. Just funk
girls, and nothing else. Will you Civ
me some tea, Mrs. Goodwin ?"
what nonsense you talk, Bob |!
cried his sister, conscious by some fem
mime instinct that her friends face wa
hotter than q moment before. "Yo,
are perfect mauvais enfant bursting
in like that. I wish Mr.. Losfofd would
teach you manners"
I'D like to see him try. It would
take u pluckier man than he is. Why
he wouldn't come within yard of tn.
edge, Mrs. Godwin?"
"He showed his usual good sense
Master Robert" was the lady's
tart reply: She had hef reasons
for looking favorably upon Waite,
Losford, Of Losford Court, Mon:
mouthshire, by nc means the least hon:
ored guest at Mr.. Godwin's lake villa.
And they were d very CHEEKY and pleas.
ant party-the pleasantest set, Ger
trude thought, that her mother had
ever got together, and Gertrude was d
young lady of decided tastes and some
what difficult to please. Even Bob
Narston, when he was not saying mala-
propos things, and appearing where he
was not wanted at inopportune mo-
ments, was as amusing as any other
Eton boy. Nevertheless, at this mo-
ment two people at least were ardently
longing to make his ears tingle.
"And what is the programme for to-
morrow, Mr.. Goodwin" resumed the
young gentleman, not whit daunted
by the unfavorvble reception of his last
remark. "Can we picnic at the Red
Pike? 1t would be jolly fun"
The host hummed and hawed; he
1 rather preferred an open-air entertain
ment at place accessible in an open
carriage. But if you have d home
among the mountains, up them you
must go. The climbing disease is in.
fictitious, and there is no evadlng it un.
til by permanent residence you be-
come proof against its attacks. Mr..
Goodwin would have to succumb sooner
or later.
yes, Bob," said Gertrude, suddenly
laying down the fan with which she
was playing, I'VE will go to Red Pike
| tomorrow"
And Bob, who thought that in his
own language. he bad rather put his
foot in it," was comforted, and knew
that to the Red Pike he would 60.
Gertrude's face, as she went up to
dress for dinner, was thoughtful. "He
showed his usual good sense" Mrs.
Goodwin had said, aud the words kept
ringing in her daughters ears until her
lips began to curl with scorn. If there
was one thing which Gertrude admired
it. was courage; was she beginning,
almost more than beginning. to like a
man who could be called coward even
by boy? It made her cheeks tingle
with shame and anger. Proud and
high spirited herself, good sense of
the kind Mrs. Goodwin meant was
not in high esteem with her. And, alas,
the insinuation chimed in with other
things. Walter Losford was hardly
one to please romantic girl at first
sight. Cold, sensible and wanting in
enthusiasm even in his ambition, try
ing nearly everything by the arguments
of reason with impartial severity, he
would have made q. just and not too
nerciful Judge. Living by rule OF
plumb, no wonder that he looked older
than his thirty years, or that he repel-
led chance acquaintance, who called
him q prig. Generally reticent, he
would sometimes tell the truth with
rude abruptness. Altogether his friends
said, little wanting in charity; too
practical, too matter-of-fact. And yet,
poor Gertrude! when she met him Mt
dinner. the hauteur she assumed melt
ed away, and she blushed and smiled at
his glance; for what is so fascinating as
the homage of one who seems utterly, |
almost contemptuously, careless of all
beside? If Walter had spoken that
evening he would have assuredlv gained
his object, and Mrs. Goodwin been
made q happy woman. -
The Red pike was red indeed in the
evening sunlight, every cliff that but
tressed its rugged top FURNISHED torud- |
diness, and yet the party fingered, re-
luctant to abandon the view of sea and |
land from Forth to Windermere that |
held them entranced. Tea was over
and the servants had started downward
with the baggage, yet the party, which
all day had wandered separately or in
pairs at their several wills, still sat to-
gether on the top. Bob was on the
move, skirmishing hither and thither
untiringlv.
II say, Gertrude, here's specimen
forsyou? Here's blue gentian grow
ing ON this cliff, and rare good climb
it will be to it," :.
The party fastened to the edge of the
cliff; IN Granny of the rock about
twelve feet down, grew'the flower Ger
trude had been long seeking to obtain.
A slight opening in the wall of the cliff
made it just feasible, if somewhat dan.
gerous, to reach it.
Robert, don't go too near!" cried
Mrs. Goodwin.
Gertrude turned with her face little
flushed to Losford. "Can you get it for
me, Mr.. Losford ?" she said gently, and
with something of appeal in her voice.
Not without rope" he answered
calmly; 1--WE will bring one up to-mor-
row.
ITO morrow" cried Gertrude, with
sudden heat, II want it now. Bob
would get it for me in a moment if
asked him, Mr.. Losford"
"Bob's head is perhapA, steadier than
mine," answered the other keeping at
q safe distance from the edge. He was-
in no way discomposed until, as he fin
isled, his eyes met, the. girls, full of
contempt and anger. Stung by the
look, he took hasty step toward the
edge of the cliff and bent down to make
the attempt. For moment he re-
manned in that position as if entranced,
scanning the depth below, sheer three