Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-08

10 dUU.
Two shining eyes were nlomentarily
up!ifted. Was the flash they gave one
Of indignation. Of scorn, or merely OF
confusion at betrayed secret Bernard
could not guess.
TIE nature of my employments can
make no difference whatever, In any
way thatI can imagine, to MIR. Harbury,"
she answered. Then-it seemed to Ber-
nard strange transition-"Mil i'll you for
give me for asking a favor" she went
swiftly on; II should like-oh, so much |!
to help in your work. Gould L not
copy out your notes or revise proofs
sometimes?"
What philosopher could have success
fully resisted the volunteered help Of
such amanuensis? Not Bernard Ralston.
1t was Summer, three months latter
than the day of this conversation. Olives
guardian was seeking his ward in her
own boudoir, with a gloom upon bis face
and depression ofsoul which dehed his
analysis. He had message to convey
and a proposal to informally submit
| which he had little doubt would be &C
cepted. Oswald Harbury, the young
owner of half Cleethorpe, had asked per-
mission to lay himself and his fortunes
at Olives feet. He loved her, he said;
he would do his best to make her happy.
"And believe that he will. He has
home to offer you, and is true-hearted,
| honorable gentleman. AS your guardian,
| Olive, l am bound to give my sanction to
SO fair and promising a suit. May bid
Mr.. Harbury to come and plead his own
cause?"
He had spoken hoarsely, and in
queer, far-otf kind of voice that he
hardly recognized as his own. 1t was
surely singular, and must testify to an
unsupported weakness of character, that
the prospect of separation from the
ward originally received with SO much
doubt and dread should thus make havoc
of his peace. He waited for the answer
ina suspense that was positively harass-
ing. At last it came.
mo, you may not" said Olive, unless,
indeed, you wish to get rid of me-to
send me away. And noteven then for l
cannot consent to marry man whom l
do not love-"
Send Olive away! Was not every pulse
in his body beating with fierce, unbid
den joy at the verdict she had given?
The measure of his recent terror was the
measure of his present relief.
THAT is fear which my ward-my
way ward ward!-never need harbor," he
said, with a slow, broad smile; "she has
brought too much sunshine into my
lonely life for me to wish to lose her
But change is inevitable some day."
"Why?" low voice murmured; and
again came the mysterious illumination
of Olives eyes.
Because, Olive-if for no other reason
the years of my guardian will soon be
at an end" he answered steadily, almost
sternly. He must face the future reso-
lutely, as befitted a teacher of his fellows.
And a few seconds later his quick,
nervous step was echoing in the passage
without.
An early Summer vacation in Switzer-
land-when the glorious Alpine fora
should be at its loveliest-had been the
cherished dream of years to Bernard Raj
ston, and at last it was realized. A
woman's hand had guided his steps
thitherward. Olive Power had pursuad-
ed him to lay aside his work and make
playtime of the sunny weather.
"You can finish your book on Vanity
as Force in Human Affairs when you
return, and the critics will all say that
the last chapters are the brightest" she
said, pleadingly. And when she added
a slight involuntary expression of her
own eagerness for the change, he sur
rendered. The trio-Miss Ralston, Ber-
nard's sister and housekeeper, was Olives
chaperon-had now been from England
a fortnight.
They had reached the Riffel and were
thus encamped under the shadow of the
majestic (grim and uncouth, for variation |
of epithets,) Matterhorn itself. Here
Olive went into ecstasies., To watch the |
sunrise battle the rugged, furrowed sides
with waves of liquid light was an occu-
patton of which she never tired. And
then there was the Corner Graf to visit, |
the Corner glacier to see.
At the hotel there was pleasant COM |
pany, including couple Of young Amer |
leans, who swept the ordinarily reserved
and cautious student forward into par |
ticipation in their reckless adventures |
by the sheer force of enthusiasm. The |
three went off one afternoon on quest |
for edelweiss. The gloom was thicken- |
ing in gorge and pass, and grey shadows
were following the crimson sunset glow
on the huge crests alOft before there was |
ally sign of return. The ladies grew
uneasy. Stories of accident and of awful |
peril were staples of the conversational |
bill of fare in the hotel salon aud newt |
ably exerted their influence on nervous |
minds. In this case the presentiment Of
evil was but too surely justified.
Two Of the venturesome explorers re- |
turned weary and dishevelled, but Ber-
nard Ralston was missing
ave thought he was before U.S." ex-
planned Mark Croxford, the elder Of the
brothers. ave drifted apart among the
boulders and ice-ridges of a glacier-eGge, |
and we looked for him to rejoin us at the |
lower end Of the track. Not meeting |
him We supposed he had hurried away
homeward"
A sudden chill had gone to many a |
heart in the little group of listeners. The
thought of precipices and of their hidden
and treacherous dangers was in every |
ones mind. A search expedition was
quickly organized and started.
II hear steps behind" said the guide,
hating on the first stage of the journey
and prominently displaying his lamp.
"Why," it is Miss POwerw cried Mark |
Croxford in establishment.
It was indeed Olive. With blanched |
cheeks and agonized eyes and dauntless
resolution, she insisted On accompanying
the seekers. 1t was at her request that |
Bernard Ralston had come to Switzer-
land. If he persisted would it not in |
a sense be her fault? Better that her |
own life ahOuld have been Sacrificad To