St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-30

measure of his recent terror was the meas
ure 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 c!lange is in
evitable some day."
s'Why?" flow voice murmured; and
again came the mysterious illumination of
Olives eyes.
Because, Olive if for no ether reason
the years of my guardianship will soon
be at an end, he answered steadily, almost
sternly. He must face the future reso-
lutely, as befitted teacher of his fellows.
And afew seconds later his quick, nerv-
Gus step was echoing in the passage with
out.
An early summer vacation in Switzer-
land-when the glorious Alpine flora should
be at its lOv1liest-had seen the cherished
dream of years to Bernard Ralston, and at
last it was realized. a woman'S hand had
guided his steps thitherward. Olive Power
had persuaded him to lay aside his work
and make playtime of the sunny weather.
'sYou can finish your book on Vanity as
a Force in Human Affairs when you return,
and the critics will all say that the last chap
tiers are the brightest" she said, pleadingly.
And when she added slight involuntary
expression of her own eagerness for the
change, he surrendered. The triO-MiSS
Ralston, Bernard's sister and hOusekeeper,
was Olives chaperon-had now been from
England fortnight.
They had reached the Riffel and were
thus encamped under shadow of the ma
fif( n for rrr1.iot ion IF
epitfretS) Matterhorn itself. Here Olive
went into eestacies. To watch the sunrise
battle the rugged. furrOwed sides with
waves of liquid light was an occupation 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 company
including a couple of young Americans, who
swept the ordinarily reserved and cautious
student forward into participation in their
own reckless adventures by the sheer force
of enthusiasm. The three went off one
afternoon on quest for edelweiss. The
gloom was thickening in gorge and pass and
gray shadows were following the crimson
sunset glow on the huge crests aloft before
there was any sign of a return. The ladies
grew uneasy. Stories of accident and OF
awful peril were staples OF the converse
tiOnal bill of fare in the hotel salon and in
evitably 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 disheveled, but Bernard
RalSton was missing.
''We thought he was before u.s." eX-
planned Mark CroXford, the elder of the
brothers. 1--WE drifted apart among the
boulders and iceridgeS of a glacier-edge, and
we looked for him to rejoin us at the lower
end of the track. Not meeting him, we sup
posed he had hurried away homeward."
A sudden chill had gone to many 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.
Il hear steps behind" said the guide,
hating on the first stage of the journey and
prominently displaying his lamp.
why, it is Miss Poweri'' cried Mark
Croxford in establishment.
1t 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 Switzerland.
If he persisted would it not in sense be her
fault? Better that her own life should have
been sacrificed! To persuade the girl to
return was useless-only a loss of precious
minutes. With muttered growl of disap-
probation the guide was compelled to allow
her to proceed.
Hours were spent in vain pursuit.
Guide, is there any hope?" demanded
stalwart CorniShman, at last.
1of,, l., Il. T. -
tom of yonder chasm"-
His words were cut short. A cry, half
triumphant, half fearful, slipped over Olive
Powers bloodIess lips
Listen! hear a groan," she said.
A silence that might be felt prevailed.
1.-THE wind across the glacier, Miss" an
swered the leader in sulky despair. .'There
is nothing for it but to go back"
II will not,' the girl declared, ''until
you tell me whose voice that is. Hark! it
is no sound of wind!''
Again they listened. and again without
result.
Mark Croxford gently laid his hand on
Olives arm. believe me, you are mistaken,
Miss Power, he said; ''you do not suppose
that any one of us would give up this search
ii the least chance remained? But the guide
knows best''
And yet, as he uttered his melancholy re-
monStrance, there was sound from over
the neighboring ice-foe hard to credit to
even the most eerie of Swiss breezes.
'.Therel surely you hear it now?" the
girl said.
If only to make clear the girls folly to
herself, the quest was recommended.
The quick ear of love had not Numbered,
after all. This time chance CLEAN of the
guides lantern over jagged precipice-side
revealed a dark form huddled against an
inner ledge. 1t was Bernard Ralston, in
sensible from the effects of his perilous fall,
and proving that he still lived only by an
occasional groan.
Il beg pardon very humbly, Miss Power"
Mark Croxford whispered.
\
''And they tell me, Olive. that owe my
life to you," the convalescent said, wheeled
out on the broad mountain terrace of his
resting place. '.How shall 1 contrive to re-
pay you, I wonder. Do you know-nay
you cannot know-I had dream this
morning. After the doctor had left my
room I doZed, and it seemed to me that
that the dearest girl in the wide world
and surely the bravest-came to my side
and smoothed down the pillew-a nd-dare
| whisper the words?- caressed my fore
head. It was singular, was it not?"
Something in the poise of the averted
face awakened a swift suspicion-a keen
thrill of happiness.
SIT cannot be that-that it was not
dream?" heNqueried. '"Fhat my ward is
willing to be still dearer-to be my wife?"
The small palm was not withdrawn, the
lovely crimsoned face was swiftly and
momentarily upturned. as he had seen it
twice before, and this time look of inef-
fable content was mirrored thereupon.
eff you really desire SO to extend your
guardianship of your 'wayward ward.
mischievous accents answered. And Ber-