River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-08
A TALE OF THE RED PIKE.

Gertrude. But one thing / must say
that fellow Losford is jolly muff,
though he doesn't look it. just funk.
girls, and nothing else. Will you give
me some tea, Mrs. Goodwin? ?"
What nonsense you talk, Bob!"
cried his sister, conscious by some fem
mime instinct that her friends face was
| hotter than moment before. You
are perfect mauvais enfant bursting
in like that. I wish Mr.. Losford would
teach you manners"
I'D like to see him try. 1t would
take pluckier man than he is. Why,
he wouldn't come within a yard of the
edge, Mrs. Godwin?'
"He showed his usual good sense,
Master Robert" was the lady's
tart reply. She had her reasons
for looking favorably upon Walter
Losford, of Losford Court, Mon
lnouthshire, by no means the least hon
ored guest at Mr.. Godwin's lake villa.
And they were very CHEEKY and pleas
ant party-the pleasantest set, Ger
trude thought, that her mother had
ever got together, and Gertrude was a
young lady of decided tastes and some
what difficult to please. Even Bob
Marston, 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
Elton bow. Nevertheless, at this mo-
ment two people at least were ardently
longing to make his ears Jingle.
"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
rather preferred an open air entertain
ment at place accessible in an open
carriage. But if you have home
among the mountains, up them you
must go. The climbing disease is in
| fictitious, and there is no evadlng it I'M
! til by a 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, 1--WE 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 go.
Gertrude's face, as she went up to
/ dress for dinner, was thoughtful. He
showed his usual good sense" Mrs.
Goodwin had said, and 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
1 man who could be calleda coward even
/ by boy? 1t made her cheeks Jingle
with shame and anger. Proud and
high. spirited herself, good sense of
/ the kind Mrs. Goodwin meant was
not i'll high esteem with her. And, alas,
+ the insinuation chimed in with other
/ things. Walter Losford was hardly
one to please a romantic girl at first
/ sight Cold, sensible and wanting in
/ enthusiasm even in his ambition, try
4 ing nearly everything by the arguments
j of reason with impartial severity, he
/ would have made a Just and not too
merciful Judge. Living by rule of
/ plumb no wonder that he looked older
j than his thirty years, or that he repel
led chance acqualntances, who called
/ him 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 ut
/ 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 assuredly gained
his object, and Mrs. Goodwin been
/ made happy woman.
The Red pike was red indeed in the
evening sunlight, every cliff that but
tressed its rugged top FURNISHED to rud-
/ diness, and yet the party fingered, re-
Iuctant to abandon the view of sea and
L
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
untiringly.
II say, Gertrude, here's specimen
for you? 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 nearl" 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.
mot without a rope" he answered
calmly; eve will bring one up to-mor-
row"
10 WIFI
sudden heat, "I want it now. Bob
would get it for me in a moment if I
asked him, Mr.. Losford."
"Bob's head is perhaps, steadier than
mine" answered the other, keeping at
safe distance from the edge. He was
in no way discomposed until, as he fin
ished. 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 a moment he re-
NAMED in that position as if entranced,
scanning the depth below, sheer three
hundred feet, and then a green hedge,
and then, far beneath, paleblu Crum-
mock Water. With quick shudder
he passed his hands across his eyes and
recoiled, white to the lips.
II can't get it for you," he said hoarse-
ly, falling back, while the others looked
at one another in establishment
and quite right, too, Mr.. Losford ;
don't try any such foolhardiness, beg,
cried Mrs Goodwin, loudly. Loudly,
but not so that he failed to hear the
one word Coward" or to distinguish
the tone of contempt in which it fell
from her daughters lips as she turned
/ AWAY The next instant he was his old