The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-01-28
A TALE OF THE RED Pike.

~ tHLI VI iUI iiIU INI'
IL thought / should find you with the
girls, Mr.. Goodwin. You should have been
with us. We've had such scramble over
the Honister Crag, and brought back no end
of flowers for Gertrude. But one thing /
must say, that fellow Losford is jolly
mnff, though he doesn't look it. Just a
funk, girls, and nothing else. Will you give
ME some tea, Mrs. Godwin?"
what nonsense you talk, Bob!" cried his
sister, conscious by some feminine instinct
that her friends face was hotter than a mo-
ment before; "you are perfect mduUdis en-
Jdnt bursting in like that. wish Mr.. Los
ford would teach you manners"
I'D like to see him try. 1t would take a
pluckier man than he is. Why, he wouldn't
come within yards of the edge, Mrs. God
win"
"He showed his usual good sense, Master
Robert" was that ladys tart reply. She
had her reasons for looking favorably upon
Walter Losford, of Lesford Court, Mon
mouthshire, by no means least hon
ored guest Mt Mr.. Godwins lake villa.
And they We're n very CHEEKY and pleas
ant party, the pleasantest set, Gertrude
thought, that her mother had ever got to-
gether, and Gertrude was a young lady of
decided tastes and somewhat difficult to
please. Even Bob Marston, when he was
not talking nonsense and appearing where
he was not wanted at inopportune moments,
was as amusing as any other Eton boy.
Nevertheless, mt this moment two people at
least were ardently longing to make his ears
Jingle.
"And what is the programme for to-mor-
row, Mr.. Goodwin" resumed the young gem
tleman, not a whit daunted by the unfavor-
able reception of his last remark "Can
We picnic ON the Red Pike? 1t would be
jolly fun"
The host hummed and hawed; he rather
preferred an open-air entertainment at
place accessible in an open carriage. But
f you have n house among the mountains.
up them you must go. The climbing dis
ease is infectious, and there is no evading it
until by permanent residence you become
proof against its attacks Mr.. Goodwin would
have TO succumb sooner or later.
ayes, Bob" said Gertrude, suddenly lay
ing down the fan with which she was play
ing, eve will go to the Red Pike to-mor-
row."
And Bob, who thought he had rather put
his foot III it, rs he would say. was com
foted, for be knew that to the Red Pike he
would 60.
Gertrude's face, as she went up to dress
for dinner, was thoughtful. HE showed
bis usual good sense" Mrs. Goodwin had
said, and the words kept ringing in her
daughters ears until her lip began to curl
with scorn. If there was one thing which
Gertrude admired it was courage. Was she
Beginning to like man who could be called
a coward even by boy? And the insinua-
ton chimed in with other things. Walter
Losford was hardly one to please a romantic
girl Mt first sight. Cold, sensible, and want
a in at,fb i,,h HE
ling nearly everything by the arguments of
reason, he would have made just and not
too merciful judge. And yet when Gertrude
Fmet him ut dinner the hauteur she assumed
melted away, and she blushed and smiled at
his glance; for what is so fascinating as the
homage of one who seems utterly careless of
all besides?
The Red Pike was red indeed in the even
Sng sunlight, every cliff that buttressed its
rugged top FURNISHED to ruddiness, and yet
the party fingered, reluctant to abandon the
view of fhe sea and land from Forth to
Windermere that held them entranced. 1t
was Bob only who was on the move, Skin
finishing about untiringly.
al say, Gertrude, here's a specimen for
you! 1t is a blue gentian growing on this
Cliff, and a rare good climb it will be to get
It."
The party fastened to the edge of the
cliff. In a Granny of the rock about twelve
feet down grew the flower Gertrude had
been longing to find. A slight opening in
the wall of the cliff made it just feasible, if
somewhat dangerous, to reach it.
"Robert, don't go too near!" cried Mrs.
Goodwin.
Geiture turned, with her face little
flushed, to Losford.
Scan you get it for me Mr.. Losford2"
she said, gently.
Not without rope" he answered,
calmly. 1--WE will bring one to- morrow"
morrow" cried Gertrude, with sud-
den heat. 81 want it now. Bob would
get it for me in a moment, if / asked him,
Mr.. Losford."
"Bobs head is steadier than mine, per-
haps, the other said
He was in no way discomposed until, MS
he finished, his eyes met the girls full of
contempt and anger. Stung by the look he
made ha>ty step toward the edge of the
cliff and bent down to make the attempt.
For n moment he remained in that position,
Chen, with a quick shudder, he recoiled,
white to the lips.
Il can't get il for you," he said, hoarsely,
falling back, while the others looked at one
another in astonishment.
''And quite right, too, Mr.. Losford don't
try il, beg" cried Mrs. Goodwin, loudly.
Loudly. but not so that he failed TO hear the
word Coward" or to distinguish the tone
Of contempt in which il fell from her
daughters lips. The next instant he was
bis old calm self again, but he knew that he
had his dismissal.
AS for the bit of blue gentian, Bob
brought il up in twinkling, and chartered
on in such way as TO earn every ones graft
tude. Yet il was dull party that wendell
ats way down the hill, the little blue gentian
nesting in Gertrude's fair hair, much to her
mothers disgust.
If il was only an awkward hour at dinner
Lhat Mrs. Goodwin feared, fate was to save