The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-05-06
THE TRAVELLING RING.


At the unearthly hour of 3 A. NJ. the
discordant Alpenhorn wakes the guests
of the Hotel Rigi-Kulm to give them an
opportunity for seeing the sunrise.
The hotel is on the very summit of the
mountain, and in front of it stands a
platform.
You can see the sunrise as well and
better from the window OF your own
room, but there is an extra charge con-
nected with the use Of the aforesaid
platform, and you would feel as if you
were swindling the management out of
the admission fee If you were to see the
spectacle from any other point of adj
vantage than the one provided for the
purpose.
But this is neither here nor there.
Miss Viva Merrick, of Chicago, hur-
riedly donned a morning gown and
fastened down stairs at the sound of the
horn.
Ragged patches of mist rose lazily
from a lake of blush fog that filed the
valleys; rugged tops and sharp crags rose
in bold outline, like coral reefs upon a
sea of floating dampness.
Everybody, including the young lady,
felt uncomfortable.
The greenish half light that precedes
day would make the rosiet complexion
appear pale, dull and l~ifeless, and rob
any face of its beauty; it was therefore
quite unselish in Captain Percy Demp-
ster, II. E., on leave from India, to offer
his greatcoat to Miss Merrick as a pro-
lection against the icy wind that blew
sharply from the glaciers. But he was
a gentleman, and would have done as
much for any lady, young or old, pre-
ferably, of course, the latter, otherwise
he would have rendered his coat to the
young lady's aunt first.
AS usual, everybody felt better as
soon as the first rays of the sun had
gilded the edges of the long-stretched
clouds.
AS the captain looked for his overcoat
he could not repress the ejaculation,
''By lingo, what a pretty pictured" and
he dropped his single eyeglass to see
better.
Frau Professor Holtzhacker began &c
rhapsodize, "Yes, Get, ees wonterfool,
wonterfool, shplentit, grossartig, wirk-
Itch gar zu nett!" because she thought
he meant the sunrise. But he didn't.
Miss Merrick's head just peeped out Of
the captains greatcoat, her cheeks al
aglow with the rosy light of the newborn
day. Her eyes shone and sparkled with
pleasure, and the crisp morning breeze
scattered a few stray locks of golden hail
that had found their way from under the
dainty travelling cap.
Greuze or F~ragonard or Jacquet could
not have wished for a better model.
If there is any man who finds faui
with the captain for taking advantage oil
the coat incident to introduce himself
then let his neighbors watch that man
1t was not accident thatplaced Demp
ster at the ladies' table at breakfast, Blu
the ''Herr Ober-K ellnern (head waiter)
Consideration-two francs.
Miss Merrick's vivacity and esprit formed
a refreshing contrast to the primness o
her maiden aunt, and the young Office
found her more charming as their &c
%quiantance progressed.
What difference does it make whethe
one goes from Luzerne to Interlaken an,
thence to Zurich, or vice yersal Hardl,
any under ordinary circumstances. But i
it is a question of keeping in the com
pany OF a clever little lady by reversing
a proposed route it makes all the differ
ence in the world.
And that is why the captain feigne,
pleased surprise that the intended line o
travel of the ladies should coincide witt
his own plans, which it did not.
But, as everybody was pleased, it di'
not matter that he changed bis route.
The summer passed very agreeably L
all, and left a deep impression upon tn
captain.
First he dropped his single eyeglass 70
good, in Difference to the common sens
OF Miss Merrick; mex he abjured brand
and soda as a concession to the aunt
temperance principles; then he becam
solitary and t~aciturn when the younj
lady was not around, and, ultimately, h
contracted the dangerous habit of look
ing at the moon long after everybody ha'
gone to sleep.
No one could have called Miss Merricl
a firt, but ~wOmanlike, she thorough
understood the subtle art Of keeping he
adorer in hot water by being alternatel.
coy and cold.
Which showed that she liked hun, o
she would not have leased him.
At Scheveningen, in Holland, H.
whole affair came to a climax.
1t waA during an early morning strol
down to khe beach. They sat down ia
couple Of Ahose old wickerwork chairs
For awhf hey discussed the morsels o