The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-03-07
1T WAS ROUGH ON THE LAD.

But Then He Looked So Proud They DID
Not Dare Offer Him u Lift.
When l was in Switzerland Tran across
a half whimsical, half pathetic little Incl
lent which befcll u Yankee boy of II. 1t
didn't show much sense on his part, but
plenty Of pluck, which is not as good as
sense, but q good thing when it is needed
to fetch a fellow through.
His party was going up to the Rhone
Glacier, and he in needless fashion did not
ascertain that the pass divided above Hos
penthal, the Furca being the correct road,
while the St. Gothard went to the left and
down into Italy. He was doing the trip ON
foot, while the rest of his party were riding.
Taking the %footpath, which was a shorter
cut than the carriage road, he missed the
fork in the road and started off toward
Italy without knowing his mistake. He
could talk enough French to say Glaze du
Rhone, and that was about all.
He trudged along the greater part Of the
day, stopping ut a wayside inn for a bite
OF lunch and a bottle of beer, and not until
he reached Airolo at the foot of St. Gothard
did he begin to suspect that all Was not
right. He saw a pretty valley with u tiny
glacier at the end.
"Rhone du glace?" he asked of the first
Italian he met.
He pointed to the distant ice, and the
man nodded, SO he went on at Il rapid pace,
for it was getting late. 1t was a beautiful
and peaceful little vale, dotted with hum
BILE crucitixes. The people were polite and
babe him good evening, men, women and
children.
1t was not until nearly shutdown that he
met an intelligent fellow who talked
French and comprehended his Rhone du
glace question. He got very much excit-
ed, and by gestures more h words indi-
Gated hat the lad was away off the track.
and that, in fact, he must retrace his steps.
After walking all day this was tough
news, but there was only one thing to do,
turn about and trudge sturdily back. So
back he went to Airolo, and after a bite to
eat up the mountain side in the grandest
moonlight that ever shone.
. And so: footsore and weary, with pain at
his heart to think of the anxiety of his
father when he failed to turn up, he nearly
walked the night out, landing at Hospen-
thai about 4 in the morning. Then he
learned his mistake, was told that the dill
igence would he along at s and went to
bed. 1t was the best that he could do.
At 8 the diligence came a%long-and was
crowded. They could not give him IL seat.
So there was nothing to do ut.climb again
climb the road he ought to ave taken
the day before.
But, what "a climb that was! 1t seemed
as If his feet were as heavy as iron shoes.
There were great blisters on them, and he
could scarcely put one foot above the
other.
When we had travelled for several hours
a carriage came along, going the same way
as he. 1t had Americans for passengers.
Oh, if they would give him u ride! He
looked at them beseechingly. Two young
ladies in the carriage looked at him with
interest. They had heard his story at Hos
penthal. They said afterward that they
were dying to offer him a vacant seat in
their carriage, but ha had such a proud
look on his face-heaven save the mark
that they did not venture lest he should
resent it. And SO between his silence and
theirs he got no ride, but was soon left
behind by the strangers, who told the story
when they reached the glacier, and re-
lieved the fears of his father, who was al
most frantic with grief and anxiety.
1t was nearly g O'Clock when he crept
down to the hotel on his blistered feet. OF
course he was the hero of the night, and
when the people learned of the miles of
mountain climbing that he had done they
marveled.
As for the two young ladies who pitied but
did not invite him, they retired within their
shells and hurried away as quickly as they
could. So another romance was spoiled
because the actors did not do the proper
thing, and the wedding which would have
taken place in novels did not come of.
Alas! how often it is thus in the happen
inRs of the real world.-New York Herald.