The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-16
QUEEN ELEANOR"

'ls there very much more Of this
climbing, Mr.. Elverton: | don't real
ly think l can keep on much longer"
And Lena Wolmer leaned up against
rock, and painted for breath, as sha
looked at her companion, a handsome
young man of five or six and twenty
whose sunburnt features took on
deeper flush beneath his broad-brim-
med felt hat while he answered peni-
tently:
Miss Walmer. I'm aw-fu,ly sorry;
but l thought we should have been on
the top an hour ago. l really did, I
assure you; and am beginning TO be
afraid | have altogether m.scalculated
the distance somehow"
Are you quite sure this dreadful
mountain has a topT' asked Miss
Wolmer. For my part. l have very
considerable doubts on the subject. Or
perhapS"-she went on. with a laugh
''the trouble is that Mr.. Elverton does
not know how to find it? Come, Mr..
Elverton, confess you have lost the
way. Your easy manner does not de-
ce.ve me in the least, and l have been
quite convinced for some time that you
were off the track; so you may as well
make an open disclosure of your er-
rors. What Is the good of going on,
up, and up. and up, and never appar-
emily getting any nearer the end OF
our Journey"
The young planter looked somewhat
abashed as he replied: Il have observ-
ed that as a general rule II one con-
tinues to go up a hill, one comes to
rhe top some time or other. This
mountain, however, | am bound to ad-
init, seems fated to prove the opposite.
In fact, as you very neatly put 1t,
either Hantana has no top at al or
else" He paused. and met the
merry sparkle in Miss Wolmer's eyes
with a like twinkle in his own.
Yes, Mr.. Elverton?"
well, or else l don't know how to
get there. Now the whole story Is
out. Miss Lena, and it only remains
for you 10 crush me with your scorn."
Then you have lost the road! Oh,
this is truly delclous." cried Lena,
clapping her hands. What will
Harry say. when he hears? You re-
member how he scoffed last night
when you proposed the expedition:
Nonsense! Take a lady through that
jungle. 1t can't be done; the thing is
perfectly preposterous, and not to be
thought Of. He will never let us hear
the end Of this mornings work, l am
afraid, Mr. Elverton.'
"S1e, you mean. He can't throw
any contempt on your shoulders, Miss
Lena. 1t Is all my fault you have not
seen the sun rise from the top of Han
tana: and | shall never cease 10 be-
humillated when | think of il. How
ever. don't let us dwell on our ignoble
failure any Longer. Suppose we throw
the thing up now, and go no farther?
can see you are fatigued; and you
have done enough, anyway, already
for the honor and glory of your sex;
for ! am quite sure no woman-no
English woman, at least-was ever so
far up the steep sides Of Hantana. Be
SIDES, the sun IS growing hot, and 1t
will soon be almost dangerous for you
to be out in ii. Even as it Is. we shall
have scOrching going back to our
horses, unless | am much mistaken"
WELL" assented Miss Wolmer, ST
should not have liked to make the pro-
pOsal myself. for l always hate to be
the first to give in; but since you have
owned to your sins so honestly. don't
mind confeSslng on my side that I've
had quite enough of Ceylon noun
ta!neerlng to last me for the rest Of
my life. Creepers and tree-fern are
lovely TO look at: but when Ii comes
to struggling up hill through the jun
gle, / think | prefer the less pictur-
esque vegetation Of my native land. T
must really have rest before we be-
gin the descent, Mr.. E-verton."
Are you so very tired, then?" ask
ed Tom Elyerton, looking at her anx-
iously. II shall never forgive myself,
Miss Lena, II you are the worse for
this mad exploit. ! cannot forget it
was | who proposed IT, See-here Is
a stone that looks pretty comfortable.
Do you think You could manage to get
a little rest on II, while | go along
this ridge bit, and see If can't find
you an orange or two? / think | can
make OutksOme native huts down in
yon hollow, and there are always
lie Of the land. too; there must be an
mans garden. IN have a look at the
oranges or plantains in the Singalee