The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-09
THE WITHERING OF A ROSE.
by MARIE coRELLI.

the exploring and aspiring tourist an as
cend by one Of those ingeniousIy contrived
'funicular" railways. now so common in
all the mountainous districts Of Switzer-
land
The little passenger-car IS worked hy the
og-wheel-and-wster system. and joys
slowly up a prccipitous incline which sur
veyed from the bottom appears 10 slant
at about an angle Of ninety degrees. But
it is not so perilous as it seems. The jour
nay is easy and safe enough, and those
who are troubled with nervous sensa-
tions.'' and who insist on closing their
eyes firmly while travelling up in the
strange conveyance. which, when observed
from a sufficient distance, certainly some
what resembles a squat kind of blue-bOttle
clinging TO a wall. viii have their fun con-
ISOLATION and reward on arriving at the top.
For there. one Of the most glorious land
scapes in the world is spread before the
enraptured sight: the lovely Lake Of the
Four Cantons' glitters below in all its
width Of vastly blue. surrounded by kindly
mountains. the peaks of which, even In the
hight of summer still keep on their spark
ling diadems Of virginia. snow; on either
hand forest of tall pine trees stretches
away for miles a forest where one may
wander in solitude for hours, walking on
n thick carpet of the softest moss strewn
with the brown and fragrant pine need
les" scarcely hearing ones own footsteps,
and seeing nothing but the arohing cathe-
dral-ifke splendour of solemn green gloom,
hecked through here and there by the
blue of the sky and the bright rays OF the
sun.
AT the entrance Of this forest stands one
of the prettiest or rustic hotels known as
the Pension Gutsch, house built IN the
true Swiss style, with picturesque sabled
roofs and wide wooden verandahs-its
charming seclusion and simplicity offer
Ing a delightful contrast TO garish Slo-
ries of the Schweizerhof and the other
monstrdus AmerianIzed hotels of Luz
cerne, where the main object OF every
one concerned. from the PORTER down to
the smallest paying guest, appears to be
10 forget as completely as possible the
fact that Switzerland, as Switzerland eN-
lists. and to live solely for the enjoyment
of the table-d'hote, dress, Irritation and
lawn tennis.
1t is a singular fact but true. that all
the big hotels in Lucerne have their table,
dhote dinner served precisely at the sun
set hour-the very time when grand old
Mout Pilatus is gathering around his
frowning brows strange and mystic
draperies of crimson and gold and green
when the lake looks like melted jewels,
and all the lovely hues of heaven are
merging by delicious gradations into the
cool. pearlygray of such pure twilight
as is never seen save in countries where
the air is rariied by the presence of per-
petual snow. For this very reason per-
sons of a fanciful or romantic turn Of
mind, who prefer scenery to soup. fire.
quently do battle with their nerves TO the
extent of being lfted-like little fright
ened children in a basket-up the pre-
cipitous "Gutsch" where at the unpre-
tentious. spotlessly clean and fragrant
hotel bearing that name, they can do pref
~ much as they like. and have the SUI
preme comfort of quiet rooms and re-
freshing sleep, luXuries completely de-
MED them al all the large hotels in the
town.
Moreover, by making a special arrange
ment and paying a little extra, they can
have their meals served al their own
stated hours, all of which sensible man
agement and forethought on the part Of
the proprietor has the result Of making
his house a favorite resort of artists,
poets and dreamers generally. The fri0-
olous and empty-headed would not care
for such a place-it offers nothing but
repose and beauty: IL is not a suitable
abode for golfers or tomboy tennis PLAY
ers--they do well to remain in Lucerne
and cling to the noisy and over-crowded
Schweizerhof. But 1t is eminently fitted
for lovers in the first stage of sentimental
ardour. and it is an ideal nook wherein
TO spend a happy honeymoon.
When. on one dazzling afternoon in early
July, 2. gentleman with black mustache
got out of the little 'funicular" car, and
assisted a charmingly attired and very
young lady with fair hair to alight also
and when these twain were followed by
valet, maid and the porter bearing some
very new-looking luggage, none of the
people already staying at the "Gutsch'
had any difficulty in classifying them.
They were newly married; their very APP
pearance betrayed them. one of the reg
ular habitues of the plac, a dark-eyed
young man clad in carelessly fitting
tweeds, said as much to the landlord,
who. having bowed the couple in now
stood on his doorstep benevolently sur
veying the prospect.
ION their welding tour, I suppose?" he
observed with a smile
ut is possible" replied mine host. dis
creetly. The lady is young. Not so young
the gentleman. They have engaged the
best rooms"
"Ah! plenty of money about, Them
1T is to be thought So replied the
proprietor as he continued to smile bland
ly at the scenery. The lady has a maid,
the gentleman valet. Everything"-and
de luxe. They are English people-evi-
IDENTIFY well bred. Perhaps you know the
name-Allingham-M and Mrs. Alling-
ham, of Dunscombe Hall, Norfolk"
The dark-eyed artist thought a mo-
ment, then said mo" A vague idea was
in his mind that he had seen a sketch or
photograph somewhere of Dunscombe
Hall. but he was not sure. And mine host
being called away at the moment, the
conversation was broken off.
The new arrivals had their meals served
TO them privately in their own apart
ments; so any curiosity felt concerning
them among the table d'hote" company
at the Pension Gutsch' was not destined
to be largely gratifed. One morning.
however, Mr.. Francis Fame, the dark-eyed
artist, already mentioned, met Mrs. Al
bingham walking by herself in one of the
lonelier and more outlying paths of the
pine forest, and was quite taken aback
by her extremely girlish appearance She
was so small and light on her feet, she
had such a young, wistful, wondering face
and her figure was cast in such a dainty
and delicate mould, that, as she passed
him silently by, in her simple white morn
ing dress, tied round the waist with a
knot Of blue ribbon, she looked like little
girl just fresh from school, and it seemed
impossible, almost absurd, to consider her