The record-union., 1896-05-10
NEAR THE SUMMIT.
(W1tten for the Record Union b
Len \

| (WNtten for the 'Record-Un;on'' by
! LEM
From the valleys sleeping in sunshine
and perfuned with almond and cherry
bloom fragrance, to snow covered ST.
erras and spicy forest trees wreathed
with snow garlands, is only a few hours
! journey. The Golden State swings aloft
her sun-ladened censer between the
palms and pines, flowers and snow
| crowned peaks.
Society this winter OF '96 was a-f1utter
with the new ice carnival idea held in
the Sierras-a change from the flower
festivals and flower queens of the south
and Central California, so many dew
| OteeS of pleasure were en- route to
Truckee, and were promised glimpses
of the histrionic Lakes Donner and Ia :
hoe, that now lay like great buckles of
silver thrown down by the great spirit.
The heartrending agonies of pioneer
| days known to Donner Lake were not
| lima gined or thought Of by the gay
| crowds on pleasure bent, for the moss
of many years hid the wounds and
scars, and misery were best forgotten.
Among the Eastern passengers via
Truckee were Phil Reardon and his
father" as he affectionately called
| Horace Rayburn, his mothers second
husband. Indeed, this fine-looking old
gentleman had we'll earned the title
| for since Philip was a small lad of II
Mr.. Rayburn had treated him as his
own, gave him advantages of travel and
education, and Philip amply repaid him.
not only in affection, but was source
| of pride and pleasure to him in his ad-
vancing years.
Phil had lost his heart some three
years ago, when at the Ponce de Leon
IN Florida. The girl was pretty, winning
| and lovable but her mother had cruelty
parted them and whirled her daughter
| far away from Philip, and never line
| or a word to console him all those years.
Alive and single, married or dead, he
| knew not.
| His father had been an old resident
CT this State years ago, but domestic
trouble had driven him East and freed
| from his wife he had married Phil'S
mother and had lived a comparatively
happy life till her death, a year ago.
Now returning to California, an older,
wiser man, with his early enthusiasm
\
newed when he witnessed Phil's pleas
ure in everything concerning his
fathers old home.
Whether Phil had any we'll defined
hope of meeting his old love was hardly
known to- himself He had misty idea
her home was in the Golden State, but
| then, the size of the State would hide
many folks less or perhaps of greater
n
there was a wellspring of hidden joy
wellingup in Phil's heart that made him
a cheerful companion.
] Truckee reached, the travellers grew
wild with enthusiastic delight over the
| beauty and unique workmanship of the
ice palace, an airy vision of frosted sill
| yer lace, lit up with rainbow hue-Such
| it appeared to their eyes. The light
| framework covered with wire netting
| sprayed with water and frozen many
nights, the result of labor and care was
vision of beauty glowing and glo-
rious in the evening with thousands of
electric lights.
The floor Of the palace was ice, in a
| fine condition for skating and was usu-
| ally crowded. The toboggan slide had
many devotees, and it was while view
ing them Phils father had his atten-
ton especially attracted to one group
who had just made the ascent, and were
preparing to ride down again. They
were laughingly trying to persuade one
| of their party to go down once more
and she was earnestly resisting all at
tempts.
ooh, horrorsi no." he heard her say.
81 felt like a comet flying through space.
Why, it actually took my breath. One
experience is enough, but if Zoe cares to
go down again Twill wait for her.
"Oh. l do. do want to try again."
said the girl addressed. It's just too
perfectly glorious"
Il shall stay with it all night" said a
young fellow in convincing tone.
Yes, do, poor dear" said another girl
in a laughing tone. when Africs
sunny fountains roll down the golden
strands you won't have a chance to to-
boggan, at least not at johannesburg. +"
Africa Oh! is that your next trip,
Jack?" asked another. "And will you
go trotting around that country with an
anteater instead of a dog?"
A laugh greeted this, as Jack replied:
''Yes, and I'm going to have some cath
| ode rays to fix on my kodak and send
you some views Of the Interior
Whose INTERIOR" asked another
How lovely. just as if the native Afri-
can was some great cathedral"
Hope you won't forget me- I'd like
a picture Of the native interior after
they have had you served up as a
ragout
Amidst general hilarity they were
| finally ready for a start And in fay
| seconds Phirs father and the young
lady's mother were the only ones left
on the top. He turned to make some
remark about the beauty of the scene
when she raised her veil for a better
view and he recognized his former wife
The recognition was mutual
"Horace!" she gasped, gazing at him
with wide~o open, astonished gray eyes
Agnes" he said, starting forward
"After all these years do we meet as
friends or foes?''
She stepped back a pace or two, eye
ing him keenly as pink flush mounted
to her brow. Then seeing a kindly light
in his eyes her own softened as she
said brokingly, extending her hand to
meet his still outstretched one. friends
| if you will"
He seized hers eagerly while the blood
mounted to the roots of his white hair
"Was-was that your daughter?" he
inquired with an unusual break in his
clear voice
ours, yours" she said. simply lifting
her deep gray eyes to his "She is a
lovable girl and my only comfort
since-since you left
They stood silently both too much