The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-06-07

~ don't think there can be Any
doubt Of it's difficulty, said DT. kim.
ball, with a dry smile It is q tough
climb, and have made many The
FINAL othhorn was corker, Thought,
although found gray haired woman
at the table d 'hote at Zermatt who had
done it few years before and was not
very boastful about it. A man who had
never climbed attempted this peak and
did il although the guides had to sim
ply transport him over the icy and shelv-
ing parts Of the rocky Lodges. There are
plenty Of peaks to practice on. But II 3
is the most glorious feeling in the
world to scratch your way, like a hardy
insect, up the rough, naughty peaks
that nature seems to have reared as a
defiance to the passage Of man. con-
cluded DR.. Kimball as he rose to go u
zee from your looks that You are keep
ing up your own outdoor exercise. Miss
Rodney. That is right -
"Yes. but bicycling and even follow
ing the hounds seem tame compared
to scaling the Matterhorn, replied the
girl. with an amusing note of regret in
her voice
| "Women have to admit mans su-
periority in some things, don't they7'
remarked Uncle Gardner. when DR.
Kimball had retired "Here's small,
not overmuscular parson who can
climb the Matterhornl Women have
to shrink into their petticoats over
that.
1.-TWO women have done it without
shrinking into their petticoats. as
You SO elegantly put it, - retorted his
niece, slightly nettled at the old mans
gratuitous gibe
''That must make it all the harder
for the poor women folk, who have to
content themselves with small exploits,
like riding wheel or playing tennis,''
returned the determined old man. Il
should think you would want to climb
the Matterhorn
"Oh, dare say may some day." re-
piled Miss Rodney carelessly II have
not doubt that could.
"I'll bet you $780, 600 you couldn't
do it, grunted the old man contemptu-
ously.
"It's not as easy, of course, as wa
gering 100000 when you wouldn't
really and seriously wager a penny on
it,"
The two were alone. Mrs. Rodney
and the subservient Rose had retired as
soon as DR.. Kimball left
The old man looked at her with a
cold CLEAN in his eye.
''Look here, he said after a moment
of this steadfast gaze at the resolute
figure of his niece. "You've done good
thing in treating your Aunt Matilda's
low proposition with perfect contempt
OF course you may relent later on, but
it was the. spirit of an American girl
that made you fire up as you did at the
first flush. It's the only spirit Of the
kind in the family, and I think it
should be encouraged. You think am
own brother to Matilda for meanness,
simply because I don't pay for every
silly extravaganza of your mother and
you girls: but amt, and TIL prove it
to you.
Uncle Gardner was little excited
an unusual thing for him to be- He
went on as Miss Rodney made no re-
mark. though she was attentive enough
now.
"When I die. l hope you think l
4 mean to do the fair thing by you and
the others. don't believe in giving a
kick at your relatives from your coffin, .
l said the old man. ''Now, if you scale
the Matterhorn within six months I'll
put by stocks and things that will let
you have an income of ten thousand a
! year. I don't believe you can do it, he
added spitefully, land III show that I
' don't by making this offer.
: 'Do you mean this?' cried Miss Rod
ney, springing to her feet She was m
r deniably excited.
II generally mean what say, don't
+ II" replied her uncle shortly.
''Then write it down in so many
words and let somebody witness it, and
I will climb that Matterhorn if it kills
me. If other women have. know
t can.
+ The old man was opposed to this, but
9 his niece worked on his pride and tenn
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