Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-07-06

self with wearing black rather more
than usnal Whenever there was guud
ff,.asiun. she managed % convey me
impression that the family was IN a
uonruipr condition over the death 81
..my sister. the Countess OF earring
ton. " hut she had fired of these shots
when Uncle Josiah was not afonh"
She knew that she could not connt on
any support from her sharp tongue"
brother in this direction
Miss Rodney had taken an early OPP
partunity 10 talk with her uncle On the
subject Of his promise in case she should
sncceed in the attempt To CLIMB tue
Natterborn The old gentleman bad
shown no curiosity ON the subject. In
fact. he had seemed almost 10 avoid an
occasion for private talk with her
Bot one day Mrs Rodney and Rose
had gone out for the afternoon ana
Florence soon after came in where the
old gentleman was reading She seated
herself and began
"Well. uncle, now that ! have shown
Won tidt COuiu uo Nh"t 0'i'
/ suppose You will keep your part OF
the agreement. You lost Your wager
Won know" she said pleasantly
"What wagerg What agreement
he replied snubbily, looking mp from
his paper as if he did not wish to be
disturbed.
Uncle Josiahs apparent forgetfnlness
concerning the Matterhorn wager fairly
amazed his niece,
why. suppose you know what
this paper is, returned Florence
drawing the agreement from her
pccket lyon did not think | could get
TO the top of the Matterhorn, and You
agreed here that if | did within six
months you would give me money or
stock or something that would yield me
an income of $4,000 a year have
climJrd the Matterhorn and in less
than four months from the date of this
agreement. written by you and wit
messed by Mary and Roberts Now,
when are you going TO do your party
II haven't got the money abont me
now" replied Uncle Josiah sarcastic
ally "We'll talk about it some other
time 1t doesn say there how soon it
must be paid, does itr
"No OF course, you know, am not
insisting on your doing il at once. Bat
it was a gracious impulse, believe,
that led you to promise me this only
want to know what am to expect
ooh. | thought you said IL was put
down what You bad TO eXpectr said
the old man, looking at her
Uncle. there is no use in handying
words about it If you have a spark Of
honor you know that now you owe me
this money Your word is concerned
| have done what said | would, and
want to know when You will do your
part replied his niece firmly
How do | know that You climbed
the MatterhornY' said Uncle Josiah
incredulously
81 should think my word was proof
enough, retorted Miss Rodney, with
some spirit "You never knew me to
lie in your life, "
81 know mighty few girls who
wouldn't tell little white flo if they
could get $4,000 year by it,
chuckled Uncle josiah
"Well. anticipated some such sub
terfuge as that. " replied the girl coolly
II have the affidavit Of each Of the
guides that | made the ascent
~ suppose any of these Swiss gnides
would make out paper nKe that Tor
500 wouldn't theyr'
II don't know. These didn't,
"You see tLeres no actual proof that
/ you climbed that mountain, said Mr.
/ Gardner argumentatively lyon say
/ you did, and you have the papers. But
you may be mistaken, and, as sag |
think $50 would buy that much hand
writing from any of them Was there
anybody along but you and the
! guides2'
Not with memo" replied Miss
Rodney. trying to keep cool under the
evident de.ire of her uncle to irritate
her But | met young man on the
very top of the Matterhorn He could
testify to my being there
well bring him on, and then I'll
know He would be credible witness
if his character is good. returned her
uncle
81 cant bring him on. don't know
where he is, | only know his name. -
"What was his name2
"Stadley-Guy Stadley.
"Sounds like name out of q novel,
aid Uncle Josiah snspiciouslY. as Il