Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-12-14

Next morning Greyland started of
alone for Mount Washington.
Everybody told him to take a guide
! snd spoke Of the danger Of going into
those mountain wilds alone, but he
laughed at them. He was not going
TO convert himself into a hero BY get
ting lost-not hel He should dine
at the Tip Top House. and be back in
season for stewed partridge at the
| Crawford
Imogene sat on the piazza, doing
some trifie in green Berlin wool. and
heard every word OF course, it was
nothing to her any way. but after Mr..
Greyland disappeared in the scrubby
evergreens which clustered around
the entrance to the bride path, she
was conscious of a feeling OF some
thing lost out of the brightness OF
the day. But she would not indulge
In it. She walked down through the
Notch, and looked at the cascade, and
tarried to discover. what is undiscov-
erable, the likeness Of the rocks
which bear the name Of Elephants
Head. to the oaput of that unwieldy
animal; then she went back and had
little sail on the very little pond at
the entrance of the Notch, and by
that time it was noon.
Clouds began to gather over the
summit of Mount Willard. A party
who had ascended early in the morn
ing came down drenched: and by and
by the equestrians who had gone up
Mount Washington just after Grey
I lands departure returned cold and
blue. A hard storm was in progress
on the mountains-the mist and fog
were almost blinding-and Mr.. Grey
land had not been seen or heard
from. Grave apprehensions were en-
VINO best understood the danger OF
being lost on the mountains, and the
gentlemen stood apart in knots. and
discussed the matter with serious
faces.
The night Of storm and gloom wore
slowly away. and the morning broke
cold and wet Imogene sat by the
open window, just as she had sat all
night. listening to the wild howl of
Rudolph, the beautiful pet hound of
the missing man, which had been
left chained in his masters room.
With the first CLEAN of dawn,
party OF guides and half a dozen
/ friends of Greylanes sailed forth to
search for him.
All day they secured the mountain
paths, only to return at night as they
went. No trace of him had been dis.
covered
Another dismal night and another
| misty morning. and again they went
forth on their quesf---fhfs time with
Ifftis hope Of finding him alive; but,
as one of the guides remarked. "It
looked unehristian not to find the
body, and give it a decent burial"
Imogene heard what the man said,
and for a moment her heart stopped.
She. knew, now, that in spite Of all
the scorn she had tried to feel for
Charles Greyland, she had never
ceased to love him.
And now he was dead,
Mo- no, she would not admit the
thought He must be living! God,
who was so good-who loved all His
creatures--would surely permit her
to find him, to ask his pardon for the
past. to tell him that I'M spite of
everything she loved him still!
She threw shawl over her shoul.
ders, and went to the room he had
last occupied The key was not there,
but her own key fitted the lock. She
went in and released the dog. which
sprang into her arms with a cry al
most human in its sorrow and des-
pair
She hugged the wretched animal
to her breast. for had not he loved
and earessed Rudolph,
She said not a word to am one.
but, preceded by the dog. she took
the path she had Eoen Greyland take.
Rough and stony, full of mud
holes, barred by brushwood. and OBJ
structed by gullies she found the way,
but she followed the dog.
All the long forenoon she went on,
faint. almost despairing, and so
weary that it seemed at each success
sive step as if she mus sink down.
Rain, and mist and fog were all
around her--she could scarcely see
a rod in advance, and many a time
she trod the extreme edge OF a preoi-
piee all unawares. And Rudolph led
her on.
At last they found him.
The glad barking of the dog lit
tie ahead sent joy to Imogene's heart.
She leaped forward, and sank down
helpless by the side of Charles Grey
land. He was sheltered by rock,
and he was smoking a cigar, and al
together seemed quite comfortable
for a man who had been two nights
lost on the mountains.
Imogene would have fallen back
on her pride even now, but it was too
late. Greyland had her in his arms.
and was kissing her cold lips in a
way that made all attempts at re-
monstrance useless.
You did love me, after all,
darlingi" he cried: ~and | thank
Heaven for being lost; and don't
mind the cold. and wet, and hunger
bit. Put your arms around my
neck, dear, and tell me that you for
give my hateful conduct of year
ago, and tell me that YOU love me-"
And she obeyed him meekig
enough. while Rudolph capered
around them, and expressed his sat
isfaction in a series of joyful howls
which awoke all the mountain echoes
for miles around.
The party out in search heard the
dog, and we're guided to the spot. ana
by sundown everybody was safely
basking in the warmth of the great
wood fire in the drawing room Of the
Crawford.
Two weeks afterward CHARLSE
Grayland and Imogene were married.
and happier home than theirs do
not think Won have ever sean Noffh