The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-08-17
CHAPTER ~.
The Coward.

The Coward.
As she left me again caught the 81
look of wonder. a resentfui wonoer,
a curiosity that was even harsh ana s.
stern.
I seated myself opposite the woman
had unconsciously wronged. For the
5,rst time she looked at me- and saw U
with relief that neither pain nor an
guish lurked In her clear eyes, inere
was no outraged love nor tenderness.
Nor was there pity for herself or lot
me But even so, it seemed to me
pathetic that a woman should be so
strong.
81 wish to hear everything. Begin,
nlease. with your first meeting with
Mr.. Willoughby. Tell me ALTO the
last moment"
myself" promised.
did you know Mr.. Willoughby IN
timately? Were you at Oxford win
MIN? l think do not remember MS
speaking of you"
She spoke slowly, with certain
aloofness. A desire to be Just strug-
~led with a manifest dislike-a dislike /
chat was evidently not lessened oe-
cause of my studied calm. Perhaps
she thought a fervent expression OF
penitence more fitting. But insunct-
lively knew that an hysterical repent
ance would increase her contempt for
me. I preferred her hatred to that
And 30 told my story absolutely WIN
out feeling.
II met him for the first time the
aight before his death"
sTndeed!" Her voice trembled with
anger. She was indignant that he
ehouId have discussed his love with an
utter stranger.
1T was not until we had both given
up hope that he mentioned you, MISS
Brett" l said with some sternness.
.But surely his death was the result
Of a quite unexpected accident? Tne
newspapers gave one that impression,
abe exclaimed suspiciously. The words
and the look accused me OF falsehood.
.The accident came only after we
we're both utterly exhausted by the
sufferings of a night spent ON the
mountain paths"
~And were the newspapers correc'
IN saying that you were not an expe
rienced mountain climber? And oio
Mr.. Willoughby know that?"
Eyes. I am simply tourist. This Il
the first time have been In Europe
came to Switzerland as thousands
Others come-to see the mountain
from an hotel piazza or a railway tran
To me. as to most tourists, the Alp
were simply gigantic panorama
he viewed complaisantly. as one iook
NJ Niagara Falls. To climb tnel
never occurred to me until met M
Willoughby.
.T was making the usual circuls
<our. Interlaken. Srheidegg, Laute
0runnen. Grindelwald. Mr.. Willougnt
hannened to sit next to me at the tad
d,hote at the Bear hotel. He was
athlete; Switzerland to him was 81,
ply an immense playground; he spo'
of the trophies he had won at Queer
Fe,ds m the same breath as his
ploits m scaling mountain Top.
first I listened to him with indin'
ence. his enthusiasm amused me
nothing more. / had supposed IN
neople climbed mountains simply
the view: because on the summit o
<ron,d see a little farther than II Q
were merely on the mountains
81 put Al he talked / began to uno
stand. II was q game-a CONNECT
"A hattie n YOU wish-in which one PIT
ones strength and wit In q nand
hand fight with nature.
n .Gradually his enthusiasm arou'
# mine. I was wearied of sight-seen
81 the horde of tourists disguised
|& before we had finished our cigar
III ionged TO pluck my first edelweiss
|& NAV this new game myself. l MN
v.cuelv at dangers, but my compan
sauyhed at them. was presumptu
.rorph TO think that where he lie
might follow.
.The usual mistake Of the tours
believe" commented Miss Brett, c
Nv. "And you begged that you M
On with him on his next climbF
cat least I was willing enough Il
~ when he suggested that. He
planning to make the Straieee fas
confess that the word pass dio
round especially formidable, for NJ
clared that guides were not at
necessary. So l agreed to make
ascent with him. / did not realize
mountain climbing. more tnan
other sport, required arduous trail
"The next morning at II o'cloci
...~ted from Grindelwald. We
crowded with the customary para
MALTA of the Alpine climber; ou'
climb to the Schwarzegg Club H'
the Upper Icefall, where we We