The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-17
CHAPTER ~.
The Coward.

curiosity that was even harsh and
stern
seated myself opposite the woman
mad uuconsciously wronged. For the
e-.- time she looked at me- and saw
,.i-n relief that neither pain nor an
,tsh nlrked I'm her clear eyes. There
~. 10 outraged love nor tenderness.
M vas there pity for herself or for
ma Ent even SO. il seemed 10 me
,s,h.Hc that a woman should be SO
sfrol-
,ish 70 hear everything. Begin.
risasa with your first meeting with
AZ WHioughby Tell me ALTO the
last moment
V shall not spare either yourself or
myself" promised
.pl YOU know Mr. Willoughby in
tmaelye We're you at Oxford with
HIM think do not remember his
speaking ~ YOU"
sfa smoke slowly. with a certain
als,sness 4 desire To be just strug
ctel ni-h "a manifest dislike-a dislike
tnst was evidently not lessened be
cause * my studied calm. Perhaps
.h thought a fervent expression OF
rerfsnce more fitting. But instinct
ites knew that an hysterieal repent
arce would increase her contempt for
ra preferred her hatred 10 that.
Ana % told my story absolutely with
os t.iue
mct him for the first time the
p.-l before his death"
lrle,lt~ Her voice tremb.ed with
an-s- She was indignant that he
should have discussed his love with an
utter stranger
RID was not until we had both given
ur fo, that he mentioned you Miss
Brt said with some sternness
art surely his death was the result
OF ID 7ute unexpected accident The
newspapers gave one that impression
She exclaimed suspiciously. The words
ana he look accused me OF falsehood.
-The accident came only after we
were both utterly exhausted by the
suHcanes Of a night spent on the
mountain paths"
"And were the newspapers correct
IL saying that you were not an expe-
rieLceG mountain climber? And did
Mr Wi'loughby know that"
Yes ! am simply tourist This is
the FIRST time | have been in Europe.
came % switzerland as thousands OF
others come--to see the mountains
from au hotel piazza or railway train.
H.
we've simply a gigantic panorama to
be viewed complaisantly. as one looks
az NIAGARA Falls. To climb them
never occurred 10 me until | met Mr..
Willoughby.
n was making the usual circular
tour. lnterlaken. Scheidegg LATTER
brnnnen. Grindelwald Mr. Willoughby
happened % sit next 10 me at the table
dh0te az the Bear hotel He was an
athlete. switzerland TO him was sim
py an immense playground. he spoke
q me trophies he had won at Queen :
fields 10 the same breath as his ex-
lHi's in scaling a mountain top At
FIRST listened 10 him with indiffer-
tlr his enthusiasm amused me
nothing more. | had supposed that
people climbed mountains simply for
Ae iew. because on the summit one
could see a little farther than II one
We're merely on the mountaln-side.
tat as he talked | began TO under
stand. II was a game-a confiict-a
battle u YOU wish-in which one pitted
one strength and wit in hand-to-
hand feht with nature.
Gradually his enthusiasm aroused
mine was wearied Of sightseeing:
the horde Of tourists disguised me.
lf.ore we had finished our cigars l
lolgfi 10 pluck my first edelweiss. to
play mis- new game myself ! limited
'aeucly at dangers but my companion
lalghed at them. was presumptuous
enough 10 think that where he led l
might follow"
Tie usual mistake OF the tourist. /
believe" commented Miss Brett. cold
ly And Won begged that YOU might
go with him on his next climb
A. least | was willing enough 70 do
o when he suggested that He was
H.tHttAAA-- w Altht tit DAA 49,
confess that the word pass did not
sorni especially formidable, for he de-
Nared that guides were not al all
<cessary So | agreed to make the
ascent with him. did not realize that
nonntasl climbing. more than any
other FORT. required arduous training.
Tie next morning al II O'Clock we
started from Grindelwald. We were
provided with the customary parapher-
nai.a of the Alpine climber. but our
climb 20 the Schwarzegg Club Hut. al
NE Upper Ice-fall. where we were to
spend The night. might have been
made with walking sticks instead Of
a.rcnstocks. 1t was for the most part
simple path over CLASSY slopes on
the eastern side OF the Lower Grndel
Waid Glacier--a bypath winding along
the cliffs
We we're aroused the next morning
before !. was light. and | was rather
relieved when two guides. who we're
waiting az the hut for party expected