Charlevoix county herald., 1907-05-11
CHAPTER w.
The Coward,

lOOh Ol WOuucI, IcScntiui
a curiosity that was even harsh and
stern. ~
seated myself opposite the woman
| had unconsciously wronged For the
first time she looked at me, and | saw
with relief that neither pain nor an
guish lurked in her clear eyes. There
was no outraged love nor tenderness.
Nor was there pity for herself or for
me- But even so, it seemed to me
pathetic that woman should be so
strong.
Il wish to hear everything. Begin,
please, with your first meeting with
Mr. Willoughby. Tell me ALTO the
last moment"
Il shall not spare either yourself or
myself" promised.
Did you know Mr.. Willoughby in
timately? Were you at Oxford with
him? think | do not remember his
speaking of you"
She spoke slowly, with certain
aloofness. A desire to be just strug-
gled with manifest dislike-a dislike
that was evidently not lessened be-
cause Of my studied calm. Perhaps
she thought a fervent expression of
penitence more fitting. But instinct
,vely knew that an hysterical repent
ance would increase her contempt for
me. l preferred her hatred to that
And so told my story absolutely with
out feeling.
81 met him for the first time the
night before his death
Indeed" Her voice trembled with
anger. She was indignant that he
should have discussed his love with an
utter stranger.
1T was not until we had both given
up hope that he mentioned you, Miss
Brett" | said with some sternness.
But surely his death was the result
Of 9lte unexpected accident? The
newspapers gave one that impression"
she exclaimed suspiciously. The words
and the look accused me of falsehood.
The accident came only after we
were both utterly exhausted by the
sufferngs of a night spent on the
mountain paths"
And were the newspapers correct
in saying that you were not an eXpe-
rienced mountain climber? And did
Mr.. Willoughby know that?'
YES, | am simply tourist. This is
the first time | have been in Europe.
came to Switzerland as thousands of
others come-to see the mountains
from an hotel piazza or railway train.
To me, as to most tourists, the Alps
were simply gigantic panorama to
be viewed complaisantly, as one looks
at Niagara Falls. To climb them
never occurred to me until l met Mr..
Willoughby.
81 was making the usual circular
tour, Interlaken, Scheidegg, Lauter-
brunnen, Grindelwald. Mr. Willoughby
happened to sit next to me at the table
dhote at the Bear hotel. He was an
athlete; Switzerland to him was SIM
ply an immense playground; he spoke
of the trophies he had won at Queens
fields in the same breath as his ex-
PLOTS in scaling a mountain top. At
first | listened to him with indiffer-
ence; his enthusiasm amused me
nothing more | had supposed that
people climbed mountains simply for
the view; because on the summit one
could see a little farther than If one
were merely on the mountan-side.
But as he talked / began to under
stand It was a game-a conflict-a
battle if you wish--in which one pitted
ones strength and wit in a hand-to-
hand fight with nature.
Gradually his enthusiasm aroused
mine | was wearied of sightseeing;
the horde of tourists disguised me.
Before we had finished our cigars |
longed to pluck my first edelweiss; to
play this new game myself. | limited
vaguely at dangers, but my companion
laughed at them. wts presumptuous
enough to think that where he led |
might follow"
The usual mistake Of the tourist, l
believe" commented Miss Brett, cold.
ly. And you begged that you might
go with him on his next climb?"
at least was willing enough to do
so when he suggested that He was
planNing to make the Stralegg Pass.
confess that the word pass did not
sound especially formidable, for he de-
clarad that guides were not at all
necessary. So | agreed TO make the
ascent with him. | did not realize that
mountain climbing. more than any
other sport. required arduous training.
The next morning at / o'clock we
started from Grindelwald We were
provided with the customary parapher.
MALTA of the Alpine climber; but our
climb to the Schwarzegg Club Hut, at
the Upper Ice-fall, where we were to
spend the night, might have been
made with walking sticks instead OF
alpenstocks. 1t was for the most part
a simple path over CLASSY slopes on
the eastern side of the Lower GrIndel
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