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THE OMAHA DAILY BBJiJt SAHMTII DAY , JAN UAH Y 4. 1805J
"OUTOF THUN. "
_
A Short Story hi ' 1 Itrcc PnrtH.
Ily HOHIIHT IIA 1)1 ) ? ,
Aiitliorof "ThoVncft nurt the Musk , " "In tlic Midst of Alarm * . " Tie.
SMBEMO iSa B.EEEeEe Sd33
( Copyright , IMS , by Kobirl tHfr.l
i-Bnssnrs BEHAVIOR.
On one point Miss Bessie Durand agrcci
with Alexander von Ilumboldt , in faci chi
evtn went further than that celebrated man
for whllo he araerted that Thun was one o :
the three most beautiful ppots on earth Bes-
Bio held that this Swleo town was absolutely
the moat perfectly lovely T > lace she had vei
VletUd. Her reason for this conclusion differed
from that c.f Humboldt. The latter , being r
mere man , had been Influenc-d by the sltua
l tlon of ths town , the rapid foaming river , tin
placid green lake , the high mountains al
around and the snow peaks to the east , th <
ancient castle overlooking everything and th (
quaint etrcets with the pavements Up at lh (
flrpt floors.
Bcsslo haJ an cyo for all thenf things , ol
course , but whllo waterfalls and profoum' '
ravines were all very well In their way , hci
hotel had to b ? Oiled with the right ort ol
company before any spot on earth was cn <
tlrcly satisfactory to Bessie. Shs did nol
care to bo out of humanity's reach , nor tt
take her small Journeys alone ; she liked t (
hear the sweet music of speech , and If she
started nt the inund of hfr own , Bcsslo would
have been on the Jump alt day , for she was
a brilliant and effusive talker.
So It happened that In touring through
Switzerland Beetle and her mother ( somehow
people- always placed Bessie's name befor
that of her mother , who was a quiet , little
unobtrusive woman ) stopped nt Thun , In
tending to stay but a day , ns most people do ,
but when Bcssla found the. big hotel simply
swarming with nlc > young men she told her
mother that the local guide book nsJcrted
that Humboldt had once said Thun was ons
of the throe most lovely places on earth
and thciefors they ought to stay there and
enjoy Its bcaull s , which they nt once pro-
ctcdud to do. It must not be Imagined from
this that Bessie wad partlcuUrly fond ol
young men. Such wai far from being the
case. She merely liked to have them propose
to her , which wuit to show that she was not ,
ns her enemlea Elated , always In lovs- with
somebody. The fact was that Miss Besslo
Durand's motives were entirely misunder
stood by an utmppreclatlvo world. Was she
to bs bUmed because young men wanted her
to marry th in ? Certainly net. It was nether
IS- her fault that she was pretty and sweet , and
that youn/ ; men , as a general rule , liked
to talk to her better than to any on
else In the neighborhood. Many of her de
tractors would veiy likely have given much
to have had Bessie's nuny charms of face ,
figure and manntr. This Is a jealous world
and people delight In saying spiteful little
things about these moro favored by
1'rovldtnce than themselves. It must bo ad
mitted , however , that Bessie had a certain
cooing , confldintlal way with people that may
have misled some of the young men who
ultimately proposed to hrr Into Imagining
that they were especial favorites with the
young woman. She took a kindly Interest in
their affairs and very shortly after their ac
quaintance with her most young men found
themselves pouring Into her sympathetic ear
all their hopes and aspirations. Basslo's car
was very sliell-HUo and beautiful as well as
sympathetic , so that one can hardly say
the , young men were to blame , any more
than Bcsslo was. Nearly everybody In this
world wants to talk of himself or herself
as the casj may bo , and so It Is no wonder
that a person like' Bessie- who Is willing to
listen while other people talk of themselves ,
is popular. Among the many billions who
inhabit this planet there arc too many talk
ers and too few llstenirs , and although Bessie
was undoubtedly a 'brilliant taiktr on pcca-
slon , thc-ro Is no doubt that her mhny vic
tories resulted more from her appreciative
qualltles.as a talented listener than from the
entertalrifiig charms of her conversation.
Those women who have had so much to say
about Bfsslo's behavior might well take a
leaf from" her book In this respect. They
would flnjl , If they had even passably good
looks , that proposals would bs moro frequent.
Of ccursb thsre Is no use In denying that
Bessie's eyes had much to do with bringing
young men to the point. Her eyes were
largo and dark , and they had an entrancing
habit of softening Just at the right moment
when there cam ? Into them a sweet , trust
ful , yearning look , that It was simply 1m
possible to resist. They gazed thus at a
young man when he was telling In low
whispers how he hoped to make the work
\ylsor and better by his presence In It , or
when ho narrated some Instance of grea
danger In which ho took part , where ( un
consciously , perhaps , on the teller's part
his own heroism < was shown forth to the bos
possible advantage. Then Bessie's eyes
would grow largo and humid and tender
and a subdued light would co'me Into them
as slid hung breathlessly on his words. Did
not Desdcrnona capture Othello merely bj
listening to a recital of hl own daring deeds
which were , doubtless , very greatly exag
gerated ?
The young men at the big hotel In Thun
wer * clad mostly In knickerbockers and many
Df them had alpenstocks of their own. It soon
bccamo their delight to pit on the terrace In
frcnt of tbo hotel during the pleasant sum
mer evenings and relate to Beiule their hair
breadth escapes , the continuous mumur of
llio Illvcr Aarc forming a soothing chorus to
their dramatic narrations. At least a dozen
young men hovered around the girl , willing
and eager to confide In her , but whllo Bessie
was trolling and kind to them all , It was soon
evident that yomo special one was her favor
ite , and then the rest hung hopelessly back.
Things would go wonderfully well for thlo
lucky fellow for a day or"two , and ho usually
became so offensively conceited In his bearing
toward the reft that the wonder Is ho escaped
Without personal vengeance bolng wreaked
upon him ; then all at once he would pack up
* 1 INTEND TO LEAP WITH YOU INTO
AIIYSS. "
lilfl belonging ! ) and gloomily depart for Derne
or Interlalccn , depending on whether his ulti
mate destination was went cr cast. The
youim men remaining Invariably tried not to
look jubilant at the tudden departure , while
the , ladles staying at the hotel began to say
bard tilings of Heesle , going oven eo far as to
es&ert that she \vnu a heartless flirt. How
llttlo do wo know the motives of our fellow
creatures ! How prone we are to misjudge
the actions of others ! Qessle was no flirt ,
but a high-minded , cciipclentlous girl with
an ambition -an ambition which she did not
babble about to the world , and therefore the
world failed to appreciate her , as It nearly
always falls to appreciate those who do not
take it Into their confluence ,
It came to be currently reported in the
boel ( that Besslo had refused no lets than
seven of the young men who had bo.n staying
there , and an theu > young men had one after
another packed up and departed eltber by the
last train at night or the earliest In the
morning , the proprietor began to wonder what
tbo matter was , especially as each of tbo departing
parting- guests had but a short time before
expressed renewed delight with the hotel and
Ha surrounding . Several of them had stated
to the proprietor that they had abandoned
tbelr Intention cf proceeding further with
their Swiss tour , so satlEfflel were they with
Thun and all its belongings. Thus did the
Battering opinion of Alexander von Humboldt
about to become geiiml , to the great
delight of the hotel proprietor , when wlthou
warning these young men had glcomlly tie
serted Thun , whllo its bsouty undoubted ! :
remained unchanged. Naturally the goo.
man who owned the hotel was bewildered
and began lo think thit , after all , the Ungllst
were nn uncertain , mind-changing race.
AmoiiB the guests there was one younj
follow who was quite as much perplexed ai
the proprietor. Archie Severance was om
cf the last to fall under the spell of Ilcssle , li
Indeed It ! correct lo speak cf Archie fallliu
at all. Ho was a very deliberate young man
not given to doing anything precipitously , bu
there Is no doubt that the charming personal
Ity of Uesslo fascinated him , although h <
Kcemert to content himself with admiring hei
at a distance. Uesp'c somehow did not seen
to care about being admired from a ills
tnncS and once when Archie wai
promenading back and forth on the terraci
above th ? river I'lie smiled sweetly at him
from her book and ho sat down beside her
Jimmy Wcllman had gone that morning , am
the rest had not yet found It out. Jlmm >
hnd so completely monopolized Miss Durand
for the last few days that no one elw hai
had a chance , but now that he had d-partc < l
Dcsrlc sat nlone on the tcyrace , which was a
moat unusual state of thlnga
"They tell me , " raid Dessle In her most
flattering manner , "that you are a famous
climber and that you have been to the top
of the Matterhorn. "
"Oh , not famous ; far from It , " eald Archlo
modestly. "I have bosn up the Matterhorn
three or four times , but then women nnd
children make that ascent nowadays , so that
Is nothing unusual. "
"I ntn sure you must have had some
thrilling escapes , " continued ncrale , looking
with admiration at Archie's stalwart frame.
"Mr. W.IIman had an awful experience "
"Ycstjrday ? " Interrupted Archlo. "I hear
ho left early this morning. "
"No , not yesterday. " tald Miss Durand
coldly , drawing herself up with some Indig
nation , but as she glanced s'.dsways at Mr.
Severance , that young man seemed so Inno
cent that she thought perhaps he meant
nothing In particular by his remark. So ,
after a Plight pause. Dessle went on again.
"It was a week ago. He was climbing ths
Stockhorn and all at once the clouds sur
rounded him. "
"And what did Jimmy do ? Waited till
the clouds rolled by , I suppose. "
"Now , Mr. Severance , it you are going to
laugh at me , I shall not talk to you any
more. "
"I assure you , Miss Diirand , I was not
laughing at you. I was laughing at Jimmy.
I ne\cr regarded the Stcckhorn as a formid
able peak. It Is something like 7.195 feU
high , I believe , not to mention the Inches. "
"Hut surely , Mr. Severance , you know
very well that the danger of a mountain
docs not necessarily bear any proportion
to Ita altltuda above thesea. . "
"That lo very true. 1 am sure that
Jimmy himself , with his head In ths clouds ,
has braved greater dangers at much lower
levels than the top of the Stockhorn. "
Again Miss Durand looked scarchlngly at
the young man beside her , but again Archlo
was gazing dreamily at the curious bsll-
slinpeil summit of the mountain under dis
cussion. The Stockhorn stands out nobly
head and shoulders above Its fellows when
vlewd from the hotel terrace at Thun.
There was silence for a fJW moments be
tween the two and lieasle said to herself
that she did not at all like this exceedingly
C2lt-pcss'8sed young man who seemed to
look at the mountains In preference to gizlng
at her , 'which was against the natural order
of thing * . It was cvldsnt that Mr. Severance
needed to * be taught a lesson , and Bessie , who
had a' ' god d al of Justifiable ! , con" " fulcnce In
her own powers as a teacher , resolve'd to
glvo him the , necessary Instruction. " Perhaps
when ie had'acqulred a llttl : more experience
hoould not sp ak so contemptuously of
"Jimmy" or any of the rest. Dei'ldej It Is
always a generous action toward the rest of
humanity to roduca the Inordinate self-
cstesm of any oiis young man to some
thing like reasonable proportions. So Desslc ,
Instead of showing that she was offended by
his flippant conversation and his lack of
dovotlon to her , put , on her most bewitching
manner and smiled the- smile that PO many
before her latest victim hart found Impossible
to resist. Slit. wouU make him talk of him
self and hla exploits. They all succumbed
to that treatment.
"I do so love to hear of narrow escapes , "
said Bessie , confidentially. "I think It Is
so Inspiring to hear of human courage
and cnduranca being- pitted agailnst the
dangers of the Alps and coming out
victorious. "
"Yes , they usually come out victorious-ac
cording to the accounts that reach us but
thsn , you know , we never hear the moun
tain's side of the story. "
"But surely Mr. Severance , " appealed Bes
sie , "you do not Imagine that a real climber
would exaggerate when telling of what he
had dono. "
"No. Oh , no. I would not go so far as to
say that he would exaggerate exactly , but I
have known cases where well a sort of al-
plno glow came over a story , that , I must
confess , Improved It very much. Then again
curious mental transformations take place
which have the effect of making a man" ,
what the vulgar term , a liar. Some years
ago a friend of mine came over here to do o/
few ascents , but ho found sitting on the
hotel piazza so much more to his tast that
ho sat there. I think myself that the veranda
climber Is the most sensible man of the lot
of us , and If ho has a good Imagination
there Is no reason why he should bo dis
tanced by those you call real climbers when
! omf to telllnK stories of adventure.
\\oll , this man , who Is a most truthful per
son , took one false step. You know some
amateurs have a vile habit of getting the
names of various peaks branded on their
alpenstocks , Just as It any real climber ever
used an alpenstock. "
"Why. what do they use ? " asked Bessie
much Interested. '
"Ice axes , .of course. Now there Is a use
ful Individual In Interlaken
who la what you
night call a wholesale' brander. He has the
names of all the peaks done In Iron at his
shop , nnd If you take your alpenstock to him
lie will for n few francs brand on It all the
names It will hold , from the Ortler to
Mont Blanc. My friend was weak enough
to have all the climbs ho Intended to make
branded on the alpenstock he bought the
iiomont he entered Switzerland. They al-
ivays buy an alpenstock the flrnt thing. He
lever had the time to return to the- moun
tains , but gradually came to bsllevs that ho
liad made all the ascents recorded by flre
nd Iron on hs pole. Ho Is a truthful man
m every other topic than Switzerland. "
"But you must have had some very
langerous experiences among the Alps , Mr.
Sovoranc ? . 1'lcasctell me of the time * you
.vero . In the Greatest peril. "
"I am sure It would not Interest you. "
"Oh , It would ; It would. Please go on , and
lon't require BQ much psrsuaslon. I am Just
onglnc to hear the story. "
"It Isn't much of n story because , you
ies , there lo no Alpine glow about It. "
Archie glanced at the girl and It flashed
icross his mind that he was probably then
n the greatest danger he had ever been In
n his life. She bent forward toward him ,
icr elbows on her knees and her chin
such a pretty chin * In
ler hands. Her eyes were full upon him
UK ! Archlo had sense enough to realize- that
here was danger In their clear , pelucld
lepthu , so ho. too. turned his own from them
ind sought refuge In his old friend , the
Stockhorii ,
"I think the narrow-eft
escape I ever had
vas about two weeks ago. I went up
"With how many guides ? " Interrupted
icsalo breathlessly.
"With none at all , " answered Archie wltn
; laugh ,
"Isn't that very unsafe ? I thought ono
.Iways . should have a guide. "
"Sometimes guides are unnecessary. I
ook none on this occasion because I only ao-
: ended as far OH the Chateau In Thun , some
100 feet above where' wo arc Bitting , and as
: went by the main street of the town , the
: llmb was perhaps mf In all weathers. Be-
ildej , there Is generally a policeman about. "
"Oh , " said the girl , sitting up suddenly
-cry straight. Archie was looking at the
nountalnti and did not see the hot anger
iur 0 up Into her face.
"You know the etepd leading down from
ho caatU ; they arc covered In and are very
lark when ono comes out of the bright sun-
tght. Some fool had been eating an orange
here and. bud circleajly thrown the peel on
he itej ) . I did not noUc * It , and to trod
on A bit , The next thing I know I WAR In
a heap al the foot of that long stairway ,
thinking every bone In my body was broken ,
I had many bruises , but no hurt that was
serious , nevertheless I never bad ouch ft
fright In my life , and I hope novcr to have
such another. " B s-lo rose up with much
dignity.
"I am obliged to you for your1 recital , Mr.
Severance , " she said , frc zlngly. "If I do
not seem to appreciate It as > much as I chould ,
It Is perhaps because I am not accustomed
to being laughed at. "
"I assure you , Miss Durand , that I am not
laughing at you and that this pathstlc Inci
dent was anything but a laughing matter to
me. The Stockhorn has no such danger
lying In wait for a man as a bit of orang ?
peel on a dark and etecp stairway. Please
do not bo offended with me. , I told you mysteries
stories have no Alpine glow about them , but
the danger In undoubtedly there. "
Archlo had risen to hla feet , but there was
no forglvcnccu In Miss Durand'a eyes as she
bade him "Good afternoon , " and went Into
the hotel , leaving him standing there.
During the week that followed Archie- had
llttlo chance of making his pace with Miss
Durand , for In that week the Sanderson epi
sode had Its beginning , Its rise , nnd its cul
mination. Charley Sanderton , emboldened
by the sudden departure of Wellman , bccam :
the constant attendant of Bessie , and every
thing appeared to bo In his favor until the
evening he left. That evening the two strolled
along the walk that bordero the north side
of the river , leading to the lake. They said
they were going to see the alpln ; glow on
the p.iow mountains , .but nobody believed
that , for the glow can be seen qulto as well
from the terrace In front of the hotel , B3
that as It may , they came back together
shortly befor ? S o'clock , Bessie looking her
prettiest , and Sanderson with a black frown
on his face , evidently In the worst of tem
pers. He flung his belongings In a bag and
dcpartol on the 8:40 : train for Berne. As
Archie met the pair , Beejle actually smiled
very sweetly upon him whlls Sanderson glared
ao If he had never met Severance before.
"That cplsoilo Is evidently ended , " said
Archie to himself ns he contlnusd his walk
toward Lake Thun. "I wonder If It Is pure
devilment that Induces her to lead people on
to a proposal and then drop them. I supposs
Charley will Icavo now and we will have no
more games of billiards. I wonder why they
all seem to think It the proper thing to go
away. I wouldn't. A woman Is llko a dlfll-
cult peak , If you don't succeed the first time ,
you should try again , I belisve I shall try
with Bomo regard to lbo > scenery , just as
uppo5 a stage manager dqcs. One thai
propose by the river ; thort are lovely shady
\\alks on both side ? ; nnotlitr up In the maun
tains ; another In the -moonlight on the lak
In ono of the pretty fonlga looking rowboat
they have here , with strlptd awnings. I don'
bellevo any novelist ban ver thought of sue !
a thing. Then I can write down a vivid dc
bcrlptlon of the scenery In conjunction will
the language the young1 , man uses. It my
book Is n6t a success It will b because there
are no discriminating critics In England ,
First Proposal , This came on rather un
oxpectcdly. His name Is Samuel Caldwcl
and he Is a curate hero for his health. Ho
Is not In the least in love with me , but he
thinks ho Is , and so I suppose tt comes to
the same thing : He began by saying that I
was the only ono who ever understood Ills
real aspirations , and that If 1 would Join my
16t with hj * ho was sure we would not only
bring , happiness to ourselves , but others as
well. I told him gently that my own highest
aspiration was to wrlto a tucccssful novel
and thl ? horrified him , for bo thinks novels
nro wicked. He has gone to Qrlndcwald
where he thinks the nlr Is more suitable for
his lungs. I hardly count this as a proposa
and It took me so much by surprise that II
was half over before I realized that It actually
was an offer of hi * heart nnd hand. Besides
It took place In the hotel garden , of all un
likely spots , where wo were In constant
danger of Interruption.
Second Proposal. Hlchard King Is a very
nice fellow , and was tremendously In earnest.
He says his life Is blighted , but he will scon
como to a different opinion at Interlaken ,
wh5re Margaret Dunn writes mo It Is very
gay , and where Itlchard has gone. Lasl
evening iwe strolled down by the lake , and
ho MigqCRtcil that we rliould gp out In a
boat. He engaged ono with two women to
row , one sitting at the stern and the other
standing at llio prow , working great oars
that looked like cricket bats. The women
did not understand English , nnd we floated
on the lake until the moon came up over
the snow mountains. Richard leaned over
and tried to take my hand , whispering In a
low voice "Bessie. " I confess I was rather
In a flutter , and could think of nothing bet
ter to say than "Slrl" In a toneof surprise
nnd Indignation. He went on very hurriedly.
"Bessieho said , "we have known each
othsr only a few days , but In those few days
I have lived In paradise. "
"Yes , " I answered , gathering my wllo
about me , "Humboldt sayo Thun Is ono of
the three "
Ulchard Interrupted mo with something thai
. I. . . ; . . . . . . . - I ftA . . . " . . . I. , * lmmL.VClja j * ! .1
rv'Y-VCrr-- , / / $
- , -i s < v i/ y *
> r3xLia > 1 ' / * - /
vr tE . - " 0 : x r /
"I SHALL HAVE REVENGE ON YOU , A HCHIE. "
half a dozen proposals with Bessie myself ,
If I ever come to the point she won't find It
a > easy to get rid of mo as she des with all
the rest. "
Meditating thus he sat down on a. bench
under the tre's facing the lake. Archie
wondered If the momentous question had been
asked nt this spot. It seeimd just the place
for It and he noticed that the gravel en ths
path was much disturbed , as If by the Iron
shed point of an agitated man's cane. Then
he remembered that Sanderson was carrying
an Iron pointed cane. As Archie smiled and
looked about him lu saw on the scat beside
him a neat little morocco bcund book with
i silver clasp. It had evidently slipped from
Uio Insecure dress pocket cf a "Woman who
had been sitting there. Archie picked It up
and turned it over and ov r In his hands.
It Is < i painful thing to be compelled to make
excuses for one of whom wo would fain
ipcak well , but It must be admitted that at
this point In his life Severance- did what he
ihould not have don * . Ho actually read the
contents of the book before ho could b9
.jure It belonged to anybody In particular , and
that he opened It at first merely to BCQ If
there wer a name or a card Inside , but there
Is little doubt that the young man knew
from the very first whose book It was , and
ha might at least have asked Miss Durand
If It were hers before ho open d It. How
ever there Is little purpose In speculating on
what might have been , and as the reading
of the not * book led directly to the utterly
unjustifiable action of Severance ofterwarJ , as
one wrong step invariably leids to another ,
the contents of the little- volume are hero
given so that the r.'ader of this tragedy may
I lie more fully understand the situation.
II. BESSIE'S CONFESSION.
August 1. The keeping of a diary \a \ a silly
fashion , and I am fure I .would not bother
with one If my memory were good and If I
had not a great object In view. However , I
do not Intend this book to be more than a
collection of notes that will be useful to mo
when I begin my novel. The- novel Is to bo
the work of my life , and I mean to use every
talent I may have to make It unique and
true to life. I think the new woman novel
Is a thing of the past , and that the time-
has now como for a novel of the old sort ,
yet written with a fidelity to life such as has
never been attempted by the old novelists.
A painter or a sculptor uses a model whllo
producing a great picture or a great statue.
Why should not a writer use a model also ?
The motive of all great novels must be love
and the culminating point of a love story
Is the proposal. In no novel that I have over
read Is ths proposal well done. Men evi
dently do not talk to each other about the
proposals they make , therefore a man writer
has merely his own experience to go upon ,
to his proposalu have a sameness ; his hero
proposes just as ho himself has done or
would do. Women writers seem to have
moro Imagination in this matter , but they
describe a proposal as thc-y would like tt to
bo , and not as It actually 1 * . I find that
It Is quitean easy thing to get a man to
propose . I suppose I have a gift that way
and bet-Ides there is no denying the fact that
I am handsome and perhaps that Is some
thing of an aid , I therefore Intend to write
down in ttila book all my proposals , using
the exact language the man employed , and
thus I shall have the proposals In my novel
precisely as they occurred. I shall also set
down here any thoughts that may be of use
to me as I write my book.
August 2. I shall hereafter not date thff
notes In thlo book ; that will make it look less
like a diary , which I deleft. We are In Thun ,
which Is a lovely place. Humboldt , whoever
ho Is or wao , said It Is one of the three pret
tiest spots on earth. I wonder what tbo
names are of the other two. We Intended to.
stay but one night at this hotel , but I tee it
Is full cf young men and as all the * women
ueem to be rather ugly and given to gossip
I think this is Just the place for the carry
ing out of my Ideas. The average young
man is always ready to fall In love while on
his vacation. It makes time pass BO pleas
antly , and as I read somewhere that man as
a general rule proposes fourteen times dur
ing hlii life , I may as well , In the Interests
of literature , be the recipient of aomo of
thoss offers. I have hit on what I think Is a
marvelous Ide * . I shall arrange the otter *
sounded remarkably like "Hang Thun , " then
ho went on and said that I was all the world
to him ; that ho could not live without me.
I uhook my he-ad slowly and did not reply.
Ho spoke with n fluency that somed to sug-
scut practice , but I told him it could never
be. Then he folded his arms , pitting mood
ily back In the boat , saying I had blighted
his life. Ho did look handsome as he tui
there In the moonlight With a dsep frown
on his brow , but I could not help thinking
that ho sat back purposely so that the moon
light might otrlko his face. I wish I could
wrlto down the exact language he used , for
ho was very eloquent , but iiomehow I cannot
bring myself to do It , even In this bcok. I
am sure , however , that when I come to write
my novel and turn up thei'e notco I shall re
call the words. Still , I Intended to put down
the exact phrases. I wish I could take notes
at the Urn ? , but when a man Is proposing he
Boe-ms to want all your attention.
A fine , stalwart youn. ? man came to the
hotel today , bronzed by mountain climbing.
Ho looks ao If he wauld propose In a manner
not BO much like all the rei't. I have found
that his name Is Archibald Sevcrane ? , and
they say ho Is a great mountaineer. What
a splendid thing a proposal on the high Alp. '
would be from such a man , with the gleam
ing snow all around. I think I-shall uw
that Idea In the book.
Third , fourth , fifth and sixth proposals. I
must confcsu that I am amazed and disap
pointed with the men. Is there no such
thing ao originality among mankind ? You
would think * they had all taken lessons from
some proposing master ; they all have the
same formula. The last four all began by
calling me "Besslo" with the air of taking a
great and Important Bte-p In life. Mr. Well-
man varied tt a little by asking mo to call
him Jimmy , but the principle Is just the
same. I suppose this sameness Is the result
of our modern system of education. I am
sure Archie would act differently. I am not
certain that I like him , but he Interests mo
moro than any of the others. I was very
angry with him a week ago. .He knew It ,
but ho doesn't ssein to care. * As soon as
Charlie Sanderson proposes I will see what
can be done with Archie Severance.
I like the name Archie. It seems to suit
the young man exactly. I have been won
dering what sort of scenery would accord
best with Mr , Severances proposal. I sup-
psso a glacier would be about the correct
thing , for I Imagine Archie is rather cold
and sneering when ho > is not in very good
humor , The lake ? would be too placid for
bis * proposal , and when one Is near the rapids
one cannot hear what > the man Is saying.
I think the Kohleren gorge would bo just
the spot , It Is so wild and romantic , with a
hundred waterfalls dashing down the preci
pices. I must ask Arohla If lie has over seen
the Kohleren falls. I suppose he will despise
them because they are not up among the
snow peaks ,
III , BESSIE'S PHOPOSAL.
After reading the book which he had no
business to read , Archlo closed the volume ,
fastened the clasp and slipped It into his
Inside pocket. There was a meditative look
In his eyes as ho gazed-aver the bluelake. .
"I can't return It to her now. "
Archie said to hi me elf. "Perhaps I should
not have read It , So ehe Is not a
flirt , after all , but merely uses us poor
rnoitala as models. " Archie sighed. "I
think that's better than being a flirt
but I'm ml qulto sure. I cmppose an author
Is justified In going to great lengths to insure
the success of so Important a thing ru a book ,
It may be that I can acuUt her with this
tremendous work of fiction. I will think
about It. But what am. I to do about this
llttlo dairy ? I must think about that an
well. I can't give It to her and say I did
not read It , for I am uuch a poor band at
lying.
"Good heavens ! I believe that In Bessie
coming alone along the river bank. I'll
wager she has ml&scd : the book and knows
pretty accurately whore she lost it , I'll
place it where I found It and hide. "
The line of UMB alons the path made It
eauy for Archlo to carry out successfully his
hastily formed resolution. He felt like a
sneiHr , a feeling thoroughly merited , as ho
dodged be-blnd the tr a and eo worked lilu
way to the main road. Ho saw Bessie march
straight for the bench , pick up the book and
walk back toward the hotel , without ever
glancing arodnd , and her definite action con
vinced Archie that she had no suspicion
that -any one- had seen her book. This made
the young man feel easier In his mind , and
ho swung along the Intorlakcn road toward
Thun , nattering himself that no harm had
been done. Nevertheless , ho had resolved
to revenge Miss Bessie's Innocent victim ? ,
and an hoyolked ho turned plan after plan
over In his mind , Vengeance would bo all
the moro complete ns ( ho girl had no Idea
that her literary methods were known to
any one but herself.
For the next week Archlo as very atten
tive to Bessie , and It must bo recorded that
the pretty young woman semcd to appreci
ate his devotion thoroughly and to like It.
Ono morning , beautifully arrayed In walking
costume , llcsslo stood on the terrace appar
ently scanning the sky ns If anxious about
the weather , but In reality looking out for
an escort , th ? gossips Rild to each other ns
they rat under the awnings busy at needle
work and slander , for of course no such
thought was In the young lady's mind. She
smiled sweetly when Archlo happened to como
out of the billiard room , but then sh ? always
greeted her friends In a kindly manner.
"Are you off for a walk this morning ? "
asked Archie , In the Innocent tone of one who
didn't know and really desired" the Informa
tion.
tion.Ho
Ho spoke for the benefit of the gossips , but
they were not to bo taken In by any such
transparent device. They sniffed with con
tempt , and said It was brazen of tbo two to
pretend that they were not moiling there by
appointment.
"Yes , " said Bessie with a saucy air of de-
flanco ao If she did not care who know It.
"I am going by the upper road to the Koh-
leren falls. Have you ever seen them ? "
"No. Arc they pretty ? "
"Pretty ! They are grand , at least the
gorge Is , although perhaps you would not
think either the gorge or the falls worth
visiting , "
"How can I tell until I have visited tlrm ?
Won't you be my guldo there ? "
"I shall bo moat happy to have you como ,
only you must promise to speak respectfully
of both ravine and fall. "
"I was not the man who spike disrespect
fully of the equator , you know , " said Archlo
ns they walked off together nmldyt the scorn
of the gossips , who declared they had never
occn such a bold-faced action In their lives.
An their lives already had bon somewhat
lengthy , an Idea may bo formed of the hcln-
ousncss of Hassle's conduct.
It tcok the two rather more than an hour
by the upper road overlooking the town of
Thun and the hk beyond , to reach the finger
board that pointed down Into the Kohler ?
valley. They zlg-zagged along a rapidly fal
Ing path until they reached the first of
series of fally roaring Into a deep gorge sur
rounded by a dens.k forest. Bessie leanci
against the frail handrail and gazed Into th
depths , Severance standing by her Bide.
Severance was the first to sp.'ak. and whel
10 spoke It was not on the subject of th
cataract.
"Mlfa Durand , " he said , "I love you.
ask you to bo my wife. "
"Oh , Mr. Severance , " replied Bessie , with
out lifting her eyes from the foaming
chasm. "I hope that nothing In my action
ms led you to "
"Am 1 to understand that you are nbou
to refuse me ? " cried Archie In a menacing
olco that sounded above the roar of the
ailing waters. Bcsslo looked quickly up a
ilm , and seslng a dark frown on his brow-
Irew slightly away from him.
"Certainly I am going to refuse you.
Ijavo ki own you scarcely more than a week. '
"That has nothing to do with It. I tel
ou , girl , that I love you. Don't you under
jtand what I say ? "
"I understand what you say well enough
aut I don't love you. Is not that answer
ufilclcnt ? "
"It would be sufficient If It were true. It
s not true. You do love me. I have seei
hnt for days , for although you may have
trlven to conceal your affection for me
ret It has been evident to everyone , am
nore especially to the man who loved you
Vhy then deny what has been patent to al
nlookers ? Have I riot seen your face
jrlghtfin when I approached you ? Have :
tot seen a welcoming smileon your lips
hat , could have but. one meaning ? "
"Mr. Severance , " cried Bessie In unfeigned
xlarm , "have you gone siiddcnly mad ? Ho\\
laro you to speak to me In this fashion ? "
"Girl , " shouteJ Archie , grasping her by
ho wr'st , "Is It possible that I am wrong In
upposlng you cari for me , and that the only
'thcr Inference to bo drawn from your actions
s the true one ? "
"What other Inference ? " asked Bessie In
i trembling voice , trying unsuccessfully to
withdraw her wrist from his Iron grasp.
"That you have been trifling with me , "
ilascd Severance. "That you have led me
on and on , moaning nothing. That you have
been pretending to care for me when In
reality you merely wanted to add one moro
to the many proposals you have' received.
That Is the alternative. Now which Is the
fact ? Are you In love with me , or have
you been fooling mo ? "
"I told you I was > not In love with you ,
but I did think you were a gentleman. Now
that I see you are a ruffian I hate you. Let
go my wrist ; you are hurting me. "
"Very good ; very good. Now we have the
truth at last and I will teach you the danger
of making a plaything of a human heart. "
Severance let go her wrist and seized her
around the waist. Besslo screamed and
called for help , while the man who hold her
a helpless prisoner laughed sardonically.
With his free hand ho thrust aside the- frail
plno pole that formed a handrail to guard tha
edge of the cliff. It fell Into the torrent and
disappeared down the cataract.
"What are you going to do ? " cried the
girl , her eyes wide with terror.
"I Intend to leap with you Into this
then wo shall be united forever. "
"Oh Archie , Archlo , I love you , " sobbed
Bessie , throwing her arms around the neck
of the astonished young man , who was so
amazed at the sudden turn events had taken ,
that In stepping back he nearly accomplished
the disaster he had a moment before
threatened. , _ . ,
"Then why why , " he stammered , "did you
why did you deny It ? "
"Oh. I don't know. I suppose because 1
am contrary or because as you said It was to
jjlf-evldcnt. Still , I don't bellevo I would
vor have accepted you If you hadn't forced
mo to. I have become so wearied with tbo
conventional form of proposal. "
"Yes , J wippose It does get rather tire
some , " said Archlo. mopping his brow. "I
see a bench a llttlo further down , suppose
W3 I'll ' there and talk the matter over ? "
Ho gave her his hand and she tripped
daintily down to the bench , where they sat
down together.
"You didn't really bellevo I was such a
rufllanas 1 pretended to be ? " said Archie
at last.
"Why , yea. Aren't you ? " she aeked ,
simply , glancing sldewayo nt. him with her
most winning smile.
"You surely didn't actually think I was
going to throw you over the cliff ? "
"Oh , I have often heard or read of it being
done. AV ro you only pretending ? "
"That's "all. It was really a little matter
of revenge. I thought you ought to bo pun-
Irhed for the way you had used those other
follows. And Sanderson was such a good
hand at billiards. I could Just beat him. "
"You you said you eared , for mo. Was
that prctens ? , toj ? " awked Besule , with a
catch in her voice.
"No. That was all true , Ilessl ? , and there
Is where my ssheme of vengeance goes lame.
You see , my dear girl , I never thought you
would look at me ; some of the other fellows
ara over BO much better than I am , and of
course I did not Imagine I had any chance.
I hope that you will forgive me and that
you won't Inslit on having a real revenge
by withdrawing what you have said , "
"I shall have revenge enough on you ,
Archie , you poor , deluded young man , all
your life. Hut never say anything moro
about 'the other fallows , ' as you call them.
There never was any other fellow but you ,
Perhaps I will show you a llttlo book some
day that will explain everything , although
I am not BO sure , If you saw It , you might
think worse of me than ever. I think , per
haps It Is my duty to show It to you be
fore It Is too late to draw back. Shall I ? "
"I absolutely refute to look at It ; now or
any other time , " said Archie magnanimously ,
drawing' her toward him and kissing her.
And Bessie , with a sigh of relief , wondered -
derod why It was that men have so much
lees curiosity than women. She was ture
that If bo had hinted at any such secret
she would never ! have rested until cho knew
what It was.
It Snvf ( lie Crimpy Children.
8EAVIEW. Va. , March 9 , 1895.
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THE LARGEST PIECE Of
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/
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if TDK OHLV
SPECIALIST
WHO TRIATt AU.
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Wcalcneu&UiMrdcral
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M Vcm Kipcrlcnc * .
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"i'se In Town , Honey ! '
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The kind that satisfies. The most nppe .
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Iluya jpnokuiniorUriiiiliiu Aunt Jemima's Belf-
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