LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2646, 29 September 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE GUIDE’S WOOING. An Axpinh Sketch. BT JH, .HOHBIZ WILSON. ( Concluded .) 1 How well I remember that ascent! though It’s full a dozen years ago. I think I never had a mnch pleasanter day, I wa< .-vary anxious, though, and highly excited. Once or twioe I thought of taming back, Jl ..was alrald it would be too hard for Aennohen, and I began to feel a responsibility that I never felt-before or since. Yon , mast know the brave girl who was with me was so very dear to mo. However, it was wondeiful how well she went. Wo gave her, of course, all the help we oonld ; bnt then she made euoh good use of help. You know what I mean, Herr. Soma people can’t well be helped on mountains—some ladies cepacia ly. If you’ll put their feet on good places lor holding, they can’t hold at all ; and 'then they have no talent for balancing themselves Now, Aennohen was very clover. She could step safely, and balance herself properly. She was light and active then; and she never had SoAwindel, she neverwas diray. Her nerves wore firm .and her health was perfect; and then she was strong. She went at a good pace, and did everything that I tcld her to do. She didn’t very often want a rest ; and then she was so cheerful acd sweet tempered 1 Whenever she looked at me she smiled; but she was -too good a mountaineer to talk much while climbing. I have had He-ren, sometimes, who would talk until they need up their wind and conldn’t talk any more. Talk when you stop, and not while yon are going, I say; unless. Indeed, there be something—some advloo or order —that most be said during actual hard work, ‘You understand that I was making a

Versvok, a trial, with my A ennohen, and it was a success, it .was. I felt so proud of her; and sxy comrade, Christian Landsmans, he admired her too, I can assure you. We did not sleep-so high up as this hut, but passed the night on a slab of rooks, down there on the oravate. I looked at the place as we passed it to-day, and I promise you that Lromembered that night. 1 didn’t say anything to you about it, because I did not know then that I was going to toll you about Aennchen. We wrapped her up as warm as we oou d, and wa managed without rugs. She waa tired, and fell asleep almost directly. Christian and I talked together a long time about the climb of the morrow, and then we slept. I ought to tell you that Aesnchen would attend to the provisions, and that she tried, ; in her woman’s way, to make ns comfortable. We guides and hunters can make ooffee, as you know j but she did it be'ter than wa could, aud It was so pleasant to havo her up there, and to see hjr move about, and hear her talk. O, she was a dear girl! ‘ We started early—so soon,.indeed, as it waa light—for we had an untried and a difficult climb before ns % and we had such a dear companion. Christian and I arranged to turn back if we found the work too hard further ; but I own that I thought she would be able to hold her own with ,us. ‘We decided on the route—the one that 1 we shall follow to-morrow—aud our little ' parly started cheerily, *We had plenty of rope. At some places I went on ahead, till I had firm hold, and then let down ths rope, and Christian made j It fast round Aennchen, and then she was pulled np oveE.tho bad part. The rooks, as. you will.see to-morrow, are sometlmas very' steep, and high, and smooth—no good holding, Occasionally there are ledges and crooks, and fissures, good enough for me, or for Max there, but pet very good for every one Aennchen was never wilful, as some ladles are j never gave us any trouble. She had confidence in ns, and had good sense enough to let us help her when we all thought that she wanted help. And ao we went on and on, always cafely, till wo got to the foot of the final peak - there is a rope over the piece now —and found the last bit very ugly. We hauled Aentqhen up, in our way j she never showed a slgp of fear, and, at last, we stood upon the summit We jodelled down, that they might hear ua In the valley. Wa had no glass, and could not see (o far down ; hut we heard that several people had seep ns as we op, and had seen a woman on that terrible now paak. ' Aennchen was a little tired, and she lay down foe a short time on the top. I gave har a little brandy and a great kiss, and she soon revived, and was quite delighted to be on the Wlesenhorn with me. The weather was fine and thffl sun waa hot ; bat there were mists la the valley, and the view over Italy waa not good. Bat Asnnobea did not care fe«t. W? W« *°

‘You both of yon know the north aide!] Yes P I thought so. For my part. I consider the descent on that side to ba dangerous —more dangerous than this s’de —end I was a little anxious when wo started to go down. I oama last, Christian led, and Aeacchon was roped between us. She ki.ew that she had to take care, and to look o ily to hir scops, I told her how to go, and she did it very well, Luokily, the mountain was in good order - hope we shall find It as good to morrow—and wo had on’y one slip. 1 Aennchen trod with her heels upon a streak of ico—and slipped. 1 felt sick, for 1 knew wk*t snoh a a ip there might lead to, and I loved her bo I I stood firm, and called to Christian. He didn’t turn round, bnt stood like a wall, I had seen the slip from tho beginning. We both stood the shock, though there was hardly any hold, and in a second my brave active Aennohen had regained her feet, and the danger was over. O, how glad I felt 1 ‘I wid show you the place to-morrow. There is a white thin strand of rope fixed close to it, which chows tho spot near which another accident >oa know which I mean bsgau. After that one slip we had no other. My Schats h»d not lost her nerve, and we got safely down. When we reached the chalets the people came out, I can tell you, to see a girl who had come over the Wieaenhorn with her lover 1 Aennohen was tired, but after a great sleep she was right next day, though a little stiff. A week alter that, wo were married ; and a week after that, I took an English Herr over the same mountain. Christian went with me again that time

* And now, Herren, it Is time to go to sleep. We’ll have a look at the night, and then turn in. We must be up early tomorrow. Why, U’b nearly ten o’clock ! Too late; too late 1 When I was thinking about Aeanohen, and telling yon about her, I didn’t notloe the time. X hope that 1 haven’t wearied you ?’ ‘No, cot at all. Quite otherwise, Hans. We must see Aennohen some day. It was quite a romance, your adventure upon this terrible mountain with the girl that yon loved, We shall think of her all the way to-morrow. Your brave Aennohen will lend a deeper Interest to the olimt,’ Then he went oat of the hat. It was odd and dark, but the scene was vast and solemn. There was no moon, but many bright stars looked ont and shone upon us. Deep down, in sombre shadow, lay the rookmasses over which we bad mounted ; high up, in yet more awful mystery, soared the huge rock-mass, which seemed to end only among the stars, A dim mist bid the valley from ns The topmost peak stood out, a heavier darkness, from the night-black sky behind it. There was but little wind ; though airy sighs and soft, low melancholy wails crept round about onr high-pitched rocky lair. We stood there for a time in silence. Depths below and heights above ; and between the two, on the steep bare mountsiu-side, four men, f eling very small in all that width and apace The height, tho space, the gloom the glory of the scene and hoar, filled and ennobled oar imaginations, as we laid down to rest In the rough hut, perched so high up oa the bare brown cliffs of the mighty, the . awfu 1 Wieaenhorn. Both Herbert and myself knew such scene* and places well, but custom cannot stale the infinite wonder, joy, and awe whloh fill the Bonl in such a solemn .and solitary hour. Yon feel alone, alone with Nature in one of her wildest and grandest aspects, as yon He down in that lonely but, and meditate upon your snrrooncings. Good night I We woke, and went forth Into the thin delicate air and fine keen cold of early morning, on the weird colossal mountain. Breakfast over, the rope Is fitted in, and we start slowly and silently, Hans leads, then I come, then Herbert, and Max is last. The work before ns is serlons, and begins directly you leave the hat. It la steep and difficult clambering at once ; and there Is a good deal of it before yon can attain to the frowning orest whloh seems so for above.

■ 5 Think,’ said Herbert to me, as we paused for » moment while Hans was selecting the best line of -route, ’think that the dear plucky Aennohen has been throngh this wild work- before ns!’

Hans caught the name ; he always did whenever we nttered it. * Vormartt !’ ho cried. ‘Yes, Herren, we stopped just there, on that smooth slab, to give my Aennohen five minutes' rest before we began this bit. Now, take oare, mind your footing, and follow where I lead. That's right.’ And he began to climb straight np a smooth tongh slope of steep rook.

We-reached the summit, and rested where Aennchen had rested before ns. We had no brandy and no kiss ; bnt we bad champagne and a pipe. We gazed with awe upon tho terrible-cliffs and ghastly precipices of the Wieaenhorn.

Alas, we -tad no other view I So much lab'r was foiled of its great reward. A level, leaden, stagnant mass of oload surrounded the mountain and spread nearly to the peak. Above, the sky-waa-beavy and was lowering. It was cold, and Hans said that snow was gathering We disconsolately began the descent. We «aw the ugly place at which Aennobeu’s slip—and- the other fatal slip—occurred; and we saw around ns, till all was swallowed up In cloud, the sheen and the (bade, the dull gleaming and cold gloomlog of hard heartless rock and of barren snow patches as both glared chillingly in shadow and in light. Wo reached the dark village of the snowy coronal. We ate.at a table, and we slept—and slept well—ln beds. Hans found a letter from home. He wanted very much to go there about some farming business, and, as we were going to the Oberland, a visit to his house would not take us much out of our way. Wo therefore accepted his proposal that we should go home with him and see Aennchen. We only stipulated that she should not be prepared for our coming. A day or two later we strolled np hill, ever grassy meadows, towards a burnt sienna house, with a wooden balcony round it, on which hung flax to dry. The roof was covered with large stones to .keep it safe in winter. Two or three cows were visible, and the whole place looked comfortable, characteristic, and well-to-do. We entered. Aenncben was busy at a housewife’s work. From behind her gown peeped out two brown faced, white-headed, sturdy little boys, and then we saw a smaller jglrl. In a long straight down peasant child's frock, with a little cap on her head.

No question as to whether Hans were popular as a father. Bo soon as the dread of strangers wore off, the children clasped bis knees, and were lifted np to hng and kiss him. Aennchen exchanged a hearty kiss with her husband. She was a comely, bright-eyed, active matron, with a look of honest kindness and womanly worth. This family evidently led pure, simple, healthy lives, *.ud were bound together by hearty human affection.

The wife wonld bring us raspberries and milk. Hans told her who we were, and praised us In a way which won the wife’s heart.

‘ Frau Bergmann, we have just been doing a climb that you onoe did. ’ *Ah J’ she looked brightly at us; ‘he has told you, hoe he 7’ ‘O, yes; he has told ns. And we admire you very much. The Wlesenhorn is not an easy mountain. Did yon find it difficult ?’ ‘Yea; it was .difficult. But I had Hans with me, and I trusted so In him; and be and Christian helped me so well, and took such care of me.’ ‘ It was a plucky thing of you to do, Fran Bergmann.’ • Not i o much as yon think. We Swiss women are all used to going uphill. Besides, I was very tired wheia we got down, and I made one very bad slip. Did Hons te'l you of that V’ ‘O, yes. We saw the place, too. Any

one might jslp there.' ‘ Hana is each a good guide ; is he not ? He has saved many a slip, and he is always careful. I know how he took oare of me.’ * Have yon ever made any more aioents since then, Fran Bergmann ?’ 1 No. Bans hasn’t time to take me now. He must earn money as a guide. Besides, there are the children, and there Is the house to look after when Hons Is away. I have a great deal to do. I don’t think I could gat mp the Wieaenhorn now. I’m not so young as I was. is the time in which a woman gets threats like that. A married woman and a mother has her pleasure In her duties. * As after mnoh handshaking and many good wishes and kindly greetings, wo walked away with Hans tp climb more mountains, we agreed that it was pleasant to have seen the homely herciija of § great fj&ido’s Wooing.