FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  
e clamorous winds that howled over the mountain, "Do you favor the project of returning tamely to the valley and leaving Mount Washington a wonder unrevealed?" "No!" answered she, from beneath her thick veil; the muscles of her face so stiffened with cold she could hardly move her lips. "Then ride your pony to the centre of these dissenting groups and propose to move on," said he. "There are none in the party so craven-souled as to shrink from what a lady dares encounter." Florence paused a moment, and then guided her pony into the midst of the company. "Do you wish to join those who are going back, Miss?" said a guide, taking hold of her bridle-rein. "No!" said she in a tone of decision. "I'll lead the way for those who choose to follow to the summit of Mount Washington." "Bravo!"--"hurrah!"--"let us on!"--burst from all sides. Three solitary ones, among them Ellen Williams, turned back, and the others formed into file and moved onward. Down Mount Franklin and over the narrow path cut in the cragged side of Monroe, where a single misstep would hurl the horse and rider down a fathomless abyss, into whose depths the eye dares hardly for a moment gaze. Then appeared a crystal lakelet, and a little plain covered with a seedy-looking grass, where the horses rested and refreshed themselves ere the last desperate trial of their strength and endurance; for the weary band of adventurers had reached at last the base of the mighty Washington, whose summit was veiled in heavy clouds. As they loitered in the plain, the muffled gentleman again approached Florence, and inquired if she was unattended. "No, sir," said she. "My father is among the party, also a friend; but they are not yet come up." He lingered a moment, and then asked if she would like to dismount. As the voice met her ear more distinctly, it struck her it had a familiar sound, and a sudden thought flashed across her mind. She thanked him for his politeness, but said she was too cold to move. Her father and young Williams now appeared. "How do you brave it, Florence?" said Major Howard, drawing in his breath with a shudder. "Very well, father," answered she. When the muffled gentleman heard the name Florence pronounced, he started suddenly and darted a swift glance on the speaker. Then turning away, he remounted his steed and rode into the front ranks of the line that was forming. Soon the band commenced their toilsome ascent. The path wound o
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Florence
 

Washington

 

moment

 

father

 

muffled

 
summit
 
Williams
 

gentleman

 
appeared
 

answered


loitered

 

clouds

 
dismount
 

desperate

 
lingered
 

strength

 
unattended
 
inquired
 

approached

 

reached


mighty

 

endurance

 

veiled

 

adventurers

 

friend

 

politeness

 

glance

 

speaker

 

turning

 

darted


suddenly

 
pronounced
 

started

 

remounted

 

ascent

 
toilsome
 

commenced

 
forming
 

flashed

 
thanked

thought
 

sudden

 
distinctly
 
struck
 

familiar

 

Howard

 
drawing
 

breath

 
shudder
 

single