Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-23
UNDER THE MOUNTAINS.

UNDER THE MOUNTAINS.
One summer evening in Lucerne, knots of
people were strolling in the direction of the ca
thedral, going slowly up the shallow steps which
lead to the west door, paving their money, en-
tering and scattering themselves about the
church. No service was going on; it was the
nsTed .he ae l5mG1s orgsn was daily
music began, the Organist pulled out whole
forest of stops; there were great crashes and
rain, hunderiDgs ami hail-storms. Suddenly a
pause. Every one held their breath, and then,
as it seemed from some far-away distance,
swelled up soft professional hymn-the famous
yoX human stop which all the world goes to
hear. Ii Was not a solitary voice, but a chorus,
sometimes little yelled, in which one could
distinguish the high treble OF the boys, the ten
ors striking in, and the deep base undertones.
girl and young man had stood mOtiOnless
by pillar the whole time il lasted. She was a
pretty girl, with fair hair plated thckly twisted
round and round, and fastened with silver ar
row. She never once looked at her companion
but he watched her eyes softening or glowing
with the music as il changed, and when il ceased
lie ventured TO draw little nearer TO her, and
to say in a sUbdued tone, " Elsie!'
She did not answer except by kind of imDa-
tent gesture, which had the effect of keeping
him silent for a few minutes longer, when he
repeated more timidly, :" Best Elsie, il is time
TO be going. The church Is nearly cleared
She turned quickly upon him.
% All, heaven, Christian.' she said, with
touch OF childish petulance, snow thou hast
spOilt il ALI Il had IL in my heart, and thy fool
ish words have frightenedito out DOst thou sup
pose that such music as TINS comes to one every
DAY, that II Deed be driven away? Do hold thy
peace al. ..
The young man looked at her with little sad
wonder, but without answering the impetuOus
tuadc whispered under her breath. Nothing
could be more ungrateful OF Elsie. IL was
Christians thought OF giving joy to his beloved
which had brought her there. All the time he
had lett her To herself only watching the little
fair head and the rapturous eyes; in which everv
change in the music reflected itself. He could
not understand it, but hereverenced il none the
less And now her hasty words siiote him with
asor' of duh pain. He only answered them
with a wistfui, humble look, which ought to
have touched her, but which was, perhaps as
was beyond his. After a while, however, her
heart reproaehed her. 1t was a foolish, dreamy
little heart, nevertheless there lay in its depths
a tenderness which hated to give pain, and al
ready she repented Of her pettishneSs to poor
ChriStian-Christian, who cared 50 much for her
Christian, who Numbered hundred times a
to him penitently, and put her hand i'm his arm.
at Is time TO go as thou sayest," was all she
veuchsafed, but Christian was radiant.
He followed Elsie when she turned into the
cloisters, and stood by her side hooking through
aims beyond.
"Ahfbut it was heavenly, she cried rant
urously. Z" i win never believe IL was not real
think they had put up the choir there in some
hidden recess.
a No, no, that Is not so :" answered Christian.
found out Besides, The uncle Knocked me well
when i thought OF thou once upon time.'
This matter-of-fact tone provoked Elsie.
$. Thou art too WISE" she retorted, saitrically.
Poor Christian thought ii was little bit of
praise, and went on
cit Is sweet, though, as thou said'st. 1t
sounded TO me as il might be angels music"
That il il not" cried the girl, pettish again;
Sand nobody would be 80 stupid as to say 50.
Angels singing would not have had so much to
do with ourselves, would not have gone straight
into hearts would have m ner
and worship, but not feel like that. 1t was not
sweet enough for angels. Dost thou not under
pictures under the bridge, which showed thee
to-day,-one OF us, only more beautiful? Thou
knowest which mean"
"The-the abbott" hazarded Christian, thus
driven TO bay.
Z" The abbott"
Elsie turned away from him, and drummed
with her fingers on the stone. The poor fellow
bad put the last touch to her displeasure. He
Vas so dense he could never understand any
thing.
thing. know, he said, looking at her wistfully;
but she was not Modified. She went away out
OF the eloisters, where the sun was shining on
the graves, and Christian walked after her down
TO the little pier. All the boats were drawn up
In bright red, blue and green files. Elsie step
ped maiestcally into one not 50 gay as the rest,
and ciumsily built On the seat there lay a
withered bunch of the mountain forget-me- .lot.
The poor things had been scorched all day by
the sun, and, with naughty intention of vexinp
ChriSlan, VINO h4G gAthcred them, Elsie caught
them up and dropped them into the water.
When she had done it, abe looked quickly at
him under her long eyelashes; but Christian, al
though he had seen the little action, did not
guess the motive. Since the flowers were dead;
Ut WAS best they should be thrown away All
the vexAti0n she had desired to create recoiled
upon E2sie. She would not even look ct him.
but sat with her head turned away, her eve
upon the opposite shore, and her hand over the
side Of the boat, letting the beautiful blue green
water ripple through her fingers, While Chris
cut Dom among the middle Of the lake.
Christian fingered over his STROKES for. al
though 10 panied him, be could not denv the
pleasure Of watching hes. Evening was draw
ing on, the -boas fippied gently over the sofs
green wasef, IN rousd the quiet mountains kep,
their sentinel watch, the trees took sombre cot
ors. the grscsful spires Of the cathedral rose
tSinkled from tbs Righi-Kuln, stronger one
from the summit Of PnASse flung o qufvering
line upon the Lake, soon more lights flashed oul
AT Lucerne, stars shone overhead, fnnumera bic
golden streaks broke the sttll surfhce Of the wa
ter, The great bell doomed out from the cathe-
drai, and everything was indescribably soft and
Elsie's nature was too impressionable to re-
knew she had been cross, and as she xelf the an
ger dying out Of her heart, she Thought she was
conIuering IL, whereas she was oniy alloving
herself 70 be conquered by a new set or feeIinoss
"Dear heaven, how pretty il is!' said Elsa
clappiDg her hands softly. She knew that
Christians face would brighten, as il did. onIv
there still remained a sadness which ne did NOT
see. Once or twice, imPerceptibly, he shook his
rested on his lips. For the girl had fallen Into a