Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-25
A TALE OF TWO LooKETs.
CHAPTER |.
ny LUCY II. HOOPER.


cloudless summer morning is more lo,cly and
its sunshine more glorious than it is else
where, that spot is certainly the Valley OF
Chamouni. When Mont Blanc rises daz-
zlingly white Colossus against background
of purest, intensest blue, and sets the awful
pearls of his crown in the glowing gold of the
unclouded summer sunshine, when every wa
terfall eaping from the mountain walls on
either side is a flashing sheet of emerald,
when the transparent air cheats you of half
the apparent distance, and brings the far-off
peaks within seemingly an easy.half hours
walk then is Chamouui doubly beautiful in
its morning loneliness, and morning itself is
fairer because it shines over Chamouni.
But who knows the moods Of Mont Blanc
Who that invades his dominions can tell the
moment when sentence of death may not be
pronounced against the rash intruder? He
utters no warning, he knows no pity, and his
sxecutioners, the avalanche, the crevasse,
ME jagged rock, are also without mercy.
Some such thoughts as these fitted through
Miles SANKEY'S mind as, his breakfast finish
ed, his bill paid, and his walking equipments
donned, he stood at the doorway Of the hotel
about to take his departure. He had "done'
all the sights Of Chamouui thoroughly, had
been up the Brevent and the Flegere, had
crossed the Mer de Glace from the Montan-
vert, and come down by the Chapeau, and
had even thoughts Of ascending Mont Blanc
But one or two fatal accidents which had
occurred during such a,censions had rendered
the guides wary, if not timid they talked Of
evil signs and impending storms, and man
aged to dissuade the young traveller from
his purpose. Not that he was much bent
upon it; for he was singularly shy and un-
sociable by nature, and the thought Of the
close companionship with guides, porters,
&c., not to speak of the volunteer compan-
ions who are always ready to 60 il anybody
else will, and probably also a little whole.
some dread of Miss Klickwire, the strong
minded, who had announced her intention Of
making the ascent with the very first party
that started, had caused him to be easily
dissuaded. He was therefore about TO turn
bis back upon Chamouui and its grand scene.
ry, but without any definite purpose as to
the spot toward which he was next to bend
his wandering footsteps. His intention was
to explore some of the minor valleys and
unfrequented roads which might chance ia
lie between Chamoun and Sallenches, and
on reaching the latter place he could easily
obtain conveyance or continue his journey
to Geneva on foot, a. his inclination might
dictate. He had sen, his luggage on to Ge.
neva, he had paid his bill, and shy and un,
sociable as he was, he had made no acquain-
tances III the hotel TO whom he would be ex.
pected to say good-by or to confdo his plans
and 80 he sailed forth into the bright July
sunshine, free and unencumbered man.
He fingered moment at the windows Of
the shops where Swiss crystals and wood.
work are sold, aud. tempted by something
which he saw displayed therein, he entered
one of the shops and spent some fifteen OF
twenty minutes in turning over the different
trinkets Of onyx, lapls lazuli, crystal, and
amethyst, which were there exhibited. Fl,
nally he purchased string Of very beautiful
amethyst beads, had them carefully cnveloped
in cotton, and placed them in his TRAVELLING
bag. Then he started afresh, and soon left
the village with its tiny houses and gigantic
hotels far behind him. He followed the
broad smooth post road for some time, look
ing with admiration on the traces of French
skill and ingenuity everywhere visible in it,
construction; but soon growing weary of g
commonplace mode of progression, he suf
fered himself to be tempted by a narrow lit
tie road, mere bridle'path, which stretched
away among the rocks aud trees, and sci
forth on the first OF his projected explora
tiOns.
He got along very well for few hours
The path, though not very smooth, was clear
ly defined, and, as Stanley said to himself, il
had to terminate somewhere. But it wound
about in the most perplexing style, now do
scendlng for little way and then tending
upward and twisting round giant trees, great
masses OF rock, aud tangled thickets, in 0
manner that perpieKed and wearied him
sorely.
"lf this be pedestrian exercise in switser.
land, )" thought he, I'll cen return to civil.