Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-02-26
FENNO DOUGLASS.

am coming, matr1na, answered the
girl, entering the doorway.
"Oh, Natalie" cried the old woman in
mourning voice that reached me through
the open door, "it is snowing ON Pilatus. I
know, or you would have answered me long
ago. Will you never forget"
Yes, matrina, it is, showing up there :
forgive me for neglecting you, but I cannot
help watching it. Would heaven could
forgetp' The girls voice was full of sad
pathos, and letting my book fall from my
listless hands, fell to wondering what 70.
nance, OF, probably, superstition, was con.
nected with the snow-storm Of the mountain.
l had been lounging here for four weeks
now, opposite Lucerne- climbing the hilla
or making little voyages about ON the four
lakes. Many quaint legend had been
told in those few weeks by the peasants
told in their odd pasois, that was puzzled
to understand. Only yesterday an old man,
while rowing me across the lake, told me
how up among the peaks of Pilatus is q
dark, stagnant sheet of water, and there,
from Judea, came tho conscious. s.stricken Pom.
thus Plate to commit snioide, which he did
very properly-bnt he can 2ever rest, and
just before tho terrible storms which sweeu
down from the mountain, his spirit IL seen
by the hunters who may chance to be in the
vicinity Of this unholy pool, to rise from the
! water and wash his hands, evidently in
great distress Of mind. The only drawbacl
to the story was the old mans adding sol.
emnly that none who saw this apparitiou
escaped death in the storm that was sure e
follows. Not much encouragement to 70 ur
for the purpose OF seeing Plate.
"Wil the Herr Freunder join us in par.
xn6S
voice OF Natalie at my aide.
l started from my reverie, and: followed
her into the long, low living room where
the evening meal was spread.
The invalid greeted me with her gentle,
dignified "Greetings, sir guest p' title
she always bestowed upon me. ignoring all
Others. I often wondered how my hostess
managed to give her voice 60 sharp tone
"a she occasionally did, after hearing hen
greet me.
Soon after tho close of the meal the old
Lady rose to retire, bidding me goodnight.
l wandered out into tho garden again, te
enjoy the moonlight and 4 cigar. Softly
| across the water from Lucerne foated the
sound of bells. The voices of happy sing
rose cold, white, ghostly in the moonlight
Entranced by the almost unearthly beauty
of the scene before me, stretched mysel
upon garden seat near the entrance to en-
Joy it:
| Suddenly was startled BY hearinga long
sobbing sigh near me. Looking up, saV
Natalie leaning her arms upon the terrace q
had seen her in the afternoon. She VA,
again watching tho snow.storm on Pilatus
Rising, I went to her side.
"Good-evening, Nataliel Why 20 sad
Freundchen 2''
She raised her large eyes; they were full
of sorrow and pain.
1t SHOWS tonight on Pilatus," she an
swered, tremulously.
"But why should it grieve you2 Viii
you not tell me ?"
To my surprise she dropped her heat
upon tn stone work and gave way to
stormy, passionate burst Of tears. I dit
not speak or strive to comfort her fev
moments. She was sobbing out some grie
long pentup Presently I took her han;
and led her to the seat had Just left, AMI
10 she grew calmer, ] said
"Ooms, Natalie, little friend, confide i,
me tell me what grief is 80 trembling you
young heart.''
"Oh, sir, it is 80 hard to bear; they -,
will forget it by and by ; but I neve
shall" Her voice rose excitedly over tn
last sentence.
"Tell me what it is that you cannot fol
get, dear Natalie"
"Yes, I will tell you. You have bee,
down tho lake and over tho st. Gotthar,
Pass-you know just how fair it is on tn
other side of the mountains. was born ove
there. lam an italian, then, by birth-bu
oh, love the Schweiz, the beautiful HON
of my adoption. Only tho mountain owe
there-Pilatus-I hate, hate and curse th
dreadful mountains She shuddered an
} sighed heavily.
"Madre died when was born, and th
dear Swiss matrina who took me to he
heart and made me her godchild the day m
mother died, brought me here to her hom
i. to be her daughter. She had a son then
oh, he was so fair and gentle and brave i
T tho childhood days when we studied an
/ played together; and oh. he was fairer an
nobler as u man, when the years had passe
and ! stood beside him tall maiden
woman by reason Of my love for him, N
lhssve my lest VFaaa, Hs took No to h