Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-14

tial melting of the ice rock through
which it ran, was no agreeable route to
the maiden. Thoroughly Wet and mis-
erably chilled, she had to struggle on.
But there were other trials. Now and
then the passage was SO small as not to
admit her person. though she lay in the
stream. She had prepared for this by
bringing small Ratchet With this she
often had to cut her way, or widen a
breach.
Had she been removed from sense
of peril, or unabsorbed by SO deep a
sorrow, there would have been much to
interest and delight her mind. Beauties
thronged on every side. AS the light
pierced through the ice or descended
the crevases from above, it revealed
gems of marvellous charms. and dis
closed colors of gorgeous kinds. Fancy
might people some chambers with genii
of wonderful nature. Green and blue
ofvarious shades softened the brilliancy
of the white Occasionally the roof
rose, arching over her. and the stalac
tites were as pendant diamonds. Crys-
tails of beauty thronged places as the
fret work of Gothic cathedral.
But poor Marie had no eye for natures
loveliness, and no ears for her most
seraphic harmonies. while her thoughts
were concentrated upon the rescue of
her betrothed.
There was no difficulty about the
route. She had but to advance, for the
mountains disclosed the glacier on
either side. Fatigued to exhaustion,
she halted not. A minute lost might
endanger the life so dear to her. Anon
she paused to call upon her lover; and
" Henri |" echoed through those trem-
bling chambers.
But she could not be wholly inditfer-
bnt to her position. AS the ice cracked
about her, or AS she saw the mass move
above her, she could not but shudder
and close her eyes. The vast river of
ice was now moving more vigorously
than usual. The pressure from the
melting SHOWS above made it groan, as
if in agony. The expansion of the
viscid substance, melted and recOngeal
ed, thrust forward and headlong this
strange living monster of the Alps. No
moment was safe for her, and all SEEM
ed combined for her destruction. 1t was,
in truth, valley of shadow of death.
At last, when well-nigh sinking with
despair, and almost yielding to the tor
por which intense cold brings upon the
brain, she heard low moan. At once
her frame received a new impulse of en-
ergy. She rushed forward overcoming
all obstacles. In a few minutes she dis
covered the apparently lifeless body of
Henri. Restoratives were applied, and
his eyes opened upon his faithful girl.
What greeting of love in the ice
grave! He spoke of his fall-his con-
sternation-his sudden agony Unable
to rise, and thrown forward by a shelv-
ing block, which partially broke his
fall, he knew no hope of escape, unless
an adventurous friend would suffer him
self to be lowered by a rope to his as
sistance. He told not of his sutferings
on her accountable mental anguish he
endured at the thought of her distress.
In brief words she referred to the
closing of the chasm above, and of her
passage up the caverns of the glacier,
whittier she was now prepared to lead
him.
Alas both of his legs were fractured.
1t was no time for grief The brave
girl bound up his limbs with portions
of her garments, entreated him TO take
some refreshments and then arranged
for departure.
The first agony of movement brought
deep groan from the young man. But
he restrained himself Immediately, and
supported himself on one arm, suffered
Marie to drag him forward by the
other. Frightful were his sufferings as
he thus passed slowly along the narrow,
tortuous passages, with his fractured
limbs constantly striking on the rude
| ice-rock.
| Marie's strength was renewed, and the
vigorous powers of a mountain maiden
were needed indeed. There were times
when the space permitted her to carry
| him in her arms; but more often she
could but draw him after her through
the low tunnel. The same difficulties
which she before encountered were now
to be met under more embarrassing cir
cumstances. The only advantage was
the descent instead of the ascent.
All went on well for a time, though
the progress was exceedingly slow, and
the strength of both parties was rapidly
ebbing forth. At length loud cracking
noise was heard, and, Immediately af-
terward, huge mass Of ice fell forward,
near them, completely blocking up their
path. The water, for time stayed in
Its course, threatening their destruction,
but it eventually formed for itself anoth-
er opening.
In vain did the courageous girl deal
blow after blow upon the barrier. No
entrance could be gained, They were
imprisoned, indeed, in a death cham
Der. They resigned themselves TO their
end. They embraced in silence, and
calmly waited their fate. They had at
least the comfort of dying with each
other.
But, with a sudden thought, Marie
sprang up again. AS all devolved upon
her, she would make another effort. She
resolved to try her axe on the side walls
of their cell, a few strokes revealed an
opening. The axe was again and again
hurled forward, until hole was made
sufficient for the entrance. Then, with
a look Of gratitude to heaven, she once
|