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

In an Alpine valley, one pleasant sum
NOR evening, a couple might have been
seen strolling through the pine forest.
Henri dweIt with his aged parents in
a neighboring valley, in which Marie
resided with her widowed mother. A
small farm In mountain gorge gave
him daily occupation. 1t was a hard
contest that In which he was engaged
with stern nature He had to raise bull
warks against the falling rocks, and sub
stantial angular fortresses to resist the
ncursion of avalanches. otherwise his
fields, would often have been covered
with tae debris of the mountain. The
produce of this highland farm was not
likely to make him wealthy man.
But this courage, industry and tact ne
eessary to hold his own from constant
conflict, preserved him from the ener-
Walton of luxury.
Marie tended few COWS that ram
bled over the mountain pastures If
simple in manners and not refined in
education, she was not without that
sense of propriety that SO often distin-
cuisines the continental peasant, and
which confers a sort of gentleness and
polish only to be procured by others in
the cultivation of society. She had not
been wholly neglected in school lore,
and had been an apt pupil in that grand
seminary which nature had spread out
there before her. Those needle points
that rose above the eternal Alpine
SHOWS, soaring toward the blue heavens,
led her thoughts far onward and up
ward. Those cold glaciers that lay as
bed of death between the sterile
mountains; those dread falls of rocks,
that seemed cascades of destruction
from the skies upon the blooming wales
below-those yawning precipices, with
their dark and fearful depths-all stirred
her imagination and unfolded her
nature.
On the evening of our story the
man had paid a visit to the cottage in
the valley, and had then strolled forth
through the forest with Marie, this AL
pine flower.
It is not our business to pry into lovers
secrets, or attempt to tell the subjects
of their conversation. Whatever it was,
it may be granted that mathematics and
logic formed no part of the conference.
This much may be said, however; it
was there and then agreed that on a
certain day, not far removed, the worthy
cure of the village should be asked to
give his blessing on their union.
Henri had resolved to go home by a
short route. over the the neighborine
mountain, though he would have to
cross q glacier on the way. This rather
hazardous journey appeared no great
difficulty in the eyes of the bold peasant
OF the Alps; and the moon would give
him light across the icy passage
But lovers in all ages have failed tc
notice the march of time. Our young
friends had SO much to say, or what
they had to say was so interesting
repetitions Of the story were not bur
densome-that the evening twilight had
long melted into the soft moonlight be-
fore the dreaded word farewell was
thought of. When, however, Marie
caught sight of the new moon rapidly
sinking to rest. she urged the prompt
departure of her lover. Yet even tner
he had something else to say, and she
was so smilingly attentive that further
delay took place.
But the quick approach Of darkness
awakened the fears of the maiden who
urged upon Henri the necessity of re
turning by the regular road, longer as
it was, instead of attempting the dan
gers of the glacier The young mar
full of the excitement of happy love
laughed at her warning and assured hel
that she was no fit wife for noun
taineer if she doubted his power te
thread his way in darkness. He com
forted her with the promise of his haste
to reach the glacier, and his extreme
care while passing
"Be not afraid said he; 4 know
every block of ice in the path, and my
good alpenstock would steady my step.
in the blackness of midnight"
But loving confidence half swept away
her fears, and the parting kiss carried
off the remainder She watched his
form brushing by the pine branches til
the rocks concealed him, and then she
turned with smile of happiness to the
cottage Of her mother-that cottage 81
soon to be shared by another Peaceful
were her dreams that night.
The aiguilles of the Alps had not We
caught the rosy beams ofthe early morn
! when a knock at the door of the chale
disturbed the slumbers.
who could it be at that unwonte(
hour?" was the cry of mother ano
daughter.
A well known voice, in broken &C
cents, called for Henri. 1t was tn
father seeking the son. A shudde
of horror passed through the frame 0
the girl.
Yet all was sadly true-Henri had no
returned home A search must be made
The neighbors gathered in haste to tn
summons. With the earliest dawn the
set out upon their melancholy errand
Alas this had not been the first tim
they had searched for lost ones in thei
land of dangers.