The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-09-12
ATALE OF THE GRINDEWALD.

The two valleys of Grandcwald an
Iauterbauunen opened out the grande
valley of Switzerland. 1t was toward
early spring, in 1898 :; consequently tn
snow lay thick upon the mountains, an
WAS preparing to descend in avalanche
into the valleys. In that pass whic
leads from the lake Of Thun to the Wet
terhorn and the Elgher there were bu
few inhabitants. Near the junction Q
the two valleys Of Grindewald and Lau-
terbrunnen little inn stood under th
shelter Of the gigantic rocks. In tht
height Of the scason-August and Sep
tcmbcr-the hotel ha much custom ant
Herr B&umgartnen and his wife haC
very few solitary hours. They were easy
living people and with the gifts Of the
later summer they usually amassed suf
fcient wealth to carry them through the
dreariness Of the winter season. They
were eheerful couple consequently
neither looked with dread to the ap-
proucAing ayalanches of the Elgher, or to
tho wolves which still hunted in packs
along the rocky passes Of Lauterbraun-
ncE. They had one child--a boy be
was II years Of age at the opening OF my
tale, entirely unlike father Or mother
while he was the pride and delight of
both of them. ,.v
Fritz was well known in the neighbor.
hood around, and considered one of the
greatest glolies of Oberland he was tall
of his age, though slim, but very active.
Though our work at present has nothing
TO do with love stories, Fritz did, never
thelcss, love, in the valley OF kandersteg,
the Frau Louise.
1t was in the depth Of the snow-winter
of the celebrated year, when no traveller
left his foot-mark upon the snow Of the
Grudewald pass and no foreigner cared |
10 explore the soItudeS of the Lauter-
bruuuen. Fritz had gone to Kendcr<teg,
bod and fearless, with his staff in his
hand aud his pistol in his belt, and with \
his dog by his side he had tearIesSly
climbed the rocks which no youth on that
side Of the grand Sheriaach would have
adycnured, and wAich, perhaps, no
SEilzcr, short OF the Brerent would have
touched.
Fritz was the pride Of the valley his 8
father and mother were LETT alone in their 1
little untrequented ian, strong and COM I
Portable inside. They were both in bed
i was the dead Of night towards two Il
N the morning. Fritz had promised to a
le home before midday. Anxious about d
lin, they still trusted to tie daring 81
heir child and TO the protection OF h
Kaiser. The valleys around were deeply III
ient with that Stiffness which SNOW h
lone can give. 1t is like that profound q
.uiet which Is suggested BY the idea Of I,
lernity. The woman started from her
leop and awoke her husband. K
"Hark ! karb' said she, "do you moi Hi
ear?" ii
lie reused himself. ~......r..r lib
Nothing, Frau, said he, falliag back ii
Il his pillow. b,
Two minutes passed, and his wife K
gain aroused him. He started up.
Karl, said she, there's sound Of IN
,rso,hoof's IN che valley, and.the howl u IL
Staut wolves from the EIgher." to
The man leaped out OF bed, threw the dr.
ndow open and listened he heard
all was still deep SHOWS often trs
eak all sounds. He returned TO bed
ID had hardly sunk into sleep before
e unmistakable sound of horse, ar th,
red at full pace aud stopped at his in
Or tee
'For the kind Gods sake" said
ice below hiy window, *'iet me ii II
: which was accompanied with an sw
-nest knocking at the door Of the inn. to
go, Karl, 60" said she to her un-
ling husband, there j. some benight, n
traveller who waits at the loor ad ear
. him." ~
&arI lazily arose aud threw the wtn- Kai
Y open. a man. on horseback was bra
ow, aud closs to.the door III.
Open the door Open the door In inc
name Of the kind God 1 ! am pur. lin,
- itud
BY what q, said. the host. q
There was no need to wait for the Il y
wer, far the rilFory Ut "a pack Of thou
YES was heard upon the quiet winters ooul
ht in full pursuit Of the terrified vint
niger who waited 1T the door. coul
ne intense stiffness around made the Stan
Ct the approaching pack more shrilI 70 Y
terrible as il was echoed from the tor
lntIc peak Of the Elgher and the lis !
m'woru preeipice of the Weuerhorn. ing
vail came now high, now low, down use
valley but eyer advannfng a,a horo