The daily gazette., 1879-12-06
THE GLACIER.
By T. A. n.

In an Alpine valley ,ons pleasant sum-
mer evening, . couple might have been
seen strolling through the pine forest.
Henri dwelt with bis aged parents and
his sister Marie In neighboring valley.
A small farm In mountain gorge
gave him daily occupation. 1t was q
hard contest that In which he was en-
gagged with stern nature. He had to
raise bulwarks against the falling rocks,
and substantial angular fortresses to re-
sist the incuIsiors Of avalanches, other
wise his fields would often have been
covered with the debris Of the mountain.
The produce of this highland farm was
not likely to make him wealthy man.
But the courage, industry and tact ne
cessary TO hold his own from constant
conflict, preserved him from the enerva-
tion Of luxury.
Marie tended few cows that ra mbled
over the mountain pasture.
On the evening of our story the young
man had strolled forth through the for
est with Marie. .n
Henri had resolved to 20 home by q
short route, over the neighboring noun
tain, though he would have to cross
6toSiCl OiA bno W0ys hC lobuCI uAL0t u
ous 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 voyage.
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 tempting the dangers Of
the glacier. The young man comforted
her with the promise OF his haste to reach
the glacier, and his extreme care In pass
ing
"Be not afraid" said he; 81 know ev-
cry block of ice In the path, and my good
Alpenstock would steady my steps in the
blackness of midnight"
She watched his form brushing by the
pine branches till the rocks concealed
him, and then she turned with smile oi
happiness to the cottage of her par ents
Henri never reached home that night
A search must be made. The neighbors
gathered in haste TO the summons. With
the earliest dawn they set out upon theil
melancholy errand. Alas this had moi
been for the first time that they hat
searched for lost ones in their land o
dangers.
Marie led them to the pa.ting-place
She marked the track the young mai
had taken. With Indian sagacIty hi
footballs were followed till they led t.
the edge of the glacier. Here create
skill was requisite to mark the course
1t was summer, and the snow bad dis
appeared from the lower part of the gls
cier. The hard ice leaves no track bu
as, at the hour of parting, some littl
softness remained on the surface fror
the days sun, Henri bad left faint trat
ngs on the glacier, which the subsequer
nights chill had retained. The peasant
noted these with Jealous and painft
care. Here the Alpen-stock had left tn
impression Of its iron point. Suddenl
the foremost OF the group uttered CT
of dismay. All crowded near. He sal
nothing, but pointed with his finger.
Poor Marie sickeped at the sight, an
fell insensible. There was the traIlir
mark of the slipped Alpen-stock, and b.
side it was the sliding track of the your
mans foot. Both terminated at the edl
}. of crerdsse, or opening in the ice.
They strained their eyes downwar
in vain attempts to penetrate tn
| Rioolhy Pdoo0SCs hSy chOoeS0S W
n, caught no voice in return. He had falle
and the depth was terrible.
"The rope the roper was now u
cry.
Several volunteered that perilous d
scent in search of their friend. But he
the horror came upon them, with all
. fell, benumbiDg power. The apertu
!. had so narrowed since the lost one hi
sunk, that there was not space for b
> ham body now.
words cannot picture the constern,
ton of the party. One sought comic
in the thought that the poor fellow mu
have been Killed by the fall.
" But another told how one hs
been in such a chamber as that, fro
which he could not be extrieated; an
after he had been mourned over for da
? as dead, he reappeared-a ghastly but
living man. Henri might be still aliv
Still, as the ever slowly moving mass hi
pressed the walls of his prison on
much closer together, no prospect a
g peared OF rescue.
e Marie revived to be made even mo
desolate and error-stricken by the neN
of the closing chasm.
- What a mOurnful group returned
the cottage!
Here the matter was fully discusse
and plans were successfully propos
and rejected. Marie listened wi
/. deepest attention.
, Having heard the story repeated
the man who, returning to his wife, aft
G having been buried in the ice-chamb'
D. she required to it, demanded particula
and wondered how he had escape
Then she learned that the poor fello
had found passage through the glaci'
and had issued from its mouth.
.'And why" said she, "might n
q Henri so returnT"
- She quailed again when told of 6
depth OF the crevasse, and the certain
- of his limbs being broken, if his II
was not destroyed at once. How cou
he escape? II he could not get OF
, might not others go into the glacit
l IN searchl Sage heads were shaken
tho su0gastion The tarrOrs of the pl