Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-08
FRAN Elm
THE MODERN pRoMETEEus.
BY MRS. NJ. w. SHELLEY.
CHAPTER TX.

| rode about the valley until even
ing. The sublime and magnificen
scenes afforded me the greatest con
ISOLATION that was capable of re
ceiving They elevated me from
all littleness of feeling; and al
| though they did not remove my
| grief, they subdued and tranquil
lied it. In some degree, also, they
diverted my mind from the
thoughts over which it had brood
ed for the last month. l returned
in the evening, fatigued, but less
unhappy, and conversed with more
cheerlulness than had been my
custom for some time. My father
was pleased, and Elizabeth over
joyed. "My dear cousin said she,
"you see what happiness you diff
use when you are happy; do not
relapse again !"
The following morning the rain
poured down in torrents, and thick
mists hid the SUBMITS of the noun
tains. The rain depressed me; my
oil feelings recurreI and was
miserable. ] knew how disappoint-
ed my father would be at this sud
den change, and | wished to avoid
him until had received myself so
far as to be enable to conceal those
feelings that overpOWered me. i
knew that they would remain that
day at the inn; and as ! had ever
Injured myself TO rain, moisture,
and cold, / resolved to go alone to
the summit of MOntanvert. | re-
membered the effect that the view
of the tremendous and ever-mOving
glacier had produced upon my
mind when / first saw it. It had
then filled me with a sublime ecsta
cy that gave wings to the soul, and
allowed it to soar from the obscure
world to light and joy. The sight
of the awful and majestic in nature
and indeed always the effect of
sOlemnizing my mind, ard causing
me to forget the passing cares OF
life. / determed to go alone, for [
was well acquainted with the path,
and the presence of another would
destroy the solemn grandeur of the
scene.
The ascent is precipitous, but the
path is cut into continual and short
Wiudings, which enable you to sur
mount the perpendicularity OF the
mountain. 1t is scene terrifically
desOlate. In a thousand spots the
traces of the winter avalanch may
be perceived, where trees lie bro
ken and streWed on the ground
some entirely destroyed, others
bent, leaning upon thejutting rocks
of the mountain, or transverSely
upon other trees. The path, as you
ascend higher, is intersected by ra-
vines of snow, down which stones
continually roll from above one of
them is particularly dangerous, as
the slightest sound, such as speak
ing in a loud voice, produces a con-
cussion of air sufficient to draw des-
truction upon the the head of the
speaker. The pines are not tall or
luXurIant, but they are somber,
and add an air of severity to the
scene. ] looked on the valley be-
Meath; vast mists were rising from
the rivers which ran through it,
and curling in thick WreathSarOund
the opposite mountains whose sum
Inits we're hid in the uniform clouds
white rain poured from the dark
sky, and added to the melancholy
| received from the OBJ
iects around me, Alas! who does
man boast of scnSibilitie5 superior
to those apparent in the brute; 1t
only renders them necessary beings.
Ii our impulses were confined to
hunger, thirst and desire, we might
nearly be free but now we are NOV
ed by every wind that blows, and Il
chance word or scene that word
may convey to us.
ave rest a dream has power to poison
sleep.
We rise; one waudring thought pollutes
the day.
We feel. conceive, or reason laugh, or weep
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away;
II is the same; for, be il joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still IS free. II
Mans yesterday may nc'ef be IKE ms NOR
row
Naught may endure but mutablity."
1t was nearly noon when / ar
rived ut the top of the ascent. For
some time | sat upon the rock that
DverlOOkS the sea- of Ice. \ mist
covered both that and the surround
ing mountains, Presently a breeze
the cloud, and | descend |
ed upon the glacier. The surface is
very uneven, rising like the waves
Of a troubled sea, descending low,
and interspersed by riffs that sink
deep. The field of ice is almost Il
league in width, but | spent nearly
two hours in crossing it. The Oppo-
site mountain is bare perpendicular
rock. From the side where L now |
stood MontaVert was exactly OppO- |
site, at the distance of a league and |
above it rose Mont Blanc, in awful !
majesty. | remained in Il recess of !
he rock, gazing on this wonderful !
md StupendouS scene. The sea, or I
rather the vast river OF ice, wound |
among its dependent mountains,
whose aerial SUBMITS hung over |
Is reresses. Their icy and glitter
ng peaks Shone in the sunlight |
over the clouds. My heart, which |
was before sOrrowful, now swelled |
with something like joy l eX-
.laimed-"Wandcring spirits, fye |
indeed wander, and do not rest in |
your narrow beds, allow me this i
aint happiness, or take me ts your
away from the Joys of
life"
AS / said this, | suddenly beheld |
he figure of Il man, 1T some dis
,ance, advancing toward me with
speed He bounded
over the crevices of the ice, among
which | had walked with caution
lis statue also, as he approached |
seemed TO exceed that Of ii man.
| was troubled f; Il mist came
over my eyes and | felt faintness
;ieze me; but | was quickly restor
I'd by the cold gale of the noun
aims, l perceived, as the shape
.ame nearer (sight tremendous and
sbhorred y, that it was the wretch
whom l had created. | trembled !
with rage and horror, resolving to
wait his approach, and then close
with him IN mortal combat. lie
app: cached his cOuntenance be-
spoke bitter anguish, cOmbiped |
with disdain and malignIty, while
It's unearthIy ugliness rendered it
almost too horrible for human eyes.
But / scarcely observed this anger
md hatred had at first deprived me
lf utterance, and | recovered only |
TO overwhelm him with words eX-
DressiYe of furious deteStatiOn and |!
"DeVII !" / exclaimed, edo you
lare approach me? and do you not
fear the fierce vengeance of my arm
on your miserable head? !
BegOne, vile insect or rather stay
that | may trample you to idust
and, oh, that l could, with the eX-