The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-30

We are translated at once from the prosaic
plane of everyday life to ecstacy's sublime
attitudes, or hurled without warning into
agony's fathomless abysses. One moment
Hamlet remarks upon the ehilliness of the
midnight air, and the next he sees his fathers
ghost
At hurried consultation between Black
burn, Perkins and myself it was decided
best to try to return at once to Interlaken,
as we had previously planned, by way of
Lauterbrunnen. The guide, who had gone
forward to the chalet restaurant of the Petit
Scheideck for assistance, soon returned
with little group of sympathetic peas
ants. The body of our friend placed upon
an improvised stretcher, born by four
strong-armed mountaineers, our journey
across the alp was resumed. But, alb, the
difierence
Surely" writes Leslie Stephen, president
of the Alpine Club, 1.-The Wengern Alp must
be precisely the loveliest place in this world"
But that far-reaching scene of beauty and
splendor which in its sparkle and dance
would have been before but reflex of the
gay spirits OF our little company, was now
a mockery and denial of its sorrow. How
could the sunshine blaze so dazzlingly on the
pearly cliffs up there, and touch into tender
radiance all the VelVety slopes that rolled in
stupendous muniicence around us and away
until their details grew dim in the purpling
afternoon atmosphere; how could the Alp
flowers bloom so profuseiy by the pathway,
and the cattle browse on with an air OF such
utter contentment, when he who had been so
much in sympathy with it all that he had
seemed its necessary complement was lying
there, for evermore deaf to its myriad-voiced
music, blind to its multiplex lovelness? Not
for mortal passing is the sun darkened and
the veil OF the temple rent in twain.
L have never seen sadder or more singu-
lar funeral train. Both ladies had declined
the use of the horse. and that peculiar ami
NAL was now led in front looking, If posi-
bic, larger and more detected than before.
Then, silently, tenderly came the peasant
pall-bearers with their precious burden, over
which a cloak had been thrown. Miss Win
ston refusing all assistance walked erect and
alone behind her brothers body. Miss
Blackburn. though evidently scarcely con-
scious, followed, supported by her brother.
Perkins and came last.
| have said that nature seemed insensible
to our grief. There was an exception to this,
almost startling in its suggestiveness Just
after passing the inn of the Wengern Alp
became conscious of low, deep, booming
sound, repeated at intervals, the muffied
roar and regularity of which strangely Simu-
lated the firing OF distant minute guns. 1t
was unlike thunder, or any other natural
sound ! have known, save, possibly, pc
culiar and mysterious reverberation some
times heard on lakes Cayuga and Sem
eea, in central New York, during the
lazy hush of a sultry Summer afternoon, and
for which no better explanation has been
offered than that it proceeds from subter
ranean passages connecting the two bodies of
water Finally, during momentary haiti
asked the guide the cause of the sound which
had attracted my attention. die Lawine"
(the avalanchel he replied in low voice,
nodding toward the Jungsrau Soon after,
while watching the mountain intently, |
saw, tar up toward its summit, a gush OF
white powder jut from one of its perpen-
dicular precipices, as if a catataract had sud
denly broken forth, and pouring swiftly
down what was apparently a well.worn
groove, it turned one after another of the
icy battlements in its course into a temper
airy cascade, and finally disappeared in the
Trumletenthal, up from the gloomy depths
of which, long seconds later, came that faint,
ominous reverberation before heard. Yet an
avalanche more sudden and terrible than any
storm of crashing ice blocks which ever swept
down those inaccessibly heights had that day
fallen.
On the opposite side of the Lauterbrunnen
valley, into which We were now rapidly de-
scending by ever-steepening zigzags, the
Staubbach rushed impetuously to the verge
of it's precipice, leaped joyously into the
food Of golden sunlight which yet fingered
about its summit, and at once vanished In
the twilight shadows creeping up its mighty
sides. Was it not l thought, type of that
radiant human life stream we had seen so
instantly blotted out falling into the darker
valley of the shadow of death? Strangely,
solemnly came the remembrance of Win
ston's words of the night before: Yes, have
had good time, but never too good to care
not to go on" How clear it all seemed now!
That was the title phrase of his eXistence-to
go on. He had gone back to Gods country
gone back to stay. Alas for the heavy,
stumbling feet that would fain have kept
step and step with his and could not!
A simple mountain wagon was the only
substitute for hearse which the village of
Lauterbrunnen afforded. Driving behind
it slowly down the gloomy valley toward
Interlaken, the Jungfrau, cleaning ghost
like through the fir trees in her cold moon
light mantle, seemed to rise and rise be-
hind us, as if threatening to pursue and rob
us of even the poor ashes of that divine
flame which had been offered on her alter.
We buried the body of our friend from
the English chapel at the old convent
church, in the peaceful little cemetery by
the lake among the mountains he had loved
so we'll. The Maiden, the Monk and the
Giant are guarding his grave to-day.
While Miss Blackburn was unable to be
present at the funeral services, being con-
fined 10 her room utterly Frustrated, Miss
Winston was calm and self controlled. She
had acquiesced in all the arrangements we
had made, with scarcely word, and when,
after a consultation with my travelling COM
panion we had offered to abridge by few
days the remainder of our tour and return
at once to America with her party, she sim
ply said you are kind. He liked you
both As soon as Miss Blackburn can DE
moved we will CO." 1t was not so much
that she seemed crushed or dazed by the
blow as bitterly Indifferent to all minor
claims upon her attention. 1t was the in
nate strength Of fine nature rising by sheer
force of will superior to its natural tempta-
tons to impusiveness and passionate pro-
test. The reaction came only when, safe in
her fathers house and her mothers arms,
size gave herself up to a fever that for weeks
double bereavement
80, friend of my SOUL" unused, regarding
for a last moment the thin, waxen features
overspread with mysterious blending of