Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-05-13
YES. OR NO.

One of the most extensive of the
Swiss valleys is connected at its furth-
err end with a pass leading into Italy:
at the other, with the railway which
rushes off to the great towns, and so
out Of switzerland altogether.
The railroad has not as yet been
carried for any great distance through
the valley, and travellers are depend
ent for their conveyance upon the
carriages they may hire, or upon the
great diligences which journey back
wards and forwards from the sunny
shores Of Lago Maggiore, and up the
steep shoulder Of the Simplon. past
the glaciers ut the top, past the scar
let lilies and lilac primulas which
brighten the road with the glory of
their colors, and then down into the
hot valley, where the Rhone runs
yellow and strong, and the mosquitoes
and dust do their best To drive away
the remembrance of the beautiful
sights up above, and the cool, strong
fragrance of the pine tree.
One summer evening. year or two
ago. in such village people had be
gun To- expect to see III the distance
the thick cloud of dust which marked
the approach of the diligence. A
small letter bag lay ready by the side
of the road. very small, for few letters
came and went Mt this primitive
little place, which was one of the
prettiest in the valley nevertheless.
The houses, all built of rich. deep
brown wood, almost black, bore no
trace of the elaborate carving which
decorates some of the chalets in that
district. They were evidently poor,
and so were the people who leaned out
of the windows or lounged about the
doors, some of the women knitting,
but almost all with an mir of rest after
the labors of the day.
1t had been hot and sultry, but in
the course of the afternoon a thunder
storm had broken overhead and re-
freshed both earth and air, and now
there was cool, sweet, evening fresh
ness the great walnut trees which
stood here and there between the
houses had all the dust washed off
their leaves, and looked as glossy and
handsome az possible the mountains
stood clear in the last glow Of sum
shine, and the meadows were rosy
with the pink persicaria,
More than once q girl had come to
the door of one Of the chalets, had
looked in the direction from which
the diligence was expected, and see
ing nothing had seemed to listen at
tentively. But rs each time che
heard no more than conversation
carried on from two windows, q child's
laugh, and the rush of the river run.
ming yellow and strong ut no great
distance, che went back into the
house instead of standing to chat and
knit with the other women. And it
therefore happened that the diligence
was almost in the village, and all the
eyes were turned in its direction, be-
fore Lisa, aware of the sound Of
wheels, came running hastily out.
An old woman who had hobbled to
the door, very ugly but kind looking.
nodded and smiled ut her.
"You are good child to your
grandmother, little Lisa" she said.
She called her little, though Lisa was
tall and upright as dart and the
girl, nodding and smiling back, walk
ed quickly past the brown houses to
where the bag Of letters lay waiting.
She reached it at the same instant
that the diligence drove up in a cloud
of dust, in spite Of the late rain, with
a greatjingling of bells, and four we'll
conditioned young greys getting a
good deal of fun out of their work !;
and almost before they had stopped
the driver was off his seat and down
in the road by Lisa's side.
ave are late. thou dear one, and I
have a great deal to say. II thou
wilt walk little way on the road to-
morrow morning early, will meet
thee and tell thee what / have in my
head"
THAT | can do, Franz" said the
girl, joyfully.
There was 10 time for more. The
letters we're ready, the conductor was
impatient; Franz sprang up again on
his seat, the horses shook their bells
morrily and bit playfully. at each
other; the great diligence ratified of,
and Lisa, with a pleased smile on her
lips, walked slowely back to her home.
She was proud Of Franz, who had