Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-01-12

amongst the rocks below the glacier
yonder."
He pointed TO the mountain above
the village, sighed, turned abruptly
from the window, and sat down at his
desk. The old man was very angry.
Here was chance to increase the fame
of his workshop. But there was no
spirit in the youths before him. He
looked from one to another, with
almost pathetic longing to see some
spark of genius in the faces. But all
were bent over their work, quite con-
tent to copy with exquisite skill the
beautiful designs he had made from
ten to fifty years ago. Now his old
hands had quite lost their cunning
though his brain was as clear as ever.
jacques stood behind his master
His usually downcast eyes were up
raised and shining. a daring thought
had come to the boys mind. Dead
ened by his own injuries, his brain vet
found strong impetus in the sympathy
which filled his generous heart He
felt in some occult manner that mon
sieur was suffering acutely, and to suf-
ferino Jacoues's soul was keenly re-
sponsive.
"T will do it." be said to himself,
~ can carve. can invent" His mouth
closed firmly. His flashing eyes were
bent on monsieur's bowed head. When
the master turned, he met this intense
gaze. which combined the look of
faithful dog with intellige mt and dar-
ing sympathy.
The old mans eyes filed as he mo-
toned the lad away. Was it come to
this, that he should be pitied by this
dull soul?
jacques went out into the sunshine
like one in a dream, uplifted from the
earth by wings whose powers he scarce
" dared to test. But he was speedily
recalled to the present by rude de-
mands on his services. BY the time
he reached his lair above the goat S
ebod If Was past the sunset hour, and
the afterglow was spreading from the
base to the snowy peaks of the Ober-
land.
JACQUES sought in the semi-darllness
of the loft for . wooden box, with
which he crept down the ladder to the
light. Here beside old Nannette, the
goat, he sat at ease, gloating over the
treasures which he held forth one by
one. Nannettc herself had often been
his model. Again the familiar flowers
and leaves had served his purpose.
Not pupil in the workshop of mon
sieur could have improved these works
by touch
Jacques knew it. He had listened
too often to the lectures of the master
not TO know the difference between
good and bad work. His inspection
of his designs seemed to give him
courage as his gaze rested on the fad
ing glow which tinged the rocks by the
glacier.
II will do it, monsieur" said he,
aloud
Night was falling when he set out
for the heights. The moon had not
vet risen above the rocky spurs of the
mountain, for the valley was narrow
and deep. The air was chilled by a
wind that swept from the eternal SHOWS
of the glacier through the ragged gar
ments of jacques But hope thrilled
his heart to endure physical discom.
fort. The last light from the village
disappeared as the boy climbed beyond
the intervening trees. Hours and
hours he must toll upward toward the
cluster of chalets where he meant to
await the dawn.
When Jacques stumbled into the
moonlit road, the rough men of the
chaiets were asleep. Careless Of q
welcome, the weary lad boldly entered
the nearest shelter and lay down to
rest. He was awakened from his
dreamless sleep by the hospitable owner
of the chalet who gave him food, and
the cheer of kindly words. Jacques
received this strange experience with
his usual silence, but radiant smile
shone from his uplifted eyes, as he
started again for the heights.
: Five thousand feet below him the
valley was enyeloped in mist which, to
: jacques, seemed a veil that shut away
from him the accustomed life of cruel
drudgery. Ahl here was the sun
r Itself not yet visible, but the snowy
, peaks had emerged from their cloud
of mist, and stood stinged with pink
and gold against the bluosky. Jacques
) began to sing.
Up and up rose the sun above the
mountains, till they Shone with heat.
e There was now no shelter, no trees, no
shrubs. The howery slopes lay far
below, and the goat track ceased al
the foot Of the glacier. Henceforth
the way to the rocks pointed ont by
Monsieur Perrot was broken and hard
TO follow; but here and there COO
streamlets gurgled from under the
boulders blocking the road, and
, jacques sank beside them to drinh
, and rest.
He could almost hear the throbbing