Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-01-11
AN ALPINE YARN.

|
in Switzerland. I wasn't at all a prac
teal sort of youth, like you fellows, and
I'm bound to say was just idling about
there, staring at mountains, finding out
the places famous in history, sketchine
and all the rest of it, but enjoyed my
self uncommonly in my own way, and
SO one evening 1 got to Brieg, which
you may Or may not know is an old
town on the Swiss side Of the celebrated
Simplon pass leading into Italy.
| I was good deal too late to clash
with many British tourists. The fact is
it was December, and had the hotel tc
myself. But the winter that year was
altogether abnormally late, and there
was, they told me, hardly any snow on
the pass up to Berisal. If chose to
walk into Italy the next day, might
easily do it, spending one night at the
hospice on the way.
The hotel proprietor who told me this
added with wink:
| .'But you must be careful, sare. There
lis bad characters about. There has been
found several dead bodies in the Saltine
the last year, and they was all with
empty pockets. .
I laughed at this. flattered myself
that my revolver and I could account
for any moderate dangers Of that kind.
AS for concerted brigandage, the time
for that had long gone by.
The next morning was lovely, with a
blue sky and thin mist which did not
hide either the snow or the high Alps
or the heavens above them. I strobe out
of Brieg toward the mountains, feeling
as one does feel in youth on the eve OF
a splendid excursion.
had got to the last little cluster OF
dark colored houses before the pines on
the slope on the north side Of the Gan
ten when a good looking italian accost.
ed me. was in the humor to be socia-
BILE and readily accepted his offer to rest
!. moment or two in his chalet, which
was close by.
1t was here that saw the girl who
is my wife, though she is not girl
now, as you may suppose. I lost my
heart to her as one does now and then
to girl. I'm not going to describe he1
as she then seemed to me-you fellows
| can hardly expect it-but very soon
| saw that she felt an interest in me, and
the realization quickened my pulse,
can tell you.
Well, / rested longer than intended
and was mighty vexed to have to stir at
| last.
eff I might hope to call again when
RETURN" said as I held the girls
hand for moment in mine.
Her face satisfied me she was inter
| ested in me. and yet when her father,
! with cheerful sort Of grin, said that
he meant to accompany me for mile
| or two, ito show you the old road,
signor, which is much shorter" she
made objections which struck me at the
| time as very odd 'Made objections, y
I say, but it was deal more than that.
| She began to Cry, in fact, so that sec
| onded her and tried to persuade her ia
| ther that he had better stay where he
was.
The man insisted, however-politely
enough, must admit-and so we start
| ed, he looking rather wild, as if he
| didn't appreciate that domestic scene,
| and 1 feeling as if I'd willingly give
up the Simplon and everything else to
spend a day in that quiet chalet, will,
that pretty girls gentle, kindly face
| beaming upon me. There was a sadness
! about the girl that won me as much as
anything else. -.-
| But we hadn't been gone more than
| half an hour from the chalet when
! understood what it all meant.
, By this time we were about 1000
feet above the Saltined stream, which
brawls from the high Alps at tho bot
tom Of this fearful ravine. We were
on the old road, just mule track
scratched in the side of the perpendicu-
lar rocks only four or five feet wide and
with this alarming precipiea to the
right
One of us had to precede the other,
| and it was who took the lead.
| was still thinking more Of the pref
ty girl than the scenery when felt a
cruel blow on tho back Of my head. II
laid me down in an instant, more than
half unconscious. was robbed-watch,
purse, passport and all except the re-
volver, which I carried ON the hip.
Then the wretch tilted me over the
rock, and it seemed to me was dead
But of course wasn't dead, though
it was we'll on in the afternoon before
I could stir to realize 1t. had caught
in one of those gnarled old fir trees
which grow out from the Simplon rocks
almost at right angles to them. Ny God,
what a position it it was, to be sure! A
fearful depth Of sharp mountain side
below me and the Glisshorn's precipice
across the ravine, with the roaring
stream in the gully.
Well, gentlemen. got out Of that
hole-I don't much care to think how
and late in the night crawled back
to Brieg, looking, as they told me. like
dead man. But l said nothing shout
my adventure, for though l owed Ca
terina's father something considerable
in the matter of vengeance was loath
to do anything to cause pain to Caterina
herself. You see, I knew now what
her entreaties had meant, and loved
her all the more for her tears on my be.
half
The next day, bruised and aching as
| was. / returned to Sion. had plan
in my head.
Istaid at Sion fortnight until I was
fairly fit ain. Then I returned to
Brieg disguised out of all relation to
the other fellow who was supposed to be
rotting in the Icy cleft through which
the Saline runs to the Rhone.
Another thing. I had got from Gene.
va pair OF excellent handouts. You
ran guess for whom.
This time l spent the night in diff
ferent hotel. l did not care to run the
slight risk Of being detected in my dis
guise. 1t might have been awkward.
you see.
And so the following morning set
out again as l had set out before.
Now, gentlemen, you will not think
me a very soft sort Of coon, hope,
when say the nearer got to the little
village with the small white church in
t'e midst-the village to which Cate
rina's fathers chalet belonged-the less
resentment felt for the old mans past
murderous attempt upon my life. car