Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-10-31
S1IROUDED IN SNOW.

There is, perhaps, no finer view Of
Mont Blanc i'll or around Geneva than
that to be obtained from Colonel Tron-
chin's tower on the hill above Coligny.
There you get a sunset effect that must
have made many painter despair, and,
i'll the estimation of some, is superior to
the grandeur of the sunrise seen from
the Rigi. 1t is astonishing how the light
fingers and the snow reddens in the sun
after the orb has vanished beyond the
green range of the Jura. The changing
hues of the twilight-from the alabaster
to the crimson, from the crimson to the
steely gray, from the gray to the vivid
mist arising from the valleys-are alone
worth the trouble and expense of a spe-
cial journey.
Geneva, indeed, is delightful place
at all times. The lovely lake, the stately
Rhone, the turbulent Arve, the snowy
mountain ranges cut in dazzling white
ness Oh the azure sky are attractions
tIlC Iiht VI w iiiIh thiC llot lOuul toSItIlCl
elsewhere, but with Mont Blanc in
cluded there is combination of pleas
ing scenery perfectly irresistible. The
many peaks that circle the Val d'Aoste
are beautiful undoubtedly, but lacking
the monarch of the mountains the view
would seem sholn of half it's glory.
With him the panorama is perfect, the
picture is complete.
From this point of vantage couple
of tourists, with a peasant girl, are ad-
miring the inimitable tinting of the
sunset sky. You are right, Gisela, by
JOve! This is the best l have seen since
we entered your wonderful country. If
this golden glow would only last! 1 be-
lieve | could look at it almost as long as
l could at your pretty face, ma chere "
1t is Sydney Athelstan, tall, dark
haired, we'll set up young Englishman,
who speaks. He is touring Switzerland
for the first time. Gisela's face flushes
as rosy rcd as the fragrant rhododendron
that flames the snow and ice 5000 feet
above them as she answers:
"You fatter me, III sieur, but it is
lOl tilC ID VITAL LtG RO
my hand, please. l am only a peasant 8
child.
but with the grace of a lady and the
beauty Of all artists ideal!' fervently
exclaims the young man. IN Dieu, but
you were made for something better
than mere cottager's daughter"
The girl Urcnches her hand from his
Tho ffrSh hor cboo1y fr,
vivid scarlet She points down the rug
ged path.
if you will not have prudence,
M sicur, must return alone to my ia
ther's roof, where Giotto, my betrothed,
awaits me. l came to show you and
your friend the place where the great
English poet lived, and then the view
turn together.
Athelstan listens with his soul in his
eyes Blue, uncertain. distrustful eyes
they are, but fascinating to women.
AS for Gisela, her wild rose beauty
grows i'll fairness every day under the
influence OF maturing womanhood and
the glow OF Il deep passion, for, despite
shyneSs, she loves her stalwart young
Englishman in he heart, and her bright
eyes flash with pleasure at his coming
And bis coming is frequent, is habitual
Together they climb the mossy banks of
the valleys or the rugged ridges of the
lower range, and when Giotto, ill at
case and revolving vengeance in his
dull mind, gees with the sheep across
the glacier to spend the summer months
i'll solitary tending of the browsing herds
the girl and her new lover take longer
journey and ere altogether inseparable.
A month passes all too swiftly for the
lovers. Then one evening, when the two
have been away longer than usual, q
telegram is left at the hotel for Athel-
stan. sydney reads the message hur-
riedly and crumples it into his pocket
with muttercd ejaculation.
"Mothcr is dead!' he says in strain
ed voice. Il must go home at once-to-
morrow morning. 1 will go and pack
up few things now.
at will be fine today" says Gisela,
the guide. And the others nod and ac-
quiesce, for is she not AS weatherwise
as any man of them, as familiar with
every nook and Granny of the mountains,
with the paths of the avalanches, the
portont of the south wind singing in the
glaciers, the meaning of the flush and
the fall Of the rivers? Yes, it will be
fine today if Gisela says so.
And the tourists hope it will be fine,
for they arc going to the Mer de Glace,
which is days excursion from Cha
mount, where they are staying. Mrs.
Athelstan has not been to Switzerland
before and is delighted with all she