Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-02-19
UNDER THE SNOW.

Beside a lovely little lake in
SSi' zriland there is a small VII
ldge Of scattered vine-clad chalets,
At d the great mountains loon far
beyond. On a strip of ground,
juttlng into the lake, a woman Is
standing. Her gray halr il smooth
ly drawn IN knot on tue back OF
her head. She is clad in peasant
costume aud there is strange
minglirg Of youth aud age about
her. Her face is "A strangely pa
thetic one, aud there Is look OF
terror in her eyes at times which
comes and goes, awakened 10y the
least emolion. The villagers call
call her Andres Other.
Ahoye her two gentlemen ara in
the t,rrsced garden, ard the elder
cIles 10 the peasant woman: Good
evening. Mme. Engermann. Are
you expecting Andre? When he
comes back with his cows and
goats from the mountain he Will lie
staSin with YOU.
Il wish 1t were sO,' said the wo-
nan. But he stays at home only
short time. He has to 60 back
again. Then-the0 he will remain
bcme until the spnngtime,' and
Andres mother, bOwing, went on
her way.
Inc gentlemans fliend then
asked his cOmrade: 'WhOIs that
woman. She must have been
beautiful once. What wonderful,
far.searcblng eyes she has! TneS
haunt NE. Has she storyi How
account tor that semelauce OF
terror in ber facet?
Poor soul She was married
fourteen years ago, and had a
| good husband, the handsomest
man TO the canton. He was the
most famous guide, with a passion
for scaling mountains, and he was
well to.d0, and once he went OIL
his last t.ip-tbvt was Just before
| And7e was born. He never oamt
back. lie was buried In the snow
And tue shock his death gave
her bas left It's trace on the poo
wOman's faceP
That is it. They say Andre
. mother heard her husbands voice
calliag-and calling for her. Lout
at first, then more and more faint
She was awakened from her sleep
She came to me-tOld me he
alarmS-she had heard her has
band cry for help. Three day
afterward came the sad news. He
/, husband had been covered by al
y avalanche. Then heard tha
Elisa had gone to the mountain
: | followed her. In a mountal
y chalet found Elisa-and 10y he
~lde was hes newborn son. He
hair had turned gray in sing
night. Then there was stampe
> GU her eyes that look of horror.
is a sad story. TIE telling of it
depressing. Come, let us aOlsh on
cigars by the lakeside
Andre bad come home for
coupe of days. He was 80 brow
and healthy lookicg that hi
mother cried for JOY. lie would b
gone soon, that was true. bu
would return III October for th
whole winter, and then be sboul
read bis fathers book. He was NJ
an idle lad, had no bad ways,
Only she could get out Of his hea
the idea of becoming a guide llS
bis poor father, aud when th
II thought came to hear, her bea
30 would stand still, and that stran.
look of horror filed her eyes.
- In the little hOuse everythir
was III absolute order. On WOO
en bench sat the mother aud b
er son, she busy With her knittin
'y a ID Elisa was sIleutly worshipplI
ne her son. He was fifteen now. al
80 like his father. And now th,
talked, and The boy said: 'Motht
hat With your knitting and Il
chickens to care tor, aud hous
work, you never can be lonel
The moEAer started. Lonely
:. llonelyp She woUld-f 'wrnsll hI
NJ .ptrtbutions to the stors>
no" sue ror P. J.. Yates q Son. !.
y --and then CO"m''
started in be-