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

With her child had never ter a
moment left her. Would her Andre
living on the mountain top get an
ilea tn It he eonld not pass his
days in the lowlaudsi Would be
become a guide, like his father? 1t
was in the blood.
Il had better 60 to the mount
aims Andre said; 'the air down
here feels close aud heavy. 1t Is
ulce to be with Nou, mother, but l
could not work so well down here
The mother started in terror,
rose from her seat, and covered her
face with her hands. How had 1t
happened7 These were almost the
very words Andres fathrr had
spoken when he started on his last
tnp-tbe journey from which he
had never returned. Was 1t so or.
dalned that Andre IshOuld share
his fathers fate? When the two
days were up, Andre LETT for The
mountain.
There came night never to be
forgotten in the villages beside the
lake.
O.d people shIyered in their
sleep and dreamed they had ague.
It WAS later on that came . boom
ing sound across the lake.
what was it?' Elisa asked her
self as she looked out.
Tue atmosphere WAS clearer
The lake looked peaceful and gray,
but the mountains and even the
lowest ridge of the hills were white
with snow. Is she watched, the
huge pyramids opposite, on which
she knew Andre kept bis sheep,
began t) CLEAN with SILVER bright
ness as The sun set up light from
behind he cloud veil in which he
was rising.
A heavy snowfall in Septem ber'
For a moment L lSa could not be
lieve her eye; bat there was no
use in doubling them.
Presently she heard voices In
the garden abOve.M. WlssembOurg
was talking to Hans ChriSten, tho
village carpenter.
Il do not say it was an ava
laDche,' be SAID; 'but it was tall
of some kind above Schonegg.'
Christen said something, but she
could not make out the words.
Yes; VI. Wesscmbourg answer
ed. 'that is what | fsar'-he hesi'
tated-'well. she need not be told
till we are certain he said.
No, no. ChrlSten spoke Ia a
hushed, awed voice.
Elisa felt that they we're speak
iDg OF her, but she also knew that
they could not see her. A fear
came lest they might prevent the
purpose she had so quickly formed
1t had come, then-the fate she
so dreaded for her. boy; he lay
buried under the snow.
She sped back to her house and
wrapped herself more warmly
Halt a mile of rapid walking g
brought her to just such another
little creek as that at the foot ol
the grass grown steps; but here
instead of broken sheds; there was
bathing hut With two boats
moOred beside it.
| She secured one of the boats anC
crossed the lake. She met {
vlllagcr. 'rell me- she cried, ab
rnprly, 'what has happqned' DID
the avalanche fall on this side o
the mountaln?'
There has been a snow fall,
said the man; some say a slide o
part of the rock on tails side, anC
the cbalets up yOnler at Ober
staIden are buried, aud no on
knows where the sheep will hay
+ strayed to-
Further on she came across
, another man.
Tell me-tell me. she cried; cha
t there not been an avalauchef
, Yes, mother and there are som
r under the snow
Under the snow-under th
, snowr Elisa crled-and was agar
} on ber way. The poor woma
$ would scale the heights.
E Now, with superhuman effort
/ she reached what had been a hlg
E plateau, but now incumbered b
1 snow. Here a part of the ava
I lanche ha reached, There wer
f men working away in the snoV
4 What were they seeking?
e All at once Elisa moved to Il
y left where the snow lay thick
t heaped.
G The sun was gaining power oy
the snow OIL this side, and as Eli
tnf "A oha a y