The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-14

turned i'm and out, marvelously, ram
| tastically, along the right of the noun
| tain down to the almost Invisible little
village lying at the foot of the lotty
| elevation. The women dismounted in
| to the snow. The two old men Joined
| them.
We'll" said Father Hauser "adieu;
| be Of good cheer until next year my
| friends"
Father Hari echoed: Until next
| year"
The men embraced one another.
| Then Nine. Hauser in turn proffered
her cheeks, the young girl doing like
| wise.
When il was ITlrich Kunsis turn to
| give the parting salutation he murI
| INJURED into Louses ear: Don't for
| get us away up here"
| Her reply, mo" was so low that he
OWNED rather than heard it.
well, adieu," repeated Jean Hau-
SER "and good health to you"
| And, passing in front of the women,
| he began the descent.
The three soon disappeared at the
| first turn OF the road.
| And the two men turned toward the
| Schwarenbach inn.
They walked slowly side by side with
out speaking. That setted it; they
were to remain alone face to face for
| four or five months.
Then Gaspard Hari told his exper-
| fence of last winter. He spent it with
Michel Canol, now too old to be of SER
vice, for an accident pending the long
| solitude is quite imminent. They were
| not lonesome, however; il was all in
becoming reconCiled to the situation
during the first day. Then one ended
| by creating some sort of diversion
games and other pastimes.
Ulrich Kunsi listened with downcast
| eyes, following in thought those who
| were descending toward the village
| through all the festOons of the Gemmi
Presently they caught sight of the
inn, scarce visible, so small was it-a
dot at the foot Of the colossal wave
of snow.
AS they opened the door, Sam, the
big curly dog, leaped around them.
well, my son." said old Gaspard,
1--WE haven't a woman with us now; it's
time to prepare the dinner; you peel
the potatoes"
Both of them. seated upon stools,
consumed their soup
The following morning seemed long
to Ulrich Kuns
Old Hari smoked and spat around
:he fireplace, while the young man
looked through the window at the re-
splendent mountain facing the tavern.
He went out in the afternoon, go
ing over the road be had traYCrsed the
day before. seacrling the imprints Of
the mules hoofs. the mules that had
carried the two women Then, when
he reached the neck of the Gemmi. he
lay Hat upon his stomach, at tlrs edge
of the abyss and ga2eG down upon
Loeche.
The village, in the rocky pit, was not
yet shrouded, although a forest of
pines, which protected the town. was
quite near it. Its low houses reselnbled
from on high, paving stones on a
prairie.
That little Hauser girl was now there
in one Of those gray domiciles II
which one9 Ulrich Kunsi found HIM
self too far to distinguish them separ-
ateiy How he would like to go down
there while there was yet time!
But the sun had disappeared behind
the great cyme of the Wildstrubel. The
young man returned to the inn. Faith
er Hari was smoking When he not
iced the return of his, companion he
proposed a game Of cards, They tool
seats facing each other at either side
of the table.
They played-a simple game called
brisque-a long time. then, having
supped, they went to bed.
The davs that followed We're parable
with the first-clear and cold. without
more snow. Old Gaspard passed his
afternoon on the watch for eagles anC
other rare birds that Ventured upor
the icy summit, while tflrich returned
= regularly to the neck of the Gemm
to gaze upon the village. Then they
played cards, dice, dominoes. winning
and losing trifles in order to render tn,
! games interesting.
one morning Hari the first to rise
! called his companion. 1t was showing
; The flakes, large, light and serried. de
! scended swiftly. They resembled z
: white foam and fell silently upon then
and around them. shroudiug them lit
tie by little under a thick and surC
mattress of white moss. This LASTED
four days ana four nights. 1t was nee
essary to detach the door and the win
dows, to bare a passage and to heW
foOthOlds in order to reach the top oi
this powdered ice. which twelve hours
of frost had made harder than the
granite of the moraines,
They lived like prisoners, scarce Ven
turing outside of their domicile. They
divided the household duties, which
Ihey performed regularly 'TTiricl
KunSi washed and scrubbed and haC
charge of the general cleaning. Twas
he, also, who chopped the wood
while Gaspard Hari looked Otter tn
fire, and COOKED. Their work. regular
and monotonous, was diversified b!
protracted games of cards or dice
They never quarreled, both being O
stole temperament. They never even
displayed impatience or ilb.humor
neither did they utted a peevish word
since they had resolved to be resigned
pending this hibcrnation upon the sum
nit.
Sometimes old Gaspard shouldereC
his gun and went In search of a cham
Cis. From time to time he killed one
Twas then a feast OF fresh game il
the SchWarenbach nm,
One mOrning Gaspard departed 70
this purpose. The therometer regist
cred IS below zero. The sun not haV
ing risen, the hunter hoped TO surpris
some game around the Wildstruhel.
UlTich, being left alone, remained Il
bed until 10 o'clock. He was naturall
a late riser but he dared not indulG
his penchant in the presence of the oil
guide, who always arose betimes.
He breakfasted slowly with Sam
who also passed his days and night
| sIaapIny hefOra the fire Than ba fal