Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-07-05
Her Hearts
Secret
BY JEAN WARNER.

II w lEA1 So Alli IN NNSAs
walk: I will tell him how the dark
night was coming on, and there was
no one near to aid, for there have been
~avalanches Of late that have frightened
the herdsmen from the mountains. and
/ came quickly back to st. Gothard for
help"
Help, helpr' repeated the dame.
who, with the unreasoning anger OF a
warm-hearted woman, could not be
soothed. what help will avail poor
Monsieur Laponte now? What help
will avail poor Inademoiselle, who
loved her father as the apple of her
eye? All, they were everywhere to-
gether-at the church, and in the
groves and on the lake-poor mademoi-
selle, who is wen now, doubtless wait
ing and watching for the father who
Will never conner
Her father-SybiI's father-in deadly
peril? The father whose life was the
enc dark shadow on his pathway, alone
and helpless in that vast wilderness Oh
ice and snow?
A thousand conflicting emotions
seemed surging like the waves of a
tempestuous sea in Herberts breast,
as he turned to the guide and asked
him:
you came for help, you say; then
why do you not procure 1t? Every
moment must be precious"
Il can't find a man willing to cross
the Pass tonight was the gruff an
swer. "All the best men of st. Goth
ards have gone down to the Christmas
tide games. Only the old men and the
towards are left behind. They do not
like the music OF the SHOWS"
As he spoke, the dull thunder Of the
avalanche seemed to give awful mean
ing to his words.
SYPHILIS father-the father whom she
loved!" the words kept echoing and re-
echoing in Herbert's ears-"SyblPs
father in danger of a frightful DEATH"
All, ii needed not even this echo TO
arouse the generous soul of Herbert.
A fellow-creature was in peril, and he
must aid him-a helpless being needed
the assistance that he could and must
bestow.
Il will go with you" he said, turn
ing to the guide. Il am young and
strong. and do not fear the terrors OF
the mountain pass. Let US start at
once, for every moment seems an hour
to the wounded, helpless man."
In vain the dame wept and protested
against the departure of her guest-in
vain she warned him of the fearful av-
alanches that only a few weeks before
had spread ruin and devastation over
an entire hamlet. Herbert was not to
be turned from his purpose now, and
in less than an hour from his separa-
ton from Sybil, he was setting out,
armed with a stout Alpenstock, and in
company with the stdriy though much
abused Jean Baptiste, to save her faith
er and his enemy from impending
death.
and there Is no message the brave
monsieur would leave?" said the tear
full dame. following him to the door.
None" replied Herbert, cheerfully.
"~Only-only," he hesitated, 'if-if l
should not return, let Mademciselle
Laponte know tfat I Went asher
knight. to my death"
As they left the village, Jean Bap-
tiste cast n practical eye around him.
The night was still clear, but a faint
haze was gathering around the moon.
The guides brow darkene1 at the sight.
Monsieur should know what risk he
runs" he said, gravely. '"There Is a
storm coming with the coming day-a
storm that will take brave hearts and
strong limbs to meet"
1--WE have BOTH" was the terse an
swer, therefore, we should not fear.
Let us make haste while we can"
They hurried on. Soon the little
hamlet was far behind them-an oasis
scarcely visible in the waste of ice and
snow. All was white, bare, frowning
and desolate.
Herbert seemed to have left the
beautiful Greenland OF hope and love
forever, and to be climbing the rugged
heights of the frowning future alone.
Then the tempest burst upon them
the white, driving snow. that blinded,
daZZled and bewildered them-the tenn
pest that grew fiercer and wilder. until
the dull, leaden sky above them was
totally obscured, and Herbert could
only grasp the stick the guide held out
to him, and grope through clouds of
falling snow and cutting sleet, know
ing rot where he trod.
Still Jean Baptiste kept on. silently,
sturdily led, il seemed, more by dumb
instinct than human intelligence; pick
ing his way along p~recipices, over
chasms. sure-footed, patient and un-
complaining, as some strong, we'll
trained beast who follows the same
track without a word or sign to guide.
Thrice the thunder of the avalanche.
rolling from the neighboring peaks,
had resounded with awful majesty
through the silent wastes they trod.
Thrice Jean Baptiste had paused. benz
his head and crossed himself IL deyout
Thanksgiving as the danger passed.
At last the guide stopped and turned
to Herbert.
1T was there l left him." he said.
pointing TO a huge black rock, that
lifted itself from the SHOWS around
like some grim monster watching DER
the sceEe-"just there on the sheltered
side. All, monsieur. our labor, per-
haps our lives. have been given in vain
-he is buried beneath the SHOWS"
"Wheref" said Herbert. eagerly.
DO not give up hope so soon. man.
After what you have done to-day we
must make one more struggle for a
human life. There may be hope yet
let Us search"
Help, help! Was IL a sigh of the
wind or a human cry. that echoed
through the snow? Help, help! In
Gods name!"
"Hurrah, hurrahr' The glad cheer