The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-10-21
THE GUIDE AND
THE TOURIST
fOriginal.1

only twenty uiiu MANY pSoPio ~
lieved that he did not take sufficient
caro- In crossing dangerous places, but
ali admitted that he was brave and
that his impulses were noble. Jean
lived at Chamounix, right in among
the mountains, and loved ClOchette, the
daughter of Antoine Defour, who kept
little inn in the valley below. Clio
chette, as soon as she saw Jean, lived
only for him. They were to be mar
ricd as soon as Jean could accumulate
5000 francs. 1t could not be sooner
because Dcfour would give his daugh-
ter to no one who possessed less, and
Jean had only 5000 francs.
One day an Enslishman came to
Chamounix and asked for q guide.
There are many guides" said the per-
son Of whom he inquired. having diff
ferent requirements. If you wish one
who will give his own life for yours in
case Of necessity | would recommend
Jean Carrief." This was enough. Jean
was engaged, and the two started to
climb one OF the smaller peaks.
The next day the stranger came back
without Jean and reported that when
they were passing an almost pcrpcn-
dicular point Jean had slipped, the rope
had broken and Jean had fallen into
the ere vn.sc. The tourist showed the
rope, which had evidently been broken
midway between him and his guide.
There was no doubt that il had broken.
for the edge was fraycd.
"That was Just like lean" every one
said 20 go out with in imperfect rope.
He was always careless. Then. too lie
did no. stop to cut his steps properly.
But lie was 4 good fellow, brave fell
low, md IF either he or another was
to 90 into the crevasse he would prefer
to be the one to 60"
From, tie moment the Englishnan
returned without Jean. Clochette WAS
changed tie said he was rich and Of
fercd her q pension. Hut Clochettc
would not have it. Her father endeay-
ored to persuade her to accept II. but
she still declined, and when her father
asked hor to give her reasons she told
him that she did not believe the Eng
lishman's story. THAT is a woman's
reason" replied her father. What OBJ
ject would he have in lying? And does
not the fraycd end of the rope plainly
show that 1t was broken?' TO this
Clochette had no reply. but she would
not accept the pension.
On more than one occasion tourists
came to The valley who talked about
the case Of the Englishman who had
lost his Guide and spoke of him as be-
coming marked man in his country.
lie was o lord. though lie had not tray
eled rs such. and had married the
daughter of duke. He was honorcd
for his talents. but sinct\-os mshap
in the Alps lie had worn n melancholy
mien. and no one could induce him to
speak OF the adventure. Letters came
from hini from time to time to old De-
four asking If Ciochette had not re-
tented and would accept a handsome
pension, the amount of which grew
with every letter. Still she declined.
Years iollel by. Clochettc never mar
ried. Sllse had other suttors. but her
answer to THIN all was. 4 am waiting
Jean IN This world lie Is dead" He
will come to the to tell me low lie met
his death" At this they would think
The poor girl 5 brain haG heen turned
by her sorroH and pres; her no fur
Their. And sc t,lochette grew to middle
age. ard whea her father died she kept
the inn.
One spring shc heard that at point
down the valley the glacier had broken
and revealed a dead body, perfect az
when 1t had been frozen in the ice
twenty YEARS before. She threw down
q toastins folk she held in her hand
and started 10 see this tody. When
she arrived. lying on 4 block of ice
near where he was found, she saw tho
lost Jean. There was the same 1.-the
figure, the same dark wa'y hair. the
features OF 4 young man of twenty
two. And there. too, was something
upon which Clochette kept hcr eyes
fixed, seenintly without tie power to
withdraw them. Around the waist WAS
the climbers rope, and but twelve
inches from the body the end showed
plainiy thai II had been cut.
Those VIII Stood about had not known
Jean and were not aware whose body
lay before taem till Clochcttc told
them Che fcst thing she did was to
take the rope from the waist. whcl,
she Kept III l.er own possession. The
body was laid away. and as there were
very few oenple near by who had
known jean. its finding attracted little
attention.
A week later the tourist who had
been with Jean twenty years before
received package by express. Open
ing it, he took out a rope, tied as ii
would be about mans body, one end
OF which bed been cut with sharp
knife.
Feom that Gay the man, who bad
been long rising in the governmental
affairs of hi' country and who was
looked upon IS one soon to become his
party's leader. withdrew from public
life and went into retirement from
Which he was never afterward drawn.
On jeans body was found letter
Which he had received and on which.
IN rough red letters-his own blood
was n moSSaye.