Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-14

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Laughter and Tears. 4
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The car was almost due at the sum-
NIT of the Gornergrat. The chill air
from the glacier fields pressed slim
ulating finger on the pulses. The ice
of the surrounding glaciers was dull
green and deep.
The Little Traveller, wound to the
neck in a thick plaid shawl, stood
waiting with her aunt. They were
going down on the last car which made
the trip that day. They had wished
to spend the night on the top, for
Elizabeth, the captain OF this brief
summer outing, had but to give the
orders and Die Tante obeyed like a
soldier.
But, alas, the money was lacking.
They had added once and again the
columns in their account book, and
the result came ever the same with
the tiresome inflexibility Of mathe-
mates. The two hungry sight-seers
were at last enjoying Switzerland af.
ter months of longing. But their rule
must be kept-so many marks day,
and prices at the tip-top houses have
all the rarity of the altitude where
they flourish. So this pleasure must
be given up.
For once am almost satisfied"
sighed Elizabeth. 1T would be too glori-
Gus to see sunrise here, too. We must
be content with our half-loaf."
The electric car came slowly creep.
Ing up the steel way bringing noise,
a disturbing element taste of mod.
ern improvement into these silent
heights.
Elizabeth's green touring hat bore
a pun Of feathers on quivering wire.
Each time they trembled, If you cared
for Elizabeth you must look to see If
she, too. trem'bled zone look, dear
Aunt, one long look to fix this picture
In my mind. How dull the four walls
and the sewing will be after this feast
of ice and snow. Just see how clear
the air is and how near the other
peaks look. am going to that rock
to look at the Matterhorn. There is
time to spare. The car is not up yet,
and it waits before going down again.
Come"
The rose color of the afterglow on
snowy summit defies the common
sense. Even the solid fields of white,
sloping down the channels between
soaring peaks, these have chilled
sorcery of their own. Imprint the
scene on our mind, Elizabeth. It
Viii alwayss stay. 1t is, as you say,
30 hauntingly beautiful and remote.
The dependence, the finiteness of
daily life is the chain by which the
spiritual delights must be confined.
And no joy is sufficient to itself, even
observation of the Gornergrat piano.
rama. The little Swiss watch, deli
cate toy, the price of which had
shortened the pleasure trip two
weeks, the watch pinned on Eliza
beth's breast, continued ticking and
ticking, leading time captive and lead
ing Elizabeth and her aunt from the
rock with its mighty outlook back to
the little station. The car stood
ready for the descent, with perhaps
thirty seconds to spare.
The morning of the same day
George Werner, young student
had arrived at Zermatt. His face
was long by nature and now it was
long from fatigue-and what else
Perhaps it was fatigue alone. He was
always jolly in conversation, therefore
he must be always happy. A smile
came quickly to his face when he met
friend. When left alone it died
quickly away. But always his inter
est in others was there
Young blood must flow a little fast
er at seeing the noble view which il
the hearts DESIRE George had dream
ed of this hour, and now as he sa
on the ascending car here was reali
ty. His reddish hair blew back from
his temples, white from the confine
ment of study.
The summer was almost past, bu
near the summit there were no plant
to mark the change of season by thei
brighter coloring. The stony bed O
the new steel way was hardly ad
justed, and barrenness ruled unde
foot.
But raise your eyes, George Their,
stand the monarchs of Switzerland
The eyes must be kept always open
He knows this, for when the lids shu
quietly he sees many far-away things
Though the scenes shift in each on,
is figure buoyant with life and some
times wearing. plaid shawl and al
Alpine hat which shades the blue eye
beneath. In fact, the familiar eye
are SO shaded that when George look
into them the vision always fades
he opens his own eyes and signs him
self back into the present moment.
Lite would be quite another thin.
If he might allow himself these Wis
ions. But they come without leave
and must be put aside. The question
which had often risen to his lips wa.
not the one he might ask.
Having an invalid mother and nj
money, student may say, will yo,
pass me the bread?" while his glance.
speak many gentle courtesies. Blu
he may not say, will you share m.
bread?" when there is hardly enough
for the mother.
Therefore sunshine is ibrightes
when the eylids curtain the eyes
Yet is vision Of fair possibilitie.
mt half as real as the rain AGAINST
the window.
The car had arrived at the top
George stood On the station alatfeFm