The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-18

ice grotto and sat there, trembling | Phe elements became furious The wind blew down the mountain howl | Ing. The snow drove by in messes Tartartn and Bompard thought of the ghastiy museum at the Mulets. They recalled the old mans tale of the American tourist who was found dead in just such an ice grotto, petrified with cold hunger.
 They grasped hands and forgaye l each other everything. They forgave the world. Only Costecalde-him the great heart of Tartarin could not so easily pardon, even in that grand moment It is rather annoying" said he, ito die in the flower of ones age by the fault of a scoundrel no at this moment is taking his demi-tasse com fortably in Tarascon."
 At the instant tho sky began to clear. Quick! Away! they rested themselves and resumed their way. fuli of new hope. plunging up to their which obliterated all traces of the party's ascent.
 All at 'nce Bompard cried "Tar- ingl"
 ''Eh! I can see that very wellY" re- piled the president, who seemed dis turoed. But what do you want me
 
 get down on the other side.'
 They were in C mass of pointed gla- ciers now. Everywhere peaks stuck up. It was fearful
 Whatever you do dop't let me go, Tartarin" calculated Bompard.
 Nor you me-" replied Tartarin be- tween hts teeth.
 They exchanged these assurances without seeing each other. for a peak was between them, Tartarin descend ing on one side with the utmost care while Bompard was ascending on the other.
 Suddenly. when he was not more than e yard from the crest. Bompard heard . great cry from his compan- ion, The rope jerxed violently, strain ed. sang with tauntness. The next instant 1t parted. with astonishing smoothness.
 "outrew
 "Boufrs!'
 These two cries arose, wild and de- spairing. in the silence and the solitude. Then succeeded a terrible calm--the calmness of deathl
 Toward evening a man vaguely re- sembltng Bompard--a spectre, dishev- eled, wounded, reached the hut of the 'Grands-Mulets, where he could barely mutter. in voice choked with tears. "Tartarin-lost--rope broksi'
 AsNAAF6h0 EGkAAihGu &B ! HtuREH9us After some days. when all search had proved futile. and every one was con- vtnced that the great president of tho Alpine Club was lost beyond recovery, the delegates returned to Tarascon, carrying with them Bompard, whose skull showed scars from his fall.
 Don't talk to me about it." was all that he would say.
 When they reached Tarascon with the fearful news the city became as Rome on the occasion of she funeral of iGermanicns. ,Gre@ preparations were made to commemorate the death of their tllustrious man. The club was tried to squeeze forth tears.
 One morning the bells began to peal golemnly. The shops were closed. The houses were shut. The population went to church to the funeral service of It's hero who lay amid the glaciers of Mont Blanc.
 After church all Taraseon proceeded to the Alpine Club, where. in solemn session. Bompard gave an account of the catastrophe. Bezuquet sat in front l weeping bitterly. When the banner, | draped in crape, was brought up, ev- erybody kept Rezuquet company. The | tears fell like rain.
 Memory came back to the brave | Bompard when he saw this universal | sorrow. In touching. simple. unaffect- | cd language he related how they had reached the summit of Mont Blanc | alone. the guides having refused to | follow them. how they stood upon the | highest peak in Europe, with the ban | ner Of the -:ub displayed. Then came | the periIous descent and the faII-Tar- ! tarin rolling to the bottom of a cre- | vase, while Bompard, attaching him. | self to a rope two hundred feet long, lowered himself again and again to the bottom of the hideous chasm.
 More than twenty times. gentle men-what do I say?-more than nine ty times did I sound that abyss of lce." declared Bompard.
 Before Bompard began to speak. while the bells were still ringing. pale. piteous-looking shabby man came sidling into Tarascon, hugging the walls like 6 thief. He kept se- to the back streets. avoid Ing observation. Yet the precaution was hardly necessary. Who would have recognized in this abject creat- are the great. the illustrious. the on-