The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-05
BACK TO THE FOLD.

The smiling morn rose over the hill calm and
festal in natures unC illuminated freshness be-
meath the peaceful +ain chalets. A traveller
came along the roaC II the air of one who had
long been wearied and eli :ttered. He sat down
on q rock in the sunshine -tretched his limbs and
looked over the luscious green of the pastures.
That the only thing that did him good.
Nature had never 4Vronged him. only life had been
60 mspeakably hard. 1t had put him in the world
in such poverty that he had to wrestle and fight
for every crlmb that he ate. for every scrap of
knowledge that he learned, for every upward step
that he took the ladder. And when at last he
looked back. glad and proud, on the way that lay
behind him. the home and position he had won
1or himself there came. malicious and jealous
fate to destroy it all. In three words he could
describe his wretchedness his friend false his wife
untrue. his children, selfish and unloving. Then
franz iewart had made great gulf between him
self and them, and had gone far away.
A restless disquiet had mastered him and never
let him go; he must wander and wander. He
had never tolerated the confinement Of railway
rages: the climbing fever possessed him. He must
breathe the sharp Alpine air, feel the wind and the
seorching sun, stand beside roaring waterfalls and
explore steep mountain passes.
Wherever he went he Stunned other people; If
he could not avoid them, he was severely silent.
But he saw only what he wished to see, what fitted
IN with his dominant idea mo truth and ITO
love He thought that idea fitted in with every
thing lie often felt bitter JOY in it, line after
me was added, and the picture in his soul became
ever more sharply defined. And for this miser
able human race the beautiful world existed
Towards midday he became hungry, and went
2 the nearest mountain hut. Three girls were
sitting at the table dipping their spoons in COM
mon into a dish full of milk They shyy
embarrassed when the gentleman asked for some
thing 70 cat He was certainly not hard TO please;
some bread and mountain cheese and a glass of
new milk .ufficed for his needs He sat silent and
apart. and by degrees the girls began to chatter
2gan. They spoke in low tones. Ionerl, from the
Redea-Alm. had fallen down precipce there,
and had been terribly injured Already he had lain
.enseess for twenty-four hours. If he lasted two
Gays more it was all one could expect.
suddenly man stood at the door. 1t was the
brother Of the injured one.
Please, viii one Of you run to st. Martin to beg
The Ptarrer (parish priesD to comew
One Of the girls who herded the COWS at once
rose.
us Tonerl still-with you"
Yes but he viii not live much longer"
The stranger sat down outside the mountain
nut while the girl ran down into the valley;
Mechanically he lighted a cigar and began to read
newspaper.
Three hours later the girl came back. She was
eIT not and great drops Of sweat were falling IT 'ln
her forehead
How you have rum" said Teresa one OF her
companions. "And the Pfarrer"
IS himself in bed, and i'll that he cannot
aAe q step. It came on him last night
Jesus, Maria 1t is sad for TouerL Sit down
'ld get cool. viii go to the Rieder-hlm."