The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-27
%S'be Man Of
~ Melancholy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso
ciation.l
Chamonix is little village in a val
ley of the same name surrounded by
the Swiss Alps. The chief occupation
Of the young men of Chamonix is that
of guide to tourists.
One Of these guides, William Lubken
came home one evening from conduct
ing stranger on a mountain climbing
expedition without his charge. He re
ported that the stranger had been
caught in an avalanche and carried
over precipice. Lubkin at the begin.
ming Of the SHOWS movement which
was slow, had succeeded In reaching a
rock, to which he chung. The rope by
which climbers are always united
broke. and the stranger had been borne
away from him. The broken part of
the rope he showed in evidence OF his
story.
Albert Twingle started a suspicion
that Lubkin had cut the rope to save
himself; that Lubken had frayed the
cut part to show that it had been bro
ken. This suspicion grew till it was
believed by many of the villagers.
though the guides who at any time
might be liable to the same charge
would not hear of 1t. Lukben never
recovered from the obloquy cast upon
him. He left Chamonix, and the place
knew him no more.
One day twenty years later trav-
eler with white hair and beard came
to Chamonix. All the guides were
anxious to be employed by him, but
he engaged none Of them. He sat all
day looking up at the mountains and
the glaciers, apparently suffering from
melancholy. While he was at Chamo-
nix traveller appeared and asked for
guide. Albert Twingle now nearing
an age when guides usually give up a
calling requiring both nerve and
strength, was engaged. He started
with the traveller to explore the Mer
de Glace. In the evening Twingle re-
turned and reported that while the
stranger was attempting to look down
into creyasse the ice had broken and
be had fallen between the cold Jaws.
When he told the narrowing story to
the assembled people the man Of mel
ancholy--a name given, to the unknown
stranger--was sitting. as usual on the
porch OF his hotel He spoke the first
words he was known to speak since
coming to Chamonix.
lyon lie! You have murdered and
robbed himr'
Twingle was horror stricken at the
accusation, but could not prove that
It was false The other guides took up
the matter In bis behalf. and 1t was
agreed that one Of their number should
be lowered into the crevasse to bring
up the body. The lot fell to one named
Obers, and the next morning all went
to the crevasse, the man OF melancholy
going with them. The sacrament had
been administered to 0bers before bis
dangerous descent and as he was
about to put the rope about his waist
the man of melancholy seized 1t and.
encircIing his own waist, said:
sDo you think am a coward to
make this charge without bearing the
brunt OF conviction or an acquittal"
There was something about the man
which, surprised as they were at a
mere traveller volunteering to undergo
such an ordeal, awed those looking on
They were a superstitious people, and
many of them crossed themselves,
thinking that he who made the offer
was some guide returned from his
white tomb under an avalanche or the
devil himself. No one opposed him,
and. having placed the rope around his
waist, taking bell In one hand ana
an alpenstock in the other to push him
self from the sharp ice edges, be was
slowly lowered into the crevasse.
Three times he rang his bell and each |
tine was raised and revived from suf-
location. More. and more tho rope