Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

ing, followed by heavy thud, suggested some
thing more tangible than thunderbolts.- Bower
kicked the door, and 1t swung inward
An avalanche, he said. Probably rock
fall too OF course the hut stands clear If the
track OF all unpleasant visitors Of that de>crip-
ton.
HELEN had not expected this courageous
bearing in man OF Bower physical char
acteristiCs. Hitherto she had regarded him
somewhat self indulgent, Sybarite, the prod
uct of nodernity in its London aspects. His
demeanor on the train, in the hotel. bespoke
one accustomed to crafty the flesh. who found
all the world ready to pander to his desires.
Again she was conscious of that instructive
trustfulness woman freely reposes in a DOM
nant man. Oddly enough she thought of Spen-
she been asked which of these two would COM
nland her confidence during storm. her un-
hesitating choice would have favored the Amer
lean. Now she was at least sure that Bowers
GOODNESS was not assumed. His attitude IN
spired emulation. She rose and went to the door.
II want to see avalanche, she cried.
Where did that fall"
Bower followed her He spoke over her
shoulder. ON Monte Roseg, l expect. The
weather seems to be clearing slightly This
tearing wind will soon roll up the mist, and the
thunder will certainly start another big rock
or a snowslide- If YOU are lucky YOU may wit
ness something really fine "
A dazzling flash leaped over the glacier. Al
though the surrounding peaks were yet in
visible through the haze of sleet and vapor, OBJ
lects near at hand were revealed with uncanny
distinctness Each frozen wave on the surface
OF the ice etched in sharp lines A cluster
OF seracs on a neighboring icefall showed all
their mad chaos. The blue green chasm of a
huge Crevasse was ilumined to depth far be-
low any point to which the rays OF the sun pene
trated On the neighboring slope of Monte
Roseg the crimson and green and yellow moses
We're given sudden life against the black back
ground of rock. Every boulder here wore a
sonber robe. They stark and grim. The
eye instantly caught the contrast to their gray
white fellows piled on the lower moraine or in
the bed o. the Orlegna
HELEN was quick to note the new tone of
black amid the wildly white patches of
snow. She waited until the deafening thunder
peal was dying away in eery cadences. Why
are the rocks black here and almost white in
the valley'' she asked.
Because they are Young, as rocks go, was
the smiling answer. They have Yet to pass
through the mill They will be battered and
bruised and polished before they emerge from
the glacier several wears hence and few miles
nearer peace. In that they resemble men
Pom my word, Miss Wynton, You have caused
me to evolve rather poetic explanation of GER
tain gray hairs have noticed of late among my
own raven locks.
You appear to know and love these hills so
well that wonder-if you will excuse per-
sonal remark wonder you were ever able to
tear yourself away from them"
- have missed too much of real enjoyment
in the effort to amass riches" he said slowly.
Believe me. that thought has held me since
since and set foot on the Forno together"
But YOU knew! You were no stranger to
the Alps. ! am beginning to understand that
one cannot claim kinship with the high places
until they stir the heart more in storm than in
sunshine When saw all these giants glitter
ing in the sun like knights in silver armor. de-
scrlbed them to myself as gloriously beautiful.
Now feel that they more than that,-thev
awful, pitiess in their indifference to frail
mortals; they carry me into dim region where
life and death terms without meaning.
Yes, that is the true spirit of the mountains.
too used to look on them with affectionate rev.
erence, and You recall the old days Perhaps.
if am deemed worthy. you will teach me the
cult once more
He bent closer. Helen became conscious
that in her enthusiasm she had spoken
guardedly. She moved away, slightly but un-
mlstakablv. step two out into the open,
for the hut that side was not exposed to the
bitter violence OF the wind
1t IS absurd to imagine in change OF
role" she cried. Il should play the poorest
travesty of Mentor to your Telemachus. Oh.
What IS that =
WHILE she was speaking, another binding
" flare OF lightning flooded moraine and
glacier and pierced the veil of sleet. Her voice
rose almost to shrek. Bower sprang forward.
His left hand rested reassuringlv across her