The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-07-12
A Mountain
Elopement
By HELEN HARDWOOD

reason for this is that they lie IN the
center Of Europe and no one can so
from France or Germany down into
Italy or farther eastward to Austri"
without passing over them.
Years ago. before the Alps had come
to contain fashionable resorts. there
lived at Como. on their southern
slope, a gentleman who. having made
q fortune In Milan. retired to spend his
days in peace on the beautiful Lake
daughter. a charming girl. upon whom
be dotted Italians have always ar
ranged the marriages for their sons
and daughters. and Signor Attanasio
betrothed his daughter. Theresa. to
man more than double her age. Know
ing that at his death she would need
protector and considering Signor Riz-
Suto a man of business who would
take care Of her property for her. be
considered that he had done a very
good thing for bis child.
But, unfortunately for his plan. he
died before the marriage could be
brought about. After the funeral Riz
xuto claimed his bride, who was also
his ward. but found. to his disappoint
ment, that she had lover in the per
son of Giovanni Fabroni. Rizzuto was
not minded to give her up to his young
rival and so informed her. Having
certain powers over her as her guard
ian, Theresa and her lover saw that
II she refused to marry the man to
whom her father had given her he
might put her in confinement and per
secute her till she consented to be bis
wife.
The lovers therefore decided to 60
away together. Southwark. eastward
and westward lay Italian territory
In which the guardian could invoke the
law. Northward was Switzerland. in
which he would have no claim upon
her. But to go northward meant to
Cross the Alps. and that at that time
was a difficult and dangerous feat to
accomplish. Nevertheless. taking the
horses and carriage that had belonged
to Signor Attanasio. Giuseppi, the
coachman, and Elena, the heiress
lives for their mistress. they started
to go as far as wheels would take
them and then endeavor. II they could
not find sledges. to pursue their jour
ney on foot.
They set out after they were sup
posed to be in bed, and Rizzuto did
not learn Of their departure till morn.
Ing. Being very energetic man and
spurred to the probable loss of his
wards fortune. he started In pursuit.
having learned the direction the fugi
tives had taken. 1t was in the latter
part of May. and he knew that this
being the season of melting snow, was
the most dangerous period in the Alps
Moreover, be did not believe that the
lovers could 60 very far In a carriage
OF that they could secure any further
conveyances. Besides. it would be an
easy matter to track them by the
marks they would leave in the snow.
The lovers reached Locarno. a village
on Lake Maggiori. then drove over
gently rising road to the foot of the
St Gothard pass. On this road they
Travelled all day and in the evening
left 1t for concealment in Swiss
cabin. Early in the morning they start
ed to 60 over the pass. leaving the car
rage. but taking the horses. on one of
which Theresa rode. while the maid
rode the other. the men walking. Aft
er making part of the ascent they
saw the guardians carriage coming
rapidly up the valley through which
they had passed
They toiled on as rapidly as possible
till they came to point where they
were screened from below and where
there was a pocket In the mountains
The wind had driven the snow from
here. enabling Giovanni to practice a
stratagem. He sent the coachman
and the maid with the horses on
through the pass. while he and The
resa turned into the pocket. which led
into the pass again farther on. Rizzu
to, reaching this diverging point. hest
tated, then went on through the pass
taking up the tracks left by the coach
man and the maid.
1t was several hours after this that
Giovanni and Theresa reached an
eminence where they could look over
a narrow gorge upon the road on the
other side. On this road they saw
Rizzuto's carriage. He saw them and
called on his driver to stop and. get
ting out of the carriage. called over to
the fugitives to give themselves up
since they could not escape him.
He was on road that had been cut
through the siss of mountain. which
extended above him thousands of feet
It was one of those balmy days In
spring when the air is laden with
moisture. though the sun shines brigh,
end warm-just such day as Alpine
jewellers fear the avalanche. Though
Rizzuto was half a mile distant from
the fugitves. bis voice sounded as II
he were close to them. Just as he pro
nounced the words cant escape me-
Giovanni and Theresa saw the whole
side OF the mountain opposite seem Il
slide slowly downward 1t gathered