The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-18
Mystery
BY r. A. mitchell

'h''sthahets nHu NtTF ptttty uuuEH
ter. Anna. whom Herman wished I,
marry. but her father would not con
sent Il have nothing but few
cheese presses" he said TO her, u
dozen goats and the chalet over ou
heads. can consequently give yol
no dowry. Herman hus nothing ex
cept what he eau earn guiding tourists
Instead OF having n son-in-law TO re
lieve me of providing for one OF my
children | shall likely In time have
|. grandchildren on my hands. for Her
man is liable ut any time to slide
down to his death with an avalanche
or fall over n precipiee."
Anna gave this reply OF her father
TO Herman. who cast his eyes thought.
fully up the mountain side. then said;
Tell your father that whether
marry you or do not marry you will
provide for you"
When Anna told her father that he
exclaimed: Herman is fool. He
dreams dreams MS high up in the
clouds MS the peaks he climbs. How
could he provide for your
The girl made no reply TO this. for
she did not know what Herman meant
She knew that he was full of strange
ideas, and she was impressed with the
sad but resolute expression on his face
when he spoke the words that she had
repeated to her father. However,
there was nothing TO be done In the
matter. for she had no idea OF disobey-
ing her father by marrying Herman.
One day an English gentleman en-.
gagged Herman to make an ascent with
him. The two started out together,
and when they got up TO where the
climbing was dangerous Herman unit.
ed them by rope. While moving
along over narrow path with preci
pice on one side the tourist slipped
and fell on a side OF the divide which
was but some twenty feet above
ledge. The shock. however. caused
Herman to lose his balance. and he
fell on the other side and hung over the
precipice. His AK slipped from his
hands. and he heard IL strike far below
Fortunately. the rope held, but Herman
knew that would not long bear the
strain and any rubbing against the
sharp rocks on the edge OF the divide
would surely cause 1t to break. For /
this reason he could not use it to
climb up on, and. having no Ak, he
could note steps in the ice. He call.
ed out to the tourist:
1--WE cannot remain. long In this posi-
ton. for as soon as night comes and
the temperature falls we will freeze.
II I cut the rope you will fall on the
ledge and can descend the mountain.
would like TO sell you my life for
money. IL will enable you to live
The Englishman would not at first
consent to any such plan. asserting
hat he would blame himself and be
erms. But Herman told him that the
mall strands that composed the rope
we're gradually giving way and 1t would
Don break. so the tourist finally said
hat he would accede to Herman's
erms. though he could not see how
he latter could be benefited by money
fter his death. Then Herman told
i'm it was to be paid to Anna. the
laughter of old Gotlieb. the cheese
maker In the valley.
Il will give her." said the tourist .
half Of what possess. or 10000"
she will not know what to do with
0 much" said Herman. but you can
ettle that with her father 1
The tourist heard nothing more from
Ierman. Some minutes passed. awful
linutes. during which the Englishman
new that soul was preparing for
cath. The surrounding mountains
,emed a part of eternity. the silence
lat of infinite space. Then suddenly
? dropped. landing on the ledge below.
For awhile his mind was so filled
It'll the terrible fate Of his guide that
J could think OF nothing else. Then.
alizing that he must save himself In
der to keep bis part of the contract
had made. he got up and. walking
ong the ledge. found place some
stance below where be could regain
e path by Which he and his guide
d ascended. Night came on. and he
It his way. He would have sunk
wn in the snow and permitted the
Id to end his life had he not been
Dyed by desire to pay the money
had promised. Indeed. when he
ought that he must live under the
nd OF his guides death and his own
'ety he would have preferred TO die.
stopped TO rest and was getting
,wey when he saw light In cha.
window some distance below. Ris-
/. he struggled on and when door
s opened to him fell on the floor
ensibie. -
he next day be descended into the
ley and appered at the Gotlieb
ne. When Anna saw him come in -
ne and looking haggard she knew
lover had persisted and swooned.
he tourist told them that Herman Z
gone down into precipice. then. =
bout further explanation. called for
rotary and executed papers trans z
ing TO Anna Gotlieb property In
gland worth sI0yOO0. 2
wonder said the awe stricken
esemnker. how Herman knew that