Smyrna times., 1912-10-09
A Mountain
Elopernent
By HELEN HARDWOOD

and story as the Alps. DOuDtleSS the /
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 Austria
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
a fortune in Milan. retired to spend his
days in peace on the beautiful Lake
Como. He was a widOwer with one
daughter, a charming girl. upon whom
he dotted. Italians have always ar
ranged the marriages for their sons
and daughters. and SignOr Attanasio
betrothed his daughter. Theresa. to a
man more than double her age. Know
ing that at his death she would need a
protector and considering SignOr Riz-
ZutO man of business who would
take care of her property for her. he
considered that he had done very
good thing for his child.
But, unfortunately for his plan. he
died before the marriage could be
brought about. After the funeral Riz-
ZUto claimed his bride, who was also
his ward. but found. to his disappOint-
ment. that she had lover i'll the per-
son of Giovanni FabrOni. Ri2ZutO was
not minded to give lfer up to his young
rival and so informed her. Having
foi frT11 rH
| ian, Theresa and her lover saw that
If 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 his
wife.
The lovers therefore decided to go
away together. Southwark. eastward
| 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 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
maid. both of whom would give their
lives for their mistress, they started
to go as far as wheels would take
them and then endeavOr, if they could
not find sledges. to pursue their jour
ney on foot.
They set out after they were sup
n ~
not learn of their departure till morn
ing Being a 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, he did not believe that the
lovers could go very far in a carriage
or 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. village
on Lake MaggiOri. then drove over a
gently rising road to the foot of the
st. Gothard pass. On this road they
Travelled all day and in the evening
left it for cOncealment in a Swiss
cabin. Early in the morning they start
ed to go over the pass. leaving the car
riage, but taking the horses. on one OF
/ which Theresa rode, while the maid
rode the other. the men walking. Aft
er making a part of the ascent they
saw the guardians carriage comins
rapidly up the valley through which
they had passed
| They tOiled on as rapidly as possible
till they came to a 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 8
/ stratagem. He sent the ceachmar
and the maid with the horses or
i through the pass, while he aud The
| reSa turned into the pocket. which lee
/ into the pass again farther on RiZZu
| to. reaching This diverging point, hesi
4 taxed. then went on through the pass
| taking up the tracks left by the coach
4 man and the maid.
1t was several hours after this tina
Giovanni and Theresa reac ned al
1 eminence where they could look owe
a narrow gorge upon the road on th'
other side. On this road they saw
j RizZuto's carriage. He saw them ant
called on his driver TO stop and. get
ting out Of the carriage. called over t.
, the fugitiveS to give themselves III
since they could not escape him.
He was on a road that had been GU
through the side of a mountain, whicl
extended above him thousands of feet
1t was one of those balmy days Il
spring when the air is laden witt
moisture. though the sun shines brigh
and warm-just such a day us Alpin
dwellers fear the avalanche. 'rhOugl
Rizzuto was half a mile distant iron
the fugitives. his voice sounded as
he were close to them. Just SIS he pro
nounced the words cant escape me
Giovanni and Theresa saw the Who'll