The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-10-14
A farewell to
the Mountains
By DONALD CHAMBERLlN

Jerry W ull0Olllu, YOUNG tALutllIdil'
had a hobby-mOuntain climbing. On
several successive summers he went TO
some one of the principal mountain re-
gions of the world and scaled peak.
But his favorite location was SwitZer-
land. Indeed, that is the fav0ritc noun
tain country of most persons. Whether
or not it is finer than the others is
question, but there is one thing about
ii that gives it superior attraction. 1t
is in the heart of Europe and in the
line of tourists.
Whitcomb had favoritc guide who
lived ut Scheidegg. point from which
climbers have been long used 20 start
TO ascend the Jungfrau. This was
before rairo.d was projected to car
~ tourists to the top Of the mountain,
and Schmitt. the guide referred to, had
a chalet not far above ScheidegS.
One day when Whitcomb had passed
! the crest of middle age he appeared at
! Scheidegg and found his old guide
smoking his pipe in front of his chalet
My old friend" said the American,
Il have come for a last climb | will
soon be old and not able to make these
ascents. wish you to pilot me once
more"
"Ah, herr" replied the guide, don't
| talk that way. am several years old
er than you. and yet l must go on
! climbing, else | and my family will
| starve."
There was a sadness In this reply
| that made Whitcomb sorry for what he
had said. "Ah, well, Schmitt, you
have been used to climbing all your
life You will always be at home in
the mountains"
SchmittS little daughter was play
ing near and at the moment she called
out:
Papa, who is that woman over
there?"
What woman, my childT
THE woman Oh the glacier"
Schmitt turned to Whitcomb and
asked him IL he could see a woman on
the glacier. his own eyes being not so
good as they had been. Whitcomb
peered In the direction of the glacier,
but said he could see no woman.
Schmitt turned pale.
Something troubles you" said Whit
comb.
ut Is the spirit of the mountains.
She appears only to children and never
even to n child except she is going to
claim a victim"
The fact that the two men were to
climb the Jungfrau made this state
ment a matter Of concern to them.
Whitcomb could not bring himself to
believe that the child saw what she
claimed to have seen. Some one OF
the cracks in the Ice or a rock must
have appeared like a woman's figure.
He said as much to Schmitt, but the
latter shook his head
MANY children" said the guide,
have seen the Jungfrau and never
except that one or more persons have
been killed on the mountain within q
short time after the appearance Of the
specter."
They set out about o'clock In the
morning intending t" make the climb
during a single DAP. Whitcomb had
forgotten the vision of Schmitts little
daughter and was very CHEEKY. His
guide was quite the reverse, seeming
ly being much cast down. On the way
they picked up another guide, making
a party of three, and when they came
to the dangerous part Of their climb
they Joined their bodies by a rope
Schmitt in the lead, Whitcomb in the
center, the other guide, whom Schmitt
addressed as Hans, in the rear.
They climbed till noon before reach
ing the summit; then, looking out Oh
the expansive field Of snow peaks,
Whitcomb gave way to rhapsody.
"Goodby, old friends" he said. TITS
many a days companionship we've
had, but now we must part. You who
have existed for ages in your present
form doubtless will exist for ages t
come. Your snow covered rocks vii
endure for millions of years after my
puny body has mingled with the dust
My friends, farewell"
Zach! Herr, do not talk that way
There is something prophetic in what
you say"
81 don't mean," replied Whitcomb
| that am going to leave this world
: Immediately. / expect to live to be ar
old man. But I'll do no more climb
/ ing"
mo, herr, you'll do no more climb
, ing" replied Schmitt, with solemnitJ
that passed through the other like
chill mountain breeze.
They spent an hour on the summit
, then turned to descend. They had no
gone far before one of those sudder
, snow squalls that come on so frequent
" out Of a fine day enveloped them
Schmitt was In the advance and halt
ed, as though he had lost his bearings
|, Then he moved on, but staggered
Presently the snow gave way beneatl
him, and he went down, draggin,
Whitcomb with him. Hans threw him
self in the opposite direction. Tn
. rope snapped. Schmitt and Whitcom'
slid out Of sight with the snow. Han
fell into a sRowbank not a dozen fee
below.
The storm soon passed, and Hans
making his wav back to Scheidegg, re
ported the accident and the disappear