The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-08-26
A Farewell to
the Mountains
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

out MS Iavorfte location was SWitzer-
land. Indeed, that Is the favorite noun
tain country of most persons. Whether
or not 1t Is finer than the others Is a
question. but there is one thing about
1t that gives it superior attraction. 1t
Is In the heart OF Europe and In the
line of tourists.
Whitcomb had a favorite guide who
lived at Scheidegg. point from which
climbers have been long used 20 start
TO ascend the Jungfrau. This was
before railroad was projected to car
ry tourists to the top OF the mountain,
and Schmitt, the guide referred to. had
a chalet not far above Scheidegg
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 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. l am several years old
er than you, and yet l must go on
climbing. else and my family will
starye."
There was sadness in this reply
that made Whitcomb sorry for what he
had saidS "Ah, well, Schmitt, you
have been used to climbing all your
life. You will always be at home In
the mountains"
Schmitt's little daughter was play
ing near and at the moment she called
out:
Papa, who is that woman over
thereY'
what woman, my child?"
THE woman on the glacier"
| Schmitt turned to Whitcomb and
asked him If he could see a woman on
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.
She appears only to children and never
even to u child except she Is going to
claim 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 rock must
have appeared like 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 3 o'clock In the
morning intending to make the clint
during a single day. Whitcomb hat
forgotten the vision of Schmitt's little
daughter and was very CHEEKY. Hii
guide was quite the reverse, seeming
ly being much cast down. On the way
they picked up another guide, making
q party of three. and when they came
to the dangerous part of their climl
they Joined their bodies by a rope
Schmitt In the lead, Whitcomb In the
center the other guide. whom Schmit
addressed as Hans. In the rear.
They climbed till noon before reach
ing the summit; then, looking out OF
the expansive field of snow peaks
Whitcomb gave way to rhapsody.
"Goodby, old friends" he said. 1T
many days companionship we'v
had, but now we must part You VIII
have existed for ages In your presen
form doubtless will exist for ages t
come. Your snow covered rocks wi
endure for millions of years after m
puny body has mingled with the dus
My friends, farewell"
ZACH! Herr. do not talk that way
There Is something prophetic In wha
you say"
.T don't mean," replied Whitcomt
: that / am going to leave this worl
Immediately. expect to live to be a
: old man. But I'll do no more chmt
ing
'No, herr, you'll do no more climl
ing" replied Schmitt, with solemnit
: that passed through the other like
T chill mountain breeze.
= They spent an hour on the SUNNI
D then turned to descend. They had NJ
. gone far before one Of those sudde
/: snow squalls that come on so frequen
j ly out of a fine day enveloped Their
! Scbmitt was In the advance and hal
ed. as though he had lost his bearing
Then he moved on, but staggere
Presently the snow gave way benea'
y him, and he went down, draggiI
Whitcomb with him. Hans threw biz
{ self In the opposite direction II
+ rope snapped. Schmitt and Whitcon
r slid out Of sight with the snow. Ha
fell into a snowbank not dozen re
below.
The storm soon passed. and Han
n making his way back to Scheidegg,