A Second Life, by Mrs. Alexander (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1885 Excerpt: ... among the foreign intelligence--' Fatal Accident near Chamouni.' 'A deep gloom has been thrown over the visitors and inhabitants of this beautiful locality by a sad catastrophe which occurred yesterday on the Mer de Glace. An English gentleman, with his wife and daughters, who have been staying at the Hdtel Bellevue, started with experienced guides to ascend as far as a point called Le Jardin. To reach this from Montanvert (the route they adopted) it is necessary to cross a portion of the Mer de Glace. One of the ladies who came last, under the care of a well-known guide, wishing to look into a crevasse which they were about to cross by a snow bridge, approached the edge too closely, when either her foot slipped or she overbalanced herself, and unfortunately not being roped to the guide, she was precipitated into the abyss, before his despairing cry reached the rest of the party. As is always the case in such circumstances, the most improbable rumours are repeated and believed. A strict investigation is being made, with, however, but small chance of elucidating anything further.' Mrs. Leavett laid down the paper with a curious, cold, creepy sensation stealing through her veins. No names were mentioned, and she had no clue to Mildred's whereabouts, beyond the fact that she was going to Switzerland, and Chamouni was in Switzerland; yet an uneasy dread lest she should prove to be the lost traveller, weighed upon the good woman's heart. 'An English gentleman, with his wife and daughters: ' there must be many such travelling in Switzerland at that season. Why should she imagine the victim of this dreadful accident must be her 'young lady'? She reasoned with herself, and tried to resist the painful thoughts that would press upon her, as she folded the newspaper wi...