Mountains! Icy peaks, with sides heavy with snow! And so near! Almost they seemed to meet across the narrow valley. She gave them one quick glance, then her eyes and her heart became absorbed in what she could see of this Alpine village, holding up its head in the eternal snows like an edelweiss on the edge of a glacier. It was to be the scene of her one great act in life; the spot she was entering as a maiden and would leave as a wife. What other spot would ever be so interesting! To note its every detail of house and church would not take long--it was such a little village, and the streets were so few; and the people--why she could count them. Afterward, she found that the exact number and the difference in color of the short line of timbered houses stretching between them and the church were imprinted on her brain; but she did not know it at the time for her attention was mainly fixed upon the people when once she had seen them, for there was a strangeness in their looks and actions she did not understand, all the more that it seemed to have nothing to do either with Carleton or herself. It was not fear they showed, not exactly, though consternation was not lacking in their aspect, so strangely similar in all, whether they were men or women, or whether they stood in groups in the street or came out singly on the doorstep to glance about and listen, though there seemed to be nothing to listen to, for the air was preternaturally still. "Carleton, Carleton," she asked as he came to lift her to the ground, "see those people how oddly they act. The whole town is in the street. What is the matter?" "Nothing, except that if we do not hasten we shall have to return unmarried. The minister is waiting for us." "What, in the church?" "Yes, dear. We are a little late." She took his arm, and though they were a fine couple and the event was almost an unprecedented one in that remote village, only a few followed them; the rest hung round their homes or gazed with indecision at the mountains or up and down along the empty roads. * * * * * "Wilt thou have this woman...." The ceremony had proceeded thus far and all seemed well, when with a rush and a cry a dozen people burst into the building. "The snows are moving!" rang up the aisles in accents of mad terror. "Save yourselves!" Then came the silence of emptiness. Every soul had left the church save the three before the pulpit. An avalanche! and the ceremony was as yet incomplete! Ermentrude never forgot Carleton Roberts' look. Doubtless he never forgot hers. Meanwhile the minister spoke. "There is a chance for escape. Take it; the good God will pardon you." But the bridegroom stood firm and the bride shook her head.