The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-03-04

yoI o!ApPeAy t'eCen,' AooAoV ; Ao@A'uA
enough; nor were kid boots the best pre-
paration for sharp rocks and the moss
strewn with pine needles. It seemed
all but impossible for Dora to attempt
such task, but her pride forbade re-
treat, while Grace, in despair, suffered
herself to be half carried up the steep
est pitches by Ned schenck, and lifted
bodily over stones and logs that she de-
clared herself altogether unable to sur
mount. Fortunately for her protector
she was slight and not tall; he could
easily spare all the strength necessary.
But Dora would not allow herself to be
more than guided, though the guidance
was peremptory.
'Put your foot here, Miss Schenck: !:
now the other on that stone. Give me
your left hand, and take firm hold Of
that bough to the right"
Dora obeyed with the most childlike
confidence, for the abyss below her and
the height above were all alike terrible;
she had that best of courage which will
not turn back though trembling with
terror:
Grace, from below, a helpless burden,
saw with sort Of pique how we'll Dora
had endured the march, and caught Mr..
Horizons admiring glances at the 1.-THE
figure that was at once 50 brave and so
docile. To tell the truth, Grace had in
tended the handsome young clergyman
should be her own escort, ard Was not
at all satisfied at being relegated to Ned
Schenck's care, who was strong and
good tempered, no doubt, but neither
good looking nor rich. It was not from
pure desire to tease that Grace called
out in her soft, drawing tones: "Doll,
you are really miracle. 1 never ex-
pected to see you mind man. 50 i'm
plicit]y."
Dora was indignant. She knew we'll
that Grace could be spitefu], but the
spite did not hurt her as much as the
answering consciousness that, in spite
of her fine theories, she had been most
implicitly submissive to Mr.. Horizons
escort. The girlish, silly pride that was
her great fault, rose in arms. She did
not answer Grace, but, with resolute
look on her flushed face, sprapg on
ward after her own fashion, stumbling
and clinging as we'll as she could, every
moment expecting Mr.. Horton to ad-
wise or demonstrate, but bent on heed
ing his voice no more.
She expected in vain. He sad moth
ing. and the smile on his face would not
have pleased her; he only followed fast
behind her till they came to little
grassy platform, at the head of the
stream, Where the rocks retreated and
the trees had been swept away directly
in front of the last and highest fall,
which descended here at right angles
with the rest Of the stream, behind
cliff that hid it entirely from the lower
pool.
Grace had stopped far below; she was
heated and tired and angry too. Ned
Schenck did not care for her; so he sat
down on the other end of the log where
she had seated herself: and profaned
the delicate forest odors with cigar.
Dora stopped a moment to take breath
and admire the beautiful fall before
them, which dashed its white water
down the sheer black rock, and sprin-
kled with bright dew the luxuriant
ferns and vines that fringed the bank of
either side. Then she turned to follow
the very slight indication of path up
wsrd. Mr.. Horton was ready to follow;
but the moment she set her foot on the
rock which was her first step, and ex-
tended her hand to grasp ledge above,
which must be climbed, he cried out,
in a loud, imperative voice, "Dora,
stop!"
The voice was so decisive, so power
full, 80 full of that command which is
the counterpart of obedience, that with
out thought of rebellion, Dora stood
like q statute. In an instant Mr.. Hor-
ton put his arm about her, swung her
back, and began to strike rapidly and
fercely at something on the crest of
the ledge; and in another minute he
lifted dead rattlesnake on his cane
and flung it far down into the stream.
Dora turned sick, and sat down on
stone, shuddering and pale. Mr.. Hor-
ton only said, "Excuse me, Miss
Schenck; the danger was too near for
me to be less imperative"
Dora shivered. "If you had not, I
should be dead now"
"Not at ALL" laughed Mr.. Horton.
Il know these woods too well to be ever
without the proper alleviations for a
snake bite, but I never yet used them,
though I have met and killed good
many. Rattlernakes are dull creatures
unless they coil to spring, and one blow
with d heavy stick will kill them.
Very few people die of their bites. I
have only heard of one case in these
regions, and that was child who had
strayed alone in the woods
He purposely heightened his explana-
ton, that Dora might calm herself; he
did not know how it was still throbbing
through her heart that he had called