The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-01
"Mopntein Jim.".

| -ooYOiuh tycttip ago, MISS DlIQ, Cll0 Eli
gllsh lady whose journeyings by sea and
land have made her name household
word, was travelling in Colorado, and
, stopped at the cabin Of "Mountain jim, -
a notorious desperado. :,
| She saw O broad, thick-set man, about
the middle height, with an old cap on
ms mead and wearing q groy hunting
suit, much the worse for use.
His manner was that of a gentleman.
and he spoke witha refined accent and
in elegant language. - ..s,%
-, You are not an American, - he said !,
as, she rode away. "I know from your
Voice that yoll are d countrywoman Of
mine. ! hope you will allow me the
pleasure Of callingcon you. :, ESjst
a few days later, lie called to guide
Miss Bird up to Longs Peak, the Amer
lean Matterhorn. The ride was q series
of glorious surprises, not the least of
which were the culture and the love of
nature shown by Mountain Jim.
" Treat Jim as a gentleman and you'll
find him 'one," she had Been told on set
ting out, and his manners verified the
words. T.,
That night, as they were in camp, sit
ting about a huge log fire, the mans
kindness came out. "Ring" he said to
his dog, as if he was speaking to a man,
go to that lady and don't leave her
again tO-night.' '" .'2 tx
But Miss Bird also saw that his van
lty stimulated him to act and speak so
as to sustain his reputation as q desper-
ado. The Colorado newspaper kept
" Mountain Jim" always before the
public, and he enjoyed reading the para
graphs.
One night, as the presence of wild ami
mails made it impossible to sleep, he told
her stories Of his early youth and of the
great sorrow which led him to begin a
lawless life. His voice trembled and
tears rolled down his cheeks. His dark
soul Seemed stirred to- .remorse by the
light Of other days.
1t was painful spectacle to the Eng
Hsh lady. His magnificent head show
ed the better possibilities Which might
have been realized. His chivalrous man
ner to womah indicated the natural gen.
tleman.
Yet there he sat by the campfire
among the Sierras, a ruffian, whose life
had been ruined and wasted.
"What good" she thought, "can the
future have in store for this desperate
who 80 long has said to evil, be thou my.
gOodPn =. ".
The next morning day dawned long
before the sun rose. Tho Englishwoman
sat looking at the pure emon-colored
atmosphere, " Ring by her side, when
one of the party called to her to come far
ther down the slope:
sij;,rac' sc' ,s" "N hn ~h"s ''a,rn". cnnn, ennh
She went. Looking up to Longs Peak,
it seemed cold and gray. The everlast-
ing SHOWS, the silvered pines, the Plains
also, appeared chilling in the blue-gray
light. A dazzling streak shone in the
east, and suddenly the sun rose above
the gray horizon, as full of light and
glory as when first created.
The gray changed to purple. The
sky blushed in one r0se-red flush. The
cold peaks glistened like rubies. The
Plalns appeared, i'll their limitless ex-
panse, as if the Creators hand had just
rolled them out
Mountain Jim, reverently uncovering
his head, exclaimed III a low, tender
voice." believe there is q GOdl'
Alas for Mountain Jim awe, even
when inspired by the Creators works,
is not the repentance'which begets new
life. ..7 =, -.
you WanC TO KNOW" ne Sald one
day to Miss Bird, when she tried to lead
him to better life, chow nearly aman
can become devil, IN tell YOU"
Then he told her the sad story of a
runaway boy, living the reckless life of
Il drunken rllflian. She urged him as
the first step to amendment to give up
whisky. .
" I cannot" he said sadly. cit binds
me hand and foot. I cannot give up the
only pleasure have.'
She plead with him, but he exclaimed
in tones of despair,-
."Too late too late It might have
been once, but now it is too late for me
to changel