The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-05
DIANA.
writ en- 70. THE SUNDAY HEAD.

He strained his eyes tor il as it came
over the fall, bat caught only the out
line, and watched for it to emerge from
the white foam beneath, oblivious 10
interest for its appearance, to the vio-
lent vibrations of his fish-line. at the
end of which an unseen power was
asserting itself in spasmodic efforts.
Becoming conscious to the matter in
hand, he opposed his strength. 10 that
of the huge prey and, having landed
him. considerably did that for his finny
majesty which he had unsuccessfully
wearied himself in trying to perform
extricating the hook from its inconven-
lent position in his throat when
It had emerged from the foam, and
was Just opposite, dipping in and out of
the water with seeming determination
to remain provokingly indistinct, and at
distance impossible to his reach.
Deserving his prize, after executing q
variety OF graceful motions he succeeded
in balancing himself upon the extreme
edge of the bank and, extending his fish
rod far out into the water, caught the
something" and by SEllliul motion
of his arm, brought II safety TO land. II
was a hat-a large, round, white chip.
adorned with .profusion OF lace and
pearl pins, a huge bow covering the
front. while long cream tinted ostrich
plume chung to the crown all trace Of
| its original fluffy splendor was lost in
the chaos Of its iank and damp despair.
\ II was a hat that he had seen IN the
! streets. in the shops, in the theatres of
! New York; which had been nodded at
| him BY hundreds of fair heads in his
drives in tie park; which had lent life
and brilliance TO the prosaic Long
Branch beach where he had spent gay
month before starting upon his journey
TO the west; in short, fashionable hat.
He regarded il with extreme interest.
1t was 70 him a voice from beloved
Babylon. To meet with this undeniable
evidence of civilization in this far away
Utah canyon, in this heather Terri
tory" where he had imagined herself
figuring as the sole type of q distinct
civilization, was enough to rouse in this
lonely stranger sensation that
amounted almost to excitement. There
was no doubt in his mind that the
owner was, like himself, an exile from
the far-off haunts Of civilization. whose
isolation from congeniel minds and
scenes would render grateful the ap-
pearance upon the scene of this social
desert, where no native flowers OF cul-
ture and refinement possibly could
bloom, of lone who though probably
stranger, yet could prove himself to
member Of that intelligent class a
which she must necessarily belong. He
pictured the relief she must experience
upon being able TO trace in his CONVEX
sation and manner the evidences of his
social aud intellectual equality, expert
encing g thrill OF pity as he allowed mis-
mind TO dwell upon the circumstances
OF her presence in the "barbarous
country and fancying that her sense
of loneliness must be more oppressive
than his own He felt almost as If he
had known her for years. The incident
reminded him of knightly Iomances OF
olden times. this dainty. though forlorn
hat, serving instead of the rOseate or
lovers knot (of days OF yore) as sum
mons TO the aid of distressed beauty. At
least it would furnish an opportunity
for making her acquaintance.
So, with the determination of losing
no time in making use OF the advantage
he possessed, be prepared to make an
Immediate search for the interesting
unknown; and having arranged the
trophies of his sport on a willow, care
fully adjusted the hat under his arm he
proceeded up the stream.
A short distance below the hotel. not
far from the mill whose cheerful hum
breaks the monotony of silence which
reigns in the regions of Silver Lake, in
one of those beautiful dells which at
short intervals border the mountain
stream along its entire length, ne came
upon the object of his search. The
place might have served bower for
goddess leat-strewn grove. the long
branches of the encirclinE trees mingl-
so thickly overhead, that the deep shade
had been almost darkness had not the |
stream boldly forced its way into this
darksome nook, caught the few rays OF
the sun that struggled through the |
close leaves overhead, throwing them Off (
in wavering lines of light, shedding a |
faint radiance around and giving to the |
place dreamy tinge like the soft shade |
OF twilight. Large fat rocks broke the |
smooth flow of the water, while huge, |
fallen trees were lying about, giving 3 |
wild grandeur to the scene that might |
otherwise have been too pastoral. 1t |
was a place FL for the haunts of immor-
tails" and she. 1.-THE goddess OF that |
shrine" was not unworthy of the sur
model heroine for the |
dreams in which he had been
g3F .
She stood leaning against q tree. her
grace and repose Of attitude lending |
effect to the charm of q perfect face and |
figure. As he advanced she turned to |
meet him, and received the forlorn hat |
with much surprise. She had thought /
never to see it again. she said, and then,
after 6 pause, explained how she had /
lost it, which gave him a cue TO The |
next remark and then they drifted into !
she, with evident discre-
ton and wsriness, he with guarded |
care against the fear on her part OF any |
assumption of privilege on his own.
While he grasps eagerly, though with
out apparent inten ion, at every agreea-
bic topic which presents itself to his |
mind. with view to prolonging the
pleasing experience. we may leave them |
for a moment, for the purpose OF giving |
4 sketch OF the circum stances which led |
10 the occurrence OF the romantic Incl
dent above described.
Our hero, few years before the time /
Of the commencement of this story. had |
graduated from an eastern college.
me king pua Of that large number o.