Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-29


ak41 states; it emp.
ties into the broader river, which in
turn hurries on to the sea.
There is spot on the shore of this
stream-a high, rocky cliff which is
called 'The Lovers Leap"
Years ago young Indian maiden
took this fearful leap to n waterv
grave with her lover, because she was
denied the husband of her choice.
Laura Cheney knows the story well.
She has passed all her life on the
shore of this beautiful stream.
Her father is a lumberman. and
Laura keeps house for him in the lit.
tie brown cabin which they call
home.
Laura is a pretty girl in spite of
the fact that she is brown with the
suns kisses, and that her dresses are
OF coarse material, and her shoes
rough and heavy.
All the yonng lumbermen knew
this, and one, Ben Herder, has paid
mcessant court to her for two wears.
But Laura has never loved any one
besides her father and the big mastiff.
Bruno-her young mother died ut her
birth.
Ben is brawny giant, with moody
black eyes and long black beard
and Laura is half afraid of him.
An excursion party from a distant
city has been spending some days in
the vicinity.
There is one young gentleman of
whom Laura sees good deal.
He is not so large u man as Herd.
er, but is tall, erect, and graceful.
with keen, gray eyes, fair hair, close
ly curling about fine head, and a
long, fair mustache.
His hands are winter and daintier
than Laura's, but they have muscles
Ike steel, and he is anything but the
'milk-sop" that Ben Herder calls
him.
This Godfrey Duston is so we'll
pleased with the country that he al
lows the excursion party to depart
without him, while he invests in u
tent and gun, and settles down to
camp lite near Abel Cheney's little
brown cabin, and declares his inten-
ton OF staying through the very last
OF the golden autumn days.
Ben Herder scowls ominously when
he hears this.
He hates this newcomer. who treats
Laura with such gentle courtesy as
she has never known before.
AS Duston becomes better acquaint-
ed with her his gun is neglected. and
they take long walks or sails to-
gether.
he tells Laura wonderful stories of
the great world from which he came;
and she, in return, reveals to him tho
secrets of the woods, and relates
among other things the legend of
Lovers Leap.
Godfrey, weary of the restraints of
society, weary of the frivolous women
OF this world, sore at heart because
OF one who has cruelty deceived him,
draws a new and delightful magnet.
ism from this pure and healthy
child of the forest.
She has just enough knowledge of
books to make her eager for more.
and he becomes her teacher.
AS the days go by he begins to ask
himself If this is not better life than
the other-would he not he happier
to win this child-woman for a wife,
and make home here, close to the
great heart OF nature?
L think that this companionship
with Laura is like a tonic to his
listless, world-weary spirit-all the
nobility of his nature comes to the
surface in his intercourse with her.
He has not thought of the possible
effect upon Laura, but she loved him,
although she does not know it.
She lives in happy dream.
She has only one fear-the fear of
Ben Herder, who makes fierce love
te her at every opportunity.
do you think that Duston will
marry your he queries one day,
when he has surprised her as she |
waved her hand from the cliff to the
young man who is padding along
the stream. "He has wife or sweet
heart at home-he is only amusing
himself with you"
Laura gazes at him in shame and |
dismay.
II don't know what you mean?"
she stammers at last.
Ben grasps her roughly by the
arm.
"Don't | know that he's bewitched !
ye-llke a snake charms bird be fore
he kills it? Eff he SEE es he loves yer
it's lie; he couldn't love We as do,
Laurie"
"Henever said such a thing" says
Laura, with flashing eyes and Grim
son cheeks. Let mego, Ben Herder,
you hurt my arm"
you've hurt my heart, Laurie.
Ye was kind ter me fore that swell !
came. Efye'll be my wife III never
be rough ter yer again, gal. It's be-
cause I'm skeered of losing you
makes me SO. Laurie, can't yer like
me little? love We So"
They are irightfully near the edge
of the cliff-so near that Laura
shrinks back and tries to pull her |
arm from Benz rrasn