Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-12-21

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 a young Indian maiden
took this fearful leap to a watery
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 lumherman. 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
SUMS kisses, and that her dresses are
OF coarse material, ana her shoes
rough and heavy.
All the yonng lumbermen knew
this, and one, Ben Herder, has paid
incessant court to her for two years.
But Laura has never loved any one
besides her father and the big mastitf,
Bruno-her young mother died at her
birth.
Ben is brawny giant, with moody
black eyes and a long black beard,
and Laura is half afraid of him.
An excursion party from distant
city has been spending some days in
the vicinity.
There is one young gentleman OF
whom Laura sees n 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
~ curling about a fine head, and u
long, fair mustache.
His hands are whittier and daintier
than Laura's, but they have muscles
like 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 life 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 scowIs 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 acauaint-
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
oil 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 n better life than
the other-would he not be happier
to win this child-woman for n wife,
and make home here, close to the
great heart OF nature?
/ think that this companionship
with Laura is like q 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.
Shelves in happy dream.
She has only one fear-the ienr ot
Ben Herder, who makes fierce love
to her at every opportunity.
"Do you think that Duston will
marry your" he queries one dny.
when he has surprised her as sIe
waved her hand from the cliff to Tho
young man who is padding along
the stream. she hns 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 bewitcbed
ye-llke q snake charms a bird bpf ore
he kills it? Ef he SEE es he loves ver
it's a lie; he couldn't love We as / do
Laurie"
'Henever said such n thing" sovs
Laura, with flashing eyes and erin.
son cheeks. "Let mego, Ben Herder
you hurt my arm"
you've hurt my heart, Laurio
Ye was kind ter me fore thnt swell
came. Ef yen be my wife I'M never
be rough ter yer again, gal. It's no,
cause I'm skeered Of losing yor