Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-08-07
Golden DsyA

ION was shared by Mrs. Bruce, who
always delicate, shrank from the
hardships and suffering attendant
upon the pioneer lite.
But Milton Bruce was naturally
determined, and once decided upon
course Of action, he was not easily
turned from his purpose; and urged
on by the tlattering reports from
that section, he had in due time set
tied with his wife and only child,
Sally, then nine years of age, in the
mining country of Colorado and
midway down the side of one of these
spurs they branch out at regular in
tervals all along the Rocky Noun
tain rnnge), over the bare summit of
which ran rough trail towards
mining town beyond. He built his
primitive cabin of rough logs taken
from the belt of timber near by.
. Into it Sally, now a girl offourteen
and her mother were moved from a
little mining town or camp in the
valley on the other side of the noun
tain, seven miles away, where they
had been staying, waiting Tor the es-
stablishing of their home.
The way over the mountain trail
had been wearisome and full of peril,
the road rough, winding up and on
above the timber into the region of
ice and snow; crooked line, treach-
.erous with many chasm, growing
fainter and fainter till lost in the per-
ills OF the pass at the summit, trail
ing sinuously along the height, and
gradually dropping on the other
side. From it zigzag trail led away
and down the long, broken slope to-
ward the miners cabin.
The pass could scarcely be called
such in the accepted meaning of the
term, as it is scarcely more than a
shelf in the crest of the mountain.
flanked by giddy precipices of ice and
rock, where the snow lies all the year
and the winds are never still.
Over this wayeven the bravest min
ers dread to cross in winter save in
calm weather.
The cable, staunch but small. con-
tanned two rooms. with a great rude
chimney and fireplace ofstones and
mud Mt one end. over which the min
er's wife and daughter cooked the
frugal meals and sat around it on
winter nights, listening to the wild
winds which swept ncross the slope,
driving the snow like white mist
clouds before it or Missed and roared
down it's wide throat.
The long trail, zig-zagging up the
slope, possessed a fascination for
Sally's adventurous spirit, and it
was gnZed at with keen eyes in I'LL
its tortuous windings with wistIul
longing, till she knew every turn OF
the way.
After while she sometimes ac-
'companied her father ove- to the
town, and once in summer even
made the Journey alone, SO much
confidence did Milton Bruce place in
his daughters ability to take care
of herself. And this self.depenl.nce
and determined character stood him
in very good stead later on.
The Bruces had been at the cabin
two ummers-summers filed with
bright, cloudless days and cool, dew.
less nights, and now n second winter
had crept down upon the bleak
mountain-side with wind and storm
and dark, lowering skies.
Mrs Bruce had taken the last long
journey, and was laid in the shadow
OF a great gray boulder upon which
she had sat with Sally and knitted
and planned wonderful schemes, or
woven bright day-dreams of future
prosperity and a happy meeting with
the dear ones away beyond the sun.
rise.
Now Sally was left alone to keer
the hearth warm and cheer the lovely
man who still delved persistently nj
the rocky drift" believing he would
some time "strike ORE"
Butas the months had dragged or
and no fortune had come of all his
labor, the people OF the town had
given him well-meant advice tc
abandon his place and try anothe,
and more promising locality.
1t has been u mild November, but
toward the last OF December there
came heavy SHOWS, and Milton Bruce
plodding about prospecting, as was
his wont, in sheltered ravines out o
the reach Of storms, at length threw
down his pick in the gathering dusl
OF the short day, his usually detected
lace oyerspread with an expression
nard to describe, and with anxiou,
eyes peered into the snow-clouds fal
up along the long slope.
Heaven forbid that anything
should happen to-night!' he mutter
ed, ana long after Sally had gone t,
ped IN the curtained corner OF tn
Kitchen that night, her fathers rest
less footsteps sounded upoa TN
rough floor ofthe next room
Wearied at length, Sally fell asleeu
while upon the mountain n mvsteri
nua vvoir1 mo vo~,ou%