The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-14
DIANA'S TRUE LOVE.
He Returned to Claim Her as He
Promised He Would.

PrOm1Sed He Would.
often told Adam that our home on
the Bald mountain was exactly like
living on solitary island out at sea.
We were all surrounded with floating
wreaths of fog, which looked for all the
world like white-capped waves.
For weeks at time nobody came near
us, but did not mind. The doctors
had told Adam that the restoration OF
his health depended on his living for a
few years at this high altitude, and
what sort of sister should l have been
to let him stay alone in the little
brown cabin, where the smoke from the
charcoal pits assembled night and day, as
If the place were an extinct volcano,
and never had left off belching fire and
smoke?
We took turns, Adam and I, like a
vigilance committee. / worked all day
in the little stone-walled garden, try
ing to make the rose-bushes and the
hollyhOcks believe they were down in
some sheltered valley, and singing
about my little odds and ends of house
work; and when the sunset died away
on Bald crag, and the whip-poor-will
began to sing below us, Adam, who had
slept all day, sailed out to the char
coal pits to keep his lonely vigil-for
we were poor people, and had to earn
our living as best we could.
And all went very smooth until old
Uncle Pomp, the colored man, suddenly
announced his intention of abandoning
the charcoal business.
''Fs gettin' DID," said Uncle Pomp,
IAN | amt neider bald eagle nor vet
lizard to lib atop O de mountain no
longer. It's too desprit lonesome fur
ole Pomp.'
''But think what it is for u.s." rea-
soned Adam
"You's young folks" obstinately ut
tered Uncle Pomp ''Tings is alleged
der different wild yous'
So we were left alone, which made
matters pretty hard for Adam. Nobody
cared to come up Bald mountain if they
could possibly make a livelihood any,
where else.
But one evening just as was getting
ready to take chicken sandwich and a
pail of tea to the charcoal pit for Adams
supper, tall, red-shirted man came
swinging up the stony path toward. our
gate.
Heard you wanted help up this way"
said he, taking off his cap and inclin-
ing his head not ungracefully.
My heart leaped within me.
"Oh," cried l, 1--WE do!''
'What sort of work is it?'' he said,
looking curiously around him. ''There
don't seem to be much chance for farm
ing up here, and haven't seen any mill
machinery nor shafts for ore."
Tending the charcoal pit" 1 ex-
planned. ''Sit down and rest little, and
l will show you where my brother is.
Will you have drink of tea and a
sandwich"
He drank eagerly; he ate as if he had
not tasted food for week l watched
him the while. He was dark, strong
featured, sinister-looking, with close
shaver face, yet 1 felt no sentiment of
fear or aversion to him.
Now" he said, at last, 81 am ready"
He tended the fires that night while
Adam slept.
''Can you board him, Dip" said Adam.
why not? He'd be . much pleas
anter boarder than Uncle Pomp, Pm
sure" said I, laughing. s'See those
beautiful red lilies he has transplanted
so carefully into my garden that they
haven't dropped leaf! See the funny
little turtle he brought from Black
Brook for my aquarium! Oh. by the
way, no one has told me his name"
SIT is rather an unusual one-John
Smith," Adam answered
"What brought him on top of Bald
mountain?a
He was out of work, and heard that
l needed hand up here. He is very
bright and intelligent and has travelled
good deal. / rather like the fellow"
John Smith remained month with
u.s. He did great deal more than his
share of the work.
"The squire isn't over strong" he
said, nodding toward Adam, s'and he
ought to be favored. He shall be as long
as / arr here"
1t was in the spring of the year, and
John Smith helped me with my little
fowt r-garden. He brought home rare
birds eggs for my collection: he evinced
a knowledge Of plants that quite sur
i-''rc.' -, - en- -c--c:c, whom we
unexpectedly came across rare orchid
in the woods.
II should think you would be a good
gardener, john" said /.
II was gardener once. had charge
Of a house full of Jamaica ferns. and
looked after forcing-house for earlv
peaches that brought one dollar apiece
in the Market
why did you leave your placer"
"Oh, for variety of reasons Look
here, Diana, you've set this lily too far
In the shade. Bring it forward a
little"
colored a litsle. felt that perhaps
had asked an impertinent question.
but, after all, he did net seem offended.