The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-03
DIANA'S LOVE STORY.

70 SOlltaTN lSlluu out al tcss VIC NOiS al
IL rounded with floating wreaths of fog, Which
looked Tor all the world ike whlte-capped
waves.
For weeks at a time nobody came near US, but
do not mind. The doctors had told Adam that
the restoration of his health depended on bis
living for few years al This high altitude and
what sort OF a sister should have been 10 let
him stay alone in The little brown cabin, where
the smoke from the charcoal pits assembled night
aud day, as If the place were an extinct volcano
and never had left of belching fire and smoke?
VI took turns, Adam and l. like a Vigilance
Committee. worked all day In he llitle stone
walled garden trying 10 make The Tosebushes
and hOllyhocks believe they were down In some
sheltered valleys and singing abou; my little
odds and ends of housework; ana when the sun
set died way on Bald CIag and The whip-poor-
wills began TO sing below us Adam, who slept all
day. sailed out 10 the charcoal pits TO keep his
lonely vigii-fOr We were poor people and had TO
earn our living as best We could.
And all went very smoothly until old Uncle
POmp, the colored man, suddenly announced
his intention OF abandoning the charcoal busl-
.'I's gettIn' DID," said Uncle Pomp, "an' amt
neider a bald eagle nor yet aliZzard, TO lib atop
o. d. mountain no longer. IT'S loo desaTlt lone
some for ole POmp!"
>. But think what IT is for u.s." reasoned Adam.
" AOu's young folks" oStlnately uttered Uucle
POmp. things is altogether different wild
yOus."
So we were left alone, which made matte RS
pretty hard for Adam. Nobody cared to come
w Bald Mountain If they could possibly make a
livelihood anywhere else.
But one evening, just as was getting ready 10
lake chicken sandwich and a pail Of tea 10 tile
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 OF his cap aud lncliulng his head not
ungracefuily.
My heart leaped within me.
"Oh," cried 1, we do"
What sort of work is it?" he sald looking
curiously al ound him. There don't seem to be
much chance fol- farming up here, and l haven't
seen any millmachlnery, nor shafts for ORE"
Tending the charcoal pit" explained. "Sit
down and rest little, anu will show you where
my brother IS. VIII you have drink OF tea and
a Sandwich?'
He drank eagerly; he ate as If he had not
tasted food for week. watched him The while.
He was dark, strong featured sinister look log,
with clOse-shaven face, yet felt no sentiment
Of fear or aversion 10 him.
now" lie said at last, Il am ready"
He tended the fires that night while Adam
aCan you board him, DIP" said ADAM
why not? He'd be a much pleasanter
boaIder than Uncle Pomp, I'm sure" said |,
laughing. see those beautiful red lilies he has
transplanted so carefully into my garden that
they haven't dropped a leaf See the funny little
turtle lie Brought from Black brook for my
aquarium! On, by The way, NO one las told me
at is rather an unusual one-John Smith"
Adam answered.
WHAT brought him out on top OF Bald Noun
tain?
"He was out OF work, and heard that needed
hand up here. He Is very bright and intelli-
gent and mas Travelled good deal. Rather Ike
tie fellow"
John Smith remained a month with US. He did
a great deal more Than his share of the work.
The squire isn't over strong" he said, nod
ding toward Adam. and lie ought TO be favored.
He shall be, long a ! am here"
Ii was III the spring OF Tie year. and John
Smith helped me WIFI my little flower garden.
He brought home rare birds eggs for my collec-
tion; he evinced knowledge of plauts that quite
surprised me on one occasion, when we unexpect-
eddy came across rare orchid in the woods.
Il should think you would be good gardener,
john" said l.
81 was gardener once. 1 had charge of a
mouse luiI oil Jamaica feIns, and looked after a
foielDg- house for eaIly peaches that brought 81
apiece in Tie market"
why did you leave your place?
-"Oh, fOt variety of Teasonsl Look here, d.
aua! you've set This lily bulb too far II the shade
Bring il forward little"
i coloed lille. felt that perhaps l had
asked an impairment question. But, after ALL
he did not seem offended, because lie work ed
long after dusk making the border OF wild vo-
lets for my nowerbed, so that the newly trans
planted roots should get the benefit Of The CON-
ing shower that muttered along The west.
II was the very next day that Ralph Maddox
him.
"Of course:yOu said yes ?" said ADAM when
he questioned me about IL afterWard.
81 OF course ! said mo y "
Adam opened his eyes very wide.
5ln /" WY Thought you IlkedRaiph Maddox %
saId he.
" One can't marry every man one likes" said I,
petllshly.
I" But we are poor. little sister, and the Mad
OUAto nave the lUtSl uUuS6 III lie NllldRe-auQ II
Is aesOate sort OF lie Tor you to live up here
on Bald Mountain"
=. never was so happy in my life as am on
BALD Mountain now J. cried !.
Adam whislled.
There Is no accounting for tastes" observed
be.
/ sang merrIly over my work as got tea that
eTening-the simple tea, at which Adam was my
FIRST guest, John Smith my last. For il was
Adams night at tbe charcoal pits. The fragrance
OF the tea, the appetiZing odor OF the wild straw
berry shortcake, The watties that i myself had
haked-how plainly remember ii all 1 was
CLEARING of The table, John sat on the doorstep,
reading Tie weekly paper.
What are you readlng?" 1 asked, as /
stopped TO give the cat her caucer OF milk.
alt seems The Baldvlle villagers have had
dreadful panic" said he. There's rumor that
Mad Mortimer Is somewhere in hiding in their
- midst. Think OF that 4"
"Who Is Mao Mortimer" asked.
Haven't you heard Of him? A famous safe
Waymen you read about"
81 don't read about them"
well, thai other folks read about - who
pocket their silver spoons and cameo eardrops
Bah The humbug there Is in this world ! ]
say sw eI!"
'lf the fellow really wanted to hide himself,
where could he do IL better than In just such a
place as lhis?" said Smith. "Who ever comes
well. hope he wontl n said l.
xon 1SS ~ stt. pileky g d don't believe
yOu u Dc dlIdlu even Ol MAJ mortimer IL
'.Yes, should !" persisted.
"Remember, the devil isn't always as black as
he's painted"
John, don't talk that wayl"
"why?" Ae'0
awe got something to say to YOU I've been
q lying scoundrel all these weeks. l am the run
away scamp that men would scotch as they
would snake L am Mad Mortimer. tell you
veptS ma hs e e6asS Is getting too hot in
looked at him In surprise. Was I dreaming ?
Pm not such villain as folks would be-
would understand that Eve been more sinned
against than SHINING, Di. But there's no use
III talking about that Good-by, my grill Tell
Adam how 1t WAS Tell him to keep my secret, /"
John. you are not going TO leave us pr
would you have me stay to be hunted down
as the ferrets hunt rat?"
burst into tears.
In moment he had me clasped In his arms
"Dii you don't mean to say that you care
whether live or die? d. was it because of this
that you said No to Ralph Maddox ?''
My brlmmlng eyes must have betr aged the Sc
eret that my lips refused to frame, for he drew
one short, quick breath, his face glowed.
My GIRL" said he, this is Ike a new life to
me. IN make myself worthy to claim you yet
see If do notl One kiss-do, my brave grill
And now. good-byl"
SO he left
This happened years ago. The next spring a
new mill proprietor bought the Allaire property
He was dark, with heavy black beard softer
than any SILK covering his face. am not sure
suoulu idNb kuOHu Ului myself DdQ IL not Deen
for certain bright look-a smile-a trick Of VI.
terance.
His father came with him 10 Inspect the pur.
ehase-a fine, grayhared gentleman-one Dr.
Burgoyne from New York.
We are going 10 put up some conservatorles
Tor YOU my dear" said be. John tells me you
IKE flowers John Is a great amateur gardener
IN his way, also. 1 feel a great deal safer 10
leave MN here now that he has had the good for
tune to win you for his wife. He has been wild
In his day-a little wild-but he always loved Ills
old father, ana he has had The sense to choose a
VILE Ike you. He'll do well now, don't doubt ~
And John came up aud placed blue orchid In
my hand.
'.Your favorite color, d." said he.
&C., SO we were married, and like the people In the
ehildren's story-books, Lived happy ever after'
The only reference TO my husbands past his.
rory that ever heard outside OF our home wa:
on one summer evening, when CHANGED 10 see
two Of his mill-hands gathering blackberries or
the rocky side OF BALD Mountain. as our pony
carriage wound along the steep road, the pom,
carriage that John always allowed me to drive
for myself.
"1heIe's queer story" said one to the other
sfbat the famous craftsman. Mad Mortimer
once hid month In this very cave behind thes,