The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-02-21

laughing saily shs came forward, rolled ava,
stone, tore away s0me ihuas and dflsl
vtalsd The mouth Of NE cavern. ' '"s =
"Enteri" orderso li0nns, In avoice ofmocl
tragedy. And the young man, yielding tc
her llntaor, bowed His bend and passed In.
II was no dark and gloomy cnve. From
numerous irregular crevices in the rocks hat
formed its sides a,,l ceiling. its size and shHp,
acre Of ground. Its form was oval; the floor
nearly fiat. was formed Of the solid rock: IT,,
willis and ceiling. also of rock, giittered with
thousand prisu,atic huea. tue predominant
Ing one l'eing from brilliant metallic atoms
prO!usely mixed In the rocks, aud strongly
resembling golden sands
Orvil.e gazcd upon this cavern with curios,
ity. interest. n,,l wonder. l.ionne saw this,
md laughed gully. crying, "here laveevery
thing need"
Except n companion. - said the youth,
"Ah. yes. sivhrd l.innne, casting away her
straw hat, and seating herself on . ,ragment
oFmck: always. o. course. except acoinpan.
az hive t~cn IN this very cavern; for ] had
not even Nox here. At times NV very heart
has seemed to cry out for rome one to sI~nk
to- INN no glad that We met ON the noun.
tain. ] wish sou would stay with us always"
added the wild untaught creature.
Tie had 6Fen stnndins here. gazing upon
her beautiful form, in it's attitude of careless
ease ind graco, her hun,ls rlnsped over her
knees, her stately bend raised, her rich black
tresses pnrt:y gathered into n knot ut tho
nnpc Of the neck and pnrt!y escaletl. und rip.
ping in tlisllpve!lrtl ringlets, down e,eh blush.
ing check. her glowing. humid lips npnrt, her
dark. lanr,,ishin1 eyes Hxe.i-cven while she
answrre,l him-upon the heaven beyond the
mouth %: the cavern.
Aap n,,ti ,k., in~ =.
closures. her unconscious ar,lur, the Solitude
the opportunity, the temptation, all were too
potent for the principles of our unstable
youth One moments lttitatioi,, given to
two restraining p0wcis-t0 fidelity OH he one
lmnd. aud bnsh.ulness ON the other-and
then drawing his breath hard. he stealthily
crrpt towards her, droplTd at her feet. pos
her side. sought her eyes, nn,l breathing quick
" an,, tiercrly. whislcrcd-
"l.ioni, l.iOnnc! l.ionne! I an here, in
answer to that cry Of your heart, Lionne.
am lie whom you neHl nm your own! I
love ynu-l nm at your feet! Look at me!''
With reb"unding spring. that rang
Sharply upon the rocks, she sprang
upon her feet anL stood gazing upon
him in wild alright.
His words Ills warm, quick, fierce breath.
his gnze, his tone his touch, had been Il rev.
elation to tine wild mountain mniden-hud
thrilled every fibre of her ardent, sensitive
irumc-had filled l,or goul with delight and
terror.
lie softly arose und extended his arms to.
wards her, pleading, "Li0nne! I.ionnc!" in
tones ns tender and ulluring us the notes of
Orplleus's lutte.
She stool in the attitude of suspended
dight, rovertly watching him from the corner
of her eye,
"l.ionns! I.ionne!" he prayed, going to.
wards her.
With the lean nf u young catnmount slc
was ont of hia reach, and neir the mouth OF
the cavern where she paused, palpitating,
prepared for flight, watching him from tho
corner o: her eye. kindly. yet distrustinglv,
as though 10th to leave him. vet terribly
II raid of fnling under his power,
II" nav her hesitation, lost his reason, and
ran towards her. But like an arrow from
the how, she sped through the mouth of tho
cavern.
And the next Instant he saw her spring
from stone to stone over the foaming waters
of he rapids, and disappear around the jut-
ting rock.
And while, discounted, Inundated, and
anaere'i. the young man wandered buck o
the house. Lionne. running, springing.
and lenping, quickly renchcd home,
and, avoiding an encounter with the ininntes
of the lodge. fed to her chamber, fastened
the door, and stood in the middle Of the
floor. flushed, pulpi tnting, radiant. nxclaim.
ing.
"Oh. am 80 frightened, and-ko happy!"
TO BEeoNTINuED.