The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-21


a a,iI !; :; Jew PAGES away. his smoking rife
"'lu ~, IN iiis nand, stood the s.Silent Giant y
We were told that the bears If sheaa W.
klohs usually ran when approached hut
cub "s a Haii-4Fo"h
The silent Giant who had so onaor-
tuneiy rescued Amaranth could NOT III re-
marued IN any way, for though we might
regard AIM as a common miner h.. lie
played the pride of lord. and met our ey-
preSsions OF gratitude and hints at the pift
WITH such stand OFF, manner az ono az
ms ieiiow miners expressed ii. that we said
no more on the subject But 10 Amar-
amin ; eloquent looks and tremulous words
~ ~ .hanks nc replied. as he looked far away
rom hef Any man would have done the
YOU ""V saves
Inc cottage that evening was unusually
warm, and we left the stuffy little sitting
room Tor the broad porch outside. There
Vas no moon, but the sky was like soft.
. .laII canopy set with thousands of glean-
ing nights, and against ii could be dimly
seen the outlines of the distant mountains.
Eveit az TINS distance could be heard the
tihkiing OF the waterfalls or the yurgIe or
,le river among the rocks. Down the VAL
icy as lar as the eye could see, lights were
SHINING from the cottage windows, and
moving about in the darkness APP
y
ing lights of the miners' lamps
as they. went or returned from
their work. Mrs. L.. tired out bv the
events of the day, soon retired TO her room.
but Anaranth still fingered on the porch.
After while, from out of the darkness of
me valley below, came the deliyerer of the
alternoon. lie passed OH 10 the inner
door, merely acknowledging our presence
by a nod, but turned by some impulse.
and, walking to her side, asked hesitat-
ingly If Amaranth were still tired from
her long walk, avoiding any mention of
ner fright and its cause. She replied. and,
hlled With a sense of gratitude. babe him
be seated, and though reluctantly. he took
the proffered chair beside her own, and to
our surprise glided with perfect ease into
conversation
Amaranth had scarcely looked at the
man until her afternoons adventure had
placed her his debtor She had thought
him huge and ugly, but now became too
much interested TO think of his looks. and
Tell TO wondering who he might be-this
man she looked upon as a laborer, who
talked so learnedly of many things, who so
wildly described the different places he
had seen.
Her tender heart went out in sympathy
Surely this lite of isolation must be dis
tasteful. Approaching as near the subject
as she dared, she inquired if he had long
been in the place, and lightly asked how
he could have learned of this out-of-the-
way town.
The tone of his voice changed as he re-
piled, "To obtain work, of course. We
miners go where the best wages are offered
and where we are surest OF steady work"
She looked at him steadily. surprised
that his tone and sentence could almost in
one breath be SO different. the manner and
conversation of u gentleman had been
dropped in a moment. She had almost
forgotten who he really was
His eyes fell before her glance, and hc
spoke again in q quiet tone so low it
reached no other ear. He said:
'1ou would ask me bow | came TO
throw away the promise of my life, why
] am satisfied To herd with men who care
for nothing but gaining pittance in the
employ of others, Il pittance that Is spent
at the gambling table or in the saloon?
Why must be an outcast from the home
where once / reigned the favorite son, n
home where my name is never mentioned
now? 1t IS a story | cannot tell you,
story You could not comprehend. You
are a woman who has been shielded from
the dark side of life, a woman whose indu-
encc will ever tend to elevate, whose very
presence is an Inspiration TO better things.
Not knowing the unworthiness of many,
your heart has pity for all. | would not
sadden through your sympathy for me one
moment of your life.
lie rose quickly anu pressed ioT one III
slant the hand extended in impulse OF
pity. then turning away, left us.
We stood ready for our journey next
morning looking out over the scene
changed from that of the day before. The
weather had turned, and snow had fallen
To n depth of several inches. As we
glanced upward at the tallest mountain
visible there burst upon us the vision of
the city of pearl. The shrubs growing in
dense masses and covered with the light
snow had assumed forms of strange beauty,
while the bleacled skeleton trees. loaded
with q like covering, added to the grand
effect. There were tall palaces rising high
above more humble structures: spires of
churches touched the blue of heaven;
grand cathedrals with domcs and massive
arches with strange and beautiful adorn-
ments, met our gaze. Then there were
rows of feathery palms, upon which had
alighted huge birds of snowy plumage, all
sparkling and shining, a dazzling picture
high up against the heavens.
We were awakened by the shrill whistle
OF the locomotive. Then Slipping and
sliding we went'down the path over TO the
station and seated ourselves iii the one
coach attached to the train OF coal cars. A
boy from the house had followed us and
Siding up To Amaranth slipped into her
hand u small package. Opening 1t She
found the card photograph OF beautiful
woman, and u note lt read:
You asked me with your eyes, If not with your
lips why my life was wrecked and almlesS:
send YOU this that you may i'll n measure under
stand A man may suffer even more deeply
than a woman when he looscs baltimore can
not tell.
But if in the future one thought OF rue should
cross your mind always remember shall be a
better man through the knowledge that III all
the world ono woman's heart can feel THRU OF
pity.
We steamed slowly away up and around
the mountain, leaving the busy little town
behind. but as we passed from the station
She saw, standing on the pathway, far
above us, a tall form with stern, white
face. and lips compressed. 1t was our
'Silent Giant" the writer of the mote.
CLARA LEAvITT.