Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-01-29

lnhum0n enough 10 do so.
Occasionally, his path would be sur
rounded by high. dark, frowning
ridges Of rock, Whispering pine trees
chung lonesomely, and seemed to "
into murmurless subsection the dwarf
cedars below them. Then, again,
down into picturesque gullies, with
limpid mountain streams urging their
torturous courses among the eternally
silent powders that jntted ever and
through which he guided his pony.
At one OF these beautiful streams
Earnest Tune refined in and permitted
the thirsty animal to drink. One by
one the stars had crept out in the violet
vault above, SO far, far above, from
horse and rider in the gorge. Dense
shadows lurked about and refused to
yield space to the dainty starlight that
dared invade those dark, gloom
enshrouded recesses. The young man
looked about him. The night was calm.
The scene was sublime. Here the din
and tinsel display Of boosted ciyiliza-
ton were unknown. To a young fellow
used all his life to = home in a gay
Eastern city, the gulch, with its gloomy
mountains reaching away phantasmal-
ly into the night, held something mex
pressibly fascinating, almost divine.
To his right, and overlooking the spot
where he had paused, loomed bold, out
standing cliffs, their rugged sides here
and there clothed in meager patches OF
spruce and pine. their SUBMITS gray,
vague and barren, as il Ceres and Flora
had united in affecting them with an
irremovable, blighting curse. As his
eyes swept the shadowy cliffs he start
ed and almost leaped from his saddle.
Earnest Tune was an educated man
and not given to superstition and wild
imaginings. He had always hooted the
idea Of supernatural visitations. But
now! He was confronted by an appa-
rition as beautiful rs it was startling.
Brave as he was, he felt his blood grow
chilly, and he seemed deprived of the
power to speak or stir.
The spectacle that enchanted his
gaze was a MIDST lovely object, ghostly
though it was, A beautiful girl, clad
In . white, flowing dress, with wild
masses OF midnight tresses falling
around . pale, delicate face, stood re-
vealed on the lone mountain side. She
stood directly within the halo of O
strange, greenish light that glowed
steadily, casting its deathly hues
around the weird yet namelessly lovely
figure Of the cliffs.
"Great heavens" he managed at last
to articulate, though his voice was
hoarse and unnatural. sam / in a
dreAm2 How awful, yet how beauti.
fuI!r
With one pale hand she motioned
him away, away. But Earnest sat as
If t~ransfxed, and continued to gaze
with terrified fascination upon ths
spectral object of the cliffs. Wha,
could she mean by waving him off?
Suddenly the animal ceased drink
ing. lifted its head, saw the specter il
all its beauty and awfulness, uttered q
snort Of terror. and ere the spell bound
rider knew it the pony had cleared the
rocky stream, leaped away through Tho
dusk Of the gorge, and was rapid,
bearing him from the ghostly vision or
the mountain.
When Earnest succeededin quietins
down his animal, they had got too fal
to 60 back. He was yenturesom,
enough to do SO, and resolved to in
vestigate the mystery on the following
night, alone, if he could not persuad,
his friend to accompany him. Th,
pony trembled in every limb ant
showed evidence Of deep fright.
Very soon horse and rider stopped
before . tent in q charming greer
valley, mot more than two miles from
the haunted cliffs. Earnest dis
mounted, put his horse away, and en-
tered the tent, where his comrade wa
waiting supper for him.
Earnest Tune and Willard Rollertol
were young men from Nav York, on
. on d sporting expedition in the West
Rollerton, a g~ood-looking, well-made
dark-eyed fellow, was engaged t
pretty Gertrude Tune, Earnest's onl,
sister. The marriage was set for earl.
winter, and the young friends were en-
joying IN outing in Colorado ere TIL
wedding game off.
As Earnest entered the tent, Willar,
greeted him.
.Hello: you didn't find the grouse
But, / say, old pard, you are as pal
Is . spnok."
sAm re Earnest said, as indiffe,
entity % he could; and he removed hi
hat and approached his friend, saying
Just have the kindness to tell me If
have turned gray
i, Willard playfully ran his finger
through the luxuriant gold-brow
curls Of his sweetheart's brother 10
like the tresses he loved, ard al
swered laughingly: II find no silve
threads among the gold. But wha
mystery have you TO unfold? | kno'
from YOUR manner yon have met wit
: some adventure. Come, let us ca
and NJ we do 80, you cen recount an
thrilling Ute encounter or spectri
vision that you may have been favore
with
And Earnest obeyed. As they al
their supper Of delicious, fresh vii
! game. he told Willard ell that we ha,
told the reader with regard to Il
speeter Of the cliffs. Willard listene
|, with strange interest o. his friend d
J scribed the lonely vision. What conl
it be? He sgreed At once to ASST
Earnest in investigating the mystery
*How far are the cliffs from here?'
Not more than two miles," Earne
Tune replied.
Then, % it il early, lot rs 90 th
very night. Come, let ms load o.
guns and b equipped should any do
: ger menace MS Willard said in
cautious ~. = they finished q has
~ Il sanAA4 N9