The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-05
A MOUNTAIN ROMANCE,


like an oblong emerald in setting OF
bronze, and had wandered away by them
selves-he, the brown bearded young west
ern metaIlurgist with a successful career
opening before him, and she, the white
faced, delicate looking sojourner from Bos
ton, with her creole hair and eyes
The benediction of perfect Indian sum
mer afternoon lay upon the scene. The
rloudless sky so blue that it reminded her
Of the exquisite coloring of an Easter egg
at home; the air so still that even the
trembling of the aspen leaves ceased at in
terVals; the haze about the mountain TOP
like a golden fog-it was an afternoon that
made one forget that there were ever ex-
tremes of temperature, or that the sun
beams must soon sink into the west Even
the gaudy little chipmunks, from safe
emlnences, placidly regarded the intruders
with INDECENT and contemplative eyes, and
the birds seemed mesmerized into drowsy
state.
They had sauntered for some time now.
and Madge was getting very tired, for the
way had been rough. She did not realize
the time nor the distance they had wan
dered-she only knew that to her the
whole thing was poem and a painting SO
exquisite that if she had heard an organ
suddenly burst forth into one of Handlers
masterpieces it would have seemed quite
in keeping with the place, and she would
nsunctlvely have fallen upon her knees.
Bobs thoughts were quite different He,
too, was lover of nature and capable of
deep feeling, but a perfect Colorado after
noon was not new TO him, while his love
for Madge was; and his pleasure came
fvprro -
ment. 1t was no accident on his part that
they were separated from the rest, and he
realized fully that they had been gone
over an hour and were long distance
from the lake His happiness Law in being
alone with her, in watching the waves of
surprise and pleasure ripping over her
face as new shapes and new landscapes
opened upon her view, in answering the
childlike questions that dubbed from the
dark eyes and pretty lips, and more than
all in the thrilling touch of the slender
arms and the soft, warm hands as he as
sisted her over the rough places 1t was
heaven to him and could not last long
enough.
But when at last she gave weary little
sigh and sat down upon a convenient log
as they reached bit of level, SAYING, Ion,
dear, Pm so tiredH' he responded quickly:
Il think, perhaps, we've gone far enough.
It's getting along in the afternoon and is
time to start back"
Are we very far from them?" she asked
suddenly, seeming to realize for the first
time that they might be-
About mile, | should say, but really
haven't kept much track of the distance,
and this part of the trail is somewhat new
TO me-"
After this there was silence for some
time He saw now that she was quite ex-
hausted, and it occurred TO him that the
altitude was having some effect upon her
lie blamed himself inwardly for his
thoughtlessness, and was about to ask her
II she had trouble in breathing, when a
sudden chill in the atmosphere, accom-
panied by movement of the air that set
the aspens 60 shivering violently, followed
by gradual dimming Of the sunshine,
caused them to glance simultaneously to-
ward the sun. What appeared to Madge
like a fog was hurrying across it, and
rapidly growing denser; and as she looked
up toward the highest point visible in the
west she could see the gray, mistlike sub .
stance stealing IN between and around the /
rocks and pines and sweeping silently /
down toward them. He answered her
look of interrogation by saying somewhat I
Rbsentmindedly:
"Cloudsl A change of weather. might /
have known that the heat this afternoon .
meant something if hadn't been thinking
OFF
He stopped abruptly and Colored; but she .
had turned and was absorbed in the curious
that was going on, and lost
bis last low spoken words.
The gray column had completely OBJ
scured the sun and was moving rapidly
toward them now, leaving behind great
gray wall They both shivered, and he
sprang briskly to his feet.
AS soon as you are rested, Miss Cham
Derlain, think we had better start back.
It looks as though we might have a squall,
and perhaps some snow. This is one of the
changes that are common here at this sea-
son of the year We foolishIy left our
wraps behind. 1t was my fault, though,
Tor you know nothing of these changes, Of
course"
She had risen now and started TO speak.
Don't you breathe easily?" he exclaimed
With some concern, noticing that she
pressed her hand TO her chest.
She had paled a little, and now gasped
.wo or three times before she answered,
With smile:
1t seems as though l couldn't get quite
enough air in my lungs. have felt it sew
raj times this afternoon. It's tri1ing." I
he went on reassuringly; Il Will take !
our arm, though, please, because am
eally very tired"
What very heavy fog, >" she continued,
'hiverng, after they had walked a short
distance; and how damp it is.n /
You could hardly call it fog" he said.
We are in the midst of a cloud. and it is {
N unusually thick one" he added after a I
'ause, CHANGING about nervously.
The great gray mass had caught them '
low, and had closed in upon them on every /
them, above them, around 4
hem, pressing against tkeir faces and S
''7as hirs 'se'- 1->ssi;s with its cold, clamu,y
ing,ys, leaving moisture and chill with
very touch. e
There was no thought of fear in Nadge's c
and why should there be? They were /
My short distance from the h0tel-a v
lille or so perhaps. One could almost hear
shout that far Then, too, she was lean {
az upon strong arm, and she enioved n
ne sensation of being in the midst OF v
loud as she enjoyed everything that was S
ew A
Why, seeY' she exeIairaed brightly q
il s SO thick one can almost grasp n hand b
III Why. dear mel ! can see it pass be s.
BeeRIne aud yo1r hst.n she laughed As C.