Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-10
A MOUNTAIN ROMANCE.

the guides and burros, at the rude little
halfway house" by the tiny lake that lay
like an obiong emerald in a setting OF
bronze, and had wandered away by them
seives-he, the brown bearded young west
ern metallurgist, with q successful careeI
opening before him, and she, the whita
faced, delicate looking sojourner from Bos .
ton, with her creole hair and eyes.
The benedction of perfect Indian sum
mer afternoon lay upon the scene, The
cloudless sky so blue that it reminded hel
of the exquisite colorng of an Easter egR
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 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
eminences, placidly regarded the intruders
with indolent and contemplative eyes, and
the birds seemed mesmerized into a 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 tht
whole thing was poem and painting SO
exquisite that If she bad heard an organ
suddenly burst forth into one Of Handles
masterpieces it would have seemed quite
in keeping with the place, and she would
instinctively have fallen upon her knees,
Bob's thoughts were quite different. He,
too, was lover Of nature and capable OF
deep feeling, but perfect Colorado after
noon was not new to him, while bis love
for Madge was; and his pleasure came
hui us4iI ~
ment. 1t was no accident on his part that
they were separated from the rest, and h'
realized fully that they had been gon'
over an hour and were a long distance
from the lake His happiness lay in beint
alone with her, in watching the waves o
surprise and pleasure ripping over he
face as new shapes and new landscape
opened upon her view, in answering Tn
cbildlike questions that dubbed from TIA
dark eyes and pretty lips, and more tha
all in the thrilling touch OF the slende
arms and the soft, warm hands as he a.
sisted her over the rough places. II wa
heaven TO him and could not last lon
enough.
But when at last she gave weary lit
sigh and sat down upon a convenient 10
as they reached bit Of level, saying, "Ol
dear, Pm 50 tired" he responded quickl
81 think, perhaps, we've gone far enoug
It's getting along in the afternoon ana
time to start back"
"Are we very far from themr she ask
suddenly, seeming TO realize Tor the Ut
time that they might be-
about mge, ! should say, but real
haven't kept much track OF the dlstan'
and this part Of the trail is somewhat ne
to me-"
After this there was silence for SOL
time. He saw now that she was quite e
bausted. and il occurred TO him that
altitude was having some effect upon b,
He blamed himself inwardly for
thoughtiessness, and was about to ask !
IL she had trouble in breathing, when
sudden chill in the atmosphere, accd
named by a movement Of the air that
the aspens 80 shiyeFing violently, foHo"
by gradual dimming OF the snnshl
caused them to glance simultaneously
ward the sun. What appeared to MAJ
like a fog was hurryng across u,
rapidly growing denser; and as she lool
up toward the highest point visible IN
west she could see the gray, mistlike 3
stance stealing in between and around
rocks and pines and sweeping sller
down toward them. He answered
look Of interrogation by saying some"
absentmindedly:
"Cloudsl A change OF weather. I'M
have known that the heat this aitern
meant something if I hadn't been think
of
He stoned abruptly and colored; but
had turned and was absorbed in the cur
transformation that was going on, aud
his last low spoken words.
The gray column had completely
scured the sun and was moving rap
toward them now, leaving behind
- gray wall. They both shiyered, anc
sprang briskly to his feet.
"As soon as you are rested, Miss "
herlain. | think we had better start b
II looks as though we might have So
and nerhaps some snow This is one Of
changes that are common here ut this
son of the year. We foolishly left
wraps behind. 1t was my fault, tho
for YOU know nothing Of these change
course"
She had risen now and started TO sp'
Don't you breathe easilyf" be excla
with some concern, noticing that
pressed her hand TO her chest
She had paled little, and Low "a
two or three times before she answ
with a smile:
at seems as though couldn't get
enough air in my lungs. have felt !
eral times this afternoon It's Urn
she went on reassuringly' Il VIII
your arm, though, please, because
really very tired"
What a very heavy fog, she cont
shivering, after they had walked
distance; "and how damp it is"
"You could hardly call It fog, ne
1--WE are in the midst Of a cloud, an
an unusually thick one" he added a
pause, glancing about neryously.
The great gray mass bad caught
now. and had closed in upon them on
side-beneath them, above them a
them. pressing against their lace
brushing their hands with its cold, el
fingers, leaving moisture and chi
every touch. a,
There was no thought Of fear in NJ
mind Why should there beg me
only q short distance from the he
mile or so perhaps. One could almos
a shout that far Then, too, she was
ing upon q strong arm, and she e
the serrv1tion Of being in the mid
cloud as she enjoyed everything I'M
new. l.,
fWhy. seer she exclaimed br
"it's so thick one can almost grasp
full Why, dear mel can see IL p
tween me and your hat" she iaas
she threw her head to one side and 9
, upward "And see the moisture
coati" she went on, rubbing her