The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-22
"QUIr F0oLING."

keen mountain air, l grieve to say, my
physical and moral condition was not in
that perfect accord always indicated by
romancers. | had an appetite and graf
flied 1t; dyspepsia and ethical retlec-
tons might come later. 1 ate the saler-
lively finishing my coffee when
a gurgling sound from the rafters
above attracted my attention.
looked up; under the overhang of
the bark roof three pairs of round eyes
were fixed upon me. They belonged to the
children | had previously seen, who in
the attitude of Raphael's cherubs had evil
IDENTIFY been deeply interested spectators of
my repast. AS our eyes met an inarticu-
late giggle escaped the lips of the youngest.
] never could understand why the sly
amusement of children over their elders is
not accepted as philosophically by its OBJ
ject as when it proceeds from an equal.
We fondly believe that when Jones or
Brown laughs at us it is from malice,
ignorance, or desire to show his superb
GRITTY; but there is always a haunting
suspicion in our minds that these little
critics really see something in US to laugh
at. L. however, smiled atfably in return.
ignoring any possible grotesqueness In nv
manner of eating in private.
Come here, Johnny" / said. blandly.
The two elder ones-a girl and boy
joke of this remark was too much for
them. From scraping and kicking
against the log wall l judged that they
had quickly dropped to the ground out
side. The younger one, the giggler, re-
manned fascinated, but ready TO fly at a
moments warning.
Come here, Johnny, boy" 1 repeated,
gently. Il want you TO go to your
mother, please, and tell her
But here the child. who had been work
ing its face convulsively, suddenly uttered
IA lugubrious howl and disappeared also I
ran TO the front door and looked out in
time to see the tallest girl, who had re-
ceived me, walking away with it under
her arm, pushing the boy ahead of her
and looking back over her shoulder, not
unlike a youthful she bear conducting her
cuas from danger. She disappeared at the
end of the extension, where there was evil
IDENTIFY another door.
IL was very extraordinary. 1t was not
strange that l turned back 10 the cabin
with chagrin and modification which
for a moment made me entertain the wild
idea of saddling Chu Chu and shaking the
dust of that taciturn house from nv feet.
But the righteousness of such an act. to
say nothing of its ingratitude, as quickly
presented itself 10 me. Johnson had
offered me only food and shelter; | could
have claimed no more from the inn | had
asked him TO direct me to. | did not re-
enter the house, but, lighting my last
cigar, began to walk eloomily IN and
down the trail. With the outcominp of
the stars il had grown lighter: through a
wind opening in the trees could see the
heavy bulk of the opposite mountain. and
beyond IL a superior crest defined hy A
red line of forest IRE, which, however. cast
no reflection on the surrounding earth or
sky. Faint woodland currents of air.
still warm from the afternoon sun, stirred
the leaves around me with loug-drawn
aromatic breaths. But these in time gave
way 10 the steady Sierran night wind
sweeping down from the higher SUBMITS.
and rocking the tops of the tallest mines
yet leaving the tranquility of the dark
lower aisles mistaken. Ii was very quiet.
there was no cry nor call Of beast or bird
IN the darkness; the long rustic OF the tree
tops sounded rs faint as the far-off wash
of distant seas. Nor did the resemblance
cease there; the closest flies of the mines
and cedars. stretching in illimitable ranks
20 the horizon, were tilled with the inn
measurable loneliness OF an ocean shore.
In this vast silence began TO think I'M
dersiood the taciturnity OF the dwellers IN
the solitary cabin.
When / returned. however, / was sur
prlsed 10 ind the tallest girl standing by
the door. As | approached she retreated
before me- and, pointing 10 q corner where
q common cot bed had been evidently lust
put up, said: "Ie can turn in thar. only
We II hev 10 rouse out early when 'Dolphus
does the chores" and was turning toward
the extension again, when | stopped her
almost appealingly.
zone moment, please. Can see your
mother"
She stopped and looked at me with