Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-12
THROUGH THE GULCH.

barely room lot llc ROAD, anu lllOu4n COW
cred the year around with wild grasses, the
slopes that rise from either side are precip-
itous. But after many miles have been
traversed, the rocky pass widens, the seen
cry is less rugged the peaks are not so
lofty, and the whole landscape changes.
The country gradually becomes free and
open, and instead of the narrow strip of
blue above, as in the canon, there is a wide
eXpanse of sky; the mountains barring
the glazing line of white in the west-are
only low hills, green with the tender
growth of young pines, and in place of
rock and crag are peaceful swards starred
with lOw-growing mOuntain-daisies. The
road is a dusty ribbon, lost in groves of
young cotton-woods; and the river-the
river is far away, murmuring close to the
mountains, its waters stopping here and
there to reflect the passing shadow of tree
and cloud
1t is beautiful to be here if one can ban
ish thoughts of the weird canon lying be
tween himself and the world. What it is
i'll the winter time, with the awful storms
from the range so near at hand, We may
not know, for il was only one summer that
Dorrance spent here-a brief time indeed,
where the summers are short.
There had once been a little town here
gold ran high. Rows of log houses had
been hastily put up, cemetery inaugu-
rated. and a milliner and French dane
ing-master had lent prestige in a general
way. One man looked into the future
without making any allowance for the de-
ceptive qualities of the mountain atmos-
phere, and he built large wooden hotel.
But there came a day when the magic gold
failed to be found; the milliner and the
dancing master disappeared as mysterious
ly as they had come; the tickle people fol-
lowed and the town became only a desert
ed mining camp, with a few souvenirs of
past glory in the shape of some artificial
flowers, a journal containing references
to Professor Bourret's SOirGeS and row of
empty houses. There were other evidences
less obtrusive, for on the little slope mark
ed by gaunt lonely tree were three graves.
Twenty years after the hotel still stand
ing, and a few drifting families having
taken possession of those houses remain
ing, the government gave the place post
Office, under the name of Phoenix. 1t had
hardly yet risen from its dead self. but the
Tin Cup Hydraulic Mining and Milling
company owned extensive 'washings'
Just beyond, and it was in their interest
that Kenneth Dorrance, civil engineer,
on the surrounding country. Dorrance
took his time about it. He had his pony
with him-a lithe-limbed creature-and he
might be seen many a morning at early
dawn speeding high on the cross road that
led to the lake, the reins twisted around
the pOmme of his high Mexican saddle
his wide sombrero well back on his head.
He was slight of figure, but supple and
well built, and his long brown hands that
rested so lightly on the pommel were full
of strength like that of steel. HI had
slender face; dark, rather notwithstanding
eyes, opening slowly and dilating when he
was reused to interest, which was not oft
en-; and his dark hair was closely cut to a
well-shaped head, only the longer locks
over the forehead showing its tineness and
color. Around his mouth were one or two
faint lines. And altogether, though his
whole air was one of extreme quiet, it was
the quiet of intensity
He had no relatives; he did not care
very much for any one; and while he view
ed life as rather an unsatisfactory expert
ence, he knew his was not SO from any de-
feated desire or frustrated plan. The
world had used him well, but his natural
tendency to silence and reserve had stood
in the way of his forming any intimate
friendships, and driven within himself, he
became retrospective, dealing in subtle
analyses. Himself isolated, and not I'M
happy beyond a slow vague sadness. he
came in time to believe i'm the futility
of any other condition. He had one deep
love-for musc-and if he could satisfy
any craving of soul by thought running
through a melody, it was TO himself only
he was answerabe.
He was accustomed to divide his life in
TO epochs, and mark the epochS by dates 4:
and this summer new epoch had opened
up for him, in which, he felt, was involved
his only chance for the attainment of that
hitherto impossible, intangible state which
men call happiness. The date had been
one morning in June. The sun, though
shining full upon the SUBMITS. had hardly
burst upon the valley yet, and the long
meadOw-grass was still dark with tender
shadow. The banks were family hued by
the columbine and wild rose, and willows
and clamberng vines were stirred uncer-
tainly by an early breeze.
Dorrance had galloped across the valley
and was ascending the crOss-road Below
him the river showed between its willow
fringe in silyery flashes, and above him
the dreaming pines stretched in many q
long vista He took on his hat and
bareheaded, rode lazily into the forest
Between the trees he could catch glimpses
of a distant sweep of pasture, where cat
tie moved slowly, cropping the short bunch
grass. He came presently in sight of a
large white house. 1t was at that point
where a smaller road, leaving the main
one, winds eastward by the lake, and OF
through a gulch to the canon. 1t is q
lonely, untrayeled road known as the
"Gulch Road, used mostly by cowboys
taking herds over the range or miners
seeking a shortcut TO the canon. The
house was substantial two-story frame
with green shutters, and faced the west
1t properly belonged TO a New England
landscape, and DOrrance thought it rather
at variance with the intense blue sky
shimmerng air, and PARKWAY line OF
mountains of Colorado. 1t was owned by
Mr.. Foster, who lived there with his wife
and young children. \ man of education
he had lived shut in by the mountains fol
ten years. DOrrance often wondered if nC
longing ever came over him to leave tn,
lake and the canon and return to tn,
world but he seemed content to farm
his mountain ranch, satisfied with its yiel(
OF hay and potatoes.
Dorrance plOdded on 10 the lake, his