Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-11-04

| wind tore her hat from her head and In an
instant whirlcd IL out OF sight into the all
surrounding gray.
with short ''Stand quite stu, please
| be hurried after IL.
| How odd il was To be there all aIonei
| There was something 80 solemn, 40 awful
| in the silence, the isolation and the som
berness Of the placei To DO able TO see and
| feel nothing save the rocks at her feet and
the noiseless mist floating by; to hear moth.
| ing but the moaning OF the wind, 70 real.
ize that she might be within a few feet Of
| precipice aud not know i'll
10 was like standing upon impalpable
air and grasping at II helplessly with the
world clipping away into the distancel
Madge shudderel. and there must have
been something In the look that she turned
| upon Bob, who had appeared out Of the
gloom at her side 40 suddenly and noise.
| lessly az TO almost startle her, that showed
| the relief she felt In having him with her
again, for his face, that was set and seri
ous. softened into a reassuring smile, and
the swift, eager glance Of the eyes that she
| had noticed once before during tho after
noon might have warned her that he. mt
least, was on dangerous ground. But II
only caused a strange little futtering OF
her heart as she replaced her hat and took
his arm without word
| In utter silence they traversed now what
seemed TO Madge to lie long distance.
IL had been but a short time since the
change had taken place. but already the
wind had risen to a gale, and the gloom
had deepened into black wall around
them, while In the distance could he heard
the roar aud rattle and crash Of the APP
preaching storm. that was already heralded
| by few wandering flakes OF snow that
| were whiried along too fast to find rest
| ing place.
| Their pace had unconsciously slackened,
| and now they were simply cropping their
way over the logs and stumps. around the
powders and between the swaying pines
| that arose one after another through the
mist like struggling column OF retreat
ing soldiers, when suddenly Bob uttered a
surprised exclamation and stood still Not
dve feet In front of them arose a solid wall
OF perpendicular rock. its boundaries lost
| In the mist.
| Madge's glance of interrogation revealed
TO her the perplexity, anxiety and irrita
ton outlined In Bob's face and caused her
TO ask earnestly:
why. Mr. Barker have you lost your
waytn
Her only answer was jagged, quiyering
glare that seemed to enyelop them from
every side. Frightening up the scarped cliff
In front and showing them upon It's surface
the cold, dank tufts OF dark green moss be
tween which the moisture was slowly trick
| ling TO the base. The very enrth under
them trembled. the air recoiled In terror
and the mountain seemed TO split to its
base with the almost simultaneous crash
| that followed
| The storm had overtaken themi
Madge tried to smile after she had relin'
quished her hysterlcal grasp Of Bobs arm,
hut there was no answering smile from
| him, and n vague fear swept over her.
II don't recognize this rock" he NUT
| tered In a low tone. ~ seem to have lost
the trail Let's work our way along the
face OF this little"
Once more the slow aud hesitating march
was resumed.
| The auttering fakes ef snow had changed
| TO tiny hailstones that were rapidly whiten
| ing the ground. The first grand rush @!
the wind was over. and IL had quoted
down into a sullen moan that was merely
an undertone to the great orchestra Of
heaven whose reserberating notes were
ringing from peak To peak and rolling ma
| jestically down the valleys.
Faster and faster beat the hail, now
rapidly changing back to snow; colder and
colder moaned the wind as they YEARLY
and silently picked their way along In the
shadow OF the dreary cliff,
| Madge shiyered perceptibly, and Bob,
turning quickly, tore of his coat, and with
n peremptory Put 1t on, please" threw II
over her shoulders and buttoned IL around
her neck. paying no attention to her mild
expostnlation.
| She did not persist In it, for his manner
and voice allowed no refusal. She felt by
this time that they were In some danger,
though she could hardly tell how or why.
True, 1t was growing very cold and was
| showing heavily. but such a combination
was not new to her, although she was
/ rather lightly dressed And what II they
had temporarily lost their way' The storm
would probably soon be over, even II they
didn't lind tho trail before then. She
might catch very bad cold. And that
would have been about the extent OF her
anxiety 10 II had not been for her compan
| ions actions.
She had never before seen him no quiet
and preoccupied. Heseemed to avoid look
ing ut her. which was certainly very un
usual for him. His almost constant smil,
was gone and his mouth firmly set. Ht
seemed 10 be watching and listening lik,
an animal who knows there are enemies
ahead. II he would only talk to her reas
suringly il would remove this vague un
easiness
She could stand 1t no longer, and sh'
asked, rather timidly for her, who hal
been used 10 the most childiike franknes,
and directness with him:
MIR. Barker, is there much danger, d,
you thinkf'.
lie did not turn his head. but answered
with a elaboration which only increase
| her anxiety:
.Not at present. but we are certainly los
for the moment. and | am afraid We ar
simply making circle and returning 4
the spot we started from. | hope TO IN,
| the trail again in moment"
allow can you find it when the snow .
covering il all ups"
The question came from her impulsively
and somehow she felt sorry the momen
abe asked IL.
Poor Bobl
He had not deliberately lied 10 her, bn
he hadn't told the whole TRUTH and she has
given nttersnce % the very question tina
was in his own mind.
~ think could easily find my way b,
landmarks II the cloud would lift," he an
swered eyasively.
She suspected now that he was conceal
ing the truth from her. and her temper ans
courage rose with the crisis She said en-
ergeticallyi
at Is very unfair of you. Mr.. Barker, :.
conceal any danger from me atm en-
titled to know H. | am not a baby
Ho stopped and turned upon her sb
ruptly
4