The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-23


had searched all round, he could find no
trace of them.
A thousand pounds'worth Of valuable
blood in jeopardy put our manager into
fever of anxiety. Gathering about
him two or three of the stockmen, and
couple of black truckers, he was
about to start off in search, when sud-
denly he remembered that certain let
tiers had not been sent on to the head
pecting some important communities
ton.
II think, Dennison. that you had bet
ter ride over to Mount Misery (the
name of the head station) and take the
mail. You will be better able to make
the explanation about the rams being
lost than either of the men,"
"All right" said; ''1'll start at once.
Where are the letters?"
''Here you are. One-two-three for
the boss, one for Mrs B. and one for
Miss Gordon-Miss Gordon! who tho
deuce is she?''
suggested that Miss Gordon might
be the niece of the boss; for had heard
a niece was expected to visit Mount
Misery.
The ram-seeking party took their de-
parture, and soon after l started for
the head station, with but little relish
Tor reporting TO the boss the loss he
was in danger of sustaining.
Mount Misery is twenty miles from
Bengengo, but my wiry little nag got
over the ground well under a couple Of
hours. did not forget to keep my
weather eye open for traces Of the lost
animals, but saw nothing.
The baptism of places must surely be
governed by the rule of contraries.
In the case of Mount Misery, never
was name less apropos. The spot where
Mr.. Blyth---the boss-had built his
homestead was one of the loveliest
and most picturesque places have ever
seen.
A long, broad-bottome valley, be-
tween two ranges of honeysuckle hills.
Through the center of the valley ran in
silvery silence small stream. On
either side its banks, grew groves OF
fair-sized timber trees-apple wood,
box and stringy bark. Here and there
clunps of stately gum trees rose to a
height Of some one hundred to one hun
dred and seventy feet. Myriads of
bright plumaged birds fitted continu-
ously in the sunlight, giving one the
impression Of winged gems. The noisy
but interesting chatter of coclsatoos.
blended with the softer love-no.es of
various doves, all helped to lend a
charm, and the ensemble was a pros
pect far different,than the astounding
name of Mount Misery advised. The
homestead itself was equally picture
r eminding one ofssome old last century
farmhouse, of a style frequently met
with in the more retired rural districts
of England. Bungalow fashion, it's
divisions were all on the ground
floor, the peakedsroof being simply used
for storing fruit. A variety of creepers
trailed their wealthy growth from end
to end, on pillarsand post, from ground
plate to gable peak. A well-stoclked
orchard with carefully tended and
luxuriant flower garden surrounded
the house, which was simply pictur-
esque and com fort-aboundimg bit OF
perfection.
The visitor to Mount Misery must Of
necessity cross oneo~ other of the two
barren ranges, which in summer or
winter are equally uninviting, owing
to their. open character, being devoid
of shelter from either cold, biting
blasts of winter, orIthe sweltering rays
of the summer sun. But having crossed
this waste OF barren rock, and reached
the edge of the range, the eye is glad
dened by the oasis'just described.
On this occasion 1 did not, as was
usual with me, halt to re-admire the
picture, hut continued my way to the
foot of the range. On entering the
grove of timber I struck the station
track, and put my horse to a sharp
canter, and was beginning to formu-
late some quiet style of speech to in
troduce the i'll news Ifbore, when sud-
denly l became aware1t hata lady was
standing on the track some hundred
yards or so ahead of me; she appeared
to be reading.
This must be Miss Gordon"
thought l.
by George, she's young. and what
is more a jolly pretty girl'
My artistic nature came to the
front again, you see. I'll try and
describe her; then, perhaps, I may be
forgiven my rapture.
A figure tall and 1.-the, en-, oval face,
a pair of soft. sleepy-looking brown
eyes, shaded by mass of, lion, tawny
hair, which was bound upsand braided
into simple knot.
She was garmented in aDrobe Of some
soft well-hanging material, purple of
hue. and relieved of its density by g
white India-silk lserchsef. lightly
thrown over her shoulders and fastened
loosely in sailor fashion round her
throat.
Remember, this description is as she
appeared most frequently to me after
the following incident, andsnot at the
particular time.
As | drew nearer, I saw that some
thing unusual had happened, and that
she was apparently suffering an agony,
Tor her face was CHASTITY pale, and her
eyes set in an awful stare
When | reached her side Ismechanic-
ally raised ny hat. but still the same
set look on her face.
You are suffering. Can be of any
service to you?" / asked.
Ny voice broke the spell that was
,->0-7 her Tho Fri h-aual s+,-a ra-