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

the guides and burros, at the rude little
halfway house. by the tiny lake that lay
like an oblong emerald In setting OF
bronze, and had wandered away by them.
selves-he. the brown bearded young west
ern metallurgist. with successful career
opening before him. and she. the white
faced. delicate looking sojourner from Bos
ton. with her creole hair and eyes.
The benediction OF perfect Indian sum.
mer afternoon lay upon the scene The
cloudless sky so blue that 1t reminded her
Of the exquisite coloring of an Easter egg
at home, the air so still that even the
trembling Of the aspen leaves ceased af 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 tndolent and eontempiative eyes, and
the birds seemed mesmerized into drowsy
state
Thsy 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 the
whole thing was poem and painting so
exquisite that II she had heard an organ
suddenly burst forth into one OF Hande.s
masterpieces 10 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, wss lover OF nature and capable OF
deep feeling, but perfect Colorado after
noon was not new 10 him, while his love
for Msdge was. and his pleasure came
from seeing her keen but placid enjoy.
ment IL was no accident on his part that
they were separated from the rest, and he
realized fully that they had been gone
over an hour and were a long distance
from the lake. His happiness lay In being
alone with her, In watching the waves OF
surprise and pleasure ripping over her
face as new shapes and new landscapes
opened upon her view. in answering the
ehiidiike questions that dubbed from the
dark eyes and pretty lips. and more than
all In tho thrilling touch OF the slender
arms and the soft. warm hands as he ~
sisted her over the rough places. 1t was
heaven 70 him and could not last long
enough.
But when at last sine gave a weary little
Sigh and sat down upon convenient log
"a they reached bit Of level. saying, "Oh,
dear, Pm so tiredr' he responded quickly
II think, perhaps, we've gone far enough
It's getting along 10 the afternoon and IL
time to start back"
Are we very far from thems p she asked
suddenly, seeming to realize for the first
time that they might be.
about mile, should say, but really
haven't kept much track of the distance,
and this part Of the trail Is somewhat new
to me.h
After this there was silence for some
time. He saw now that she was quite ex
hausted. and 1t occurred TO him that the
altitude was having some effect upon her
He blamed himself inwardiy for his
thonghtlessness and was about TO ask her
II she had trouble In breathing. when
sudden chill In the atmosphere. accom-
panied by movement of the air that set
the aspens to shivering violently. followed
by a gradual dimming of the sunshine
caused them TO glance simultaneously 10
ward the sun. What appeared to Madge
like fog was hurrying across 1t. and
rapidly growing denser; aud as she looked
up toward the highest point visible In the
west she could see the gray, mistlike sub
stance stealing In between and around the
rocks and pines and sweeping silently
down toward them. He answered her
look Of Interrogation by saying somewhat
sbsentmindedlyi
"Gloudsl A change Of weather. might
have known that the heat this afternoon
meant something n hadn't been thinking
q off,
had turned and was absorbed In the curious
transformation that Was going on. and los,
his last low spoken words.
The gray column had completely oh
scnred the sun and was moving rapidly
toward them now, leaving behind q great
gray wall They both shivered. and be
sprang briskly 90 bis feet
As soon as you are rested, Miss Cham
berlain, think we had better start back
II looks as though We might have squall
and perhaps some snow. This Is one of ths
changes that are common here at this sea
son Of the year We foolishly left oul
wraps behind II was my fault, though
for you know nothing of these changes. o.
eourse."
She had risen now and started 60 speak.
Don't you breathe easilyf he exclaimed
with some concern. noticing that sh,
pressed her hand 70 her chest
She had paled little. and now gasped
two or three times before abe answered
with srlikes
.It seems rs though couldn's get quits
enough air In my lungs have felt Il sey
eral times this afternoon It's trifIing,
she went ON reassuringiy Il will taks
your arm. though. please. because ] an
really very tired"
What very heavy fog. abe continued
shivering. after they had walked shor
distance. land how damp it N"
you could hardly call IL fog he said
I'VE are In the midst Of cloud, and IL Il
an unusually thick ole. - he added after
pause. CHANGING about nervousIy.
The great gray mass had caught then
now. and had closed In upon them ON ever,
side-beneath them, above them, aroune
them, pressing against their faces ant
/. brushing their hands with It's cold, elamm,
fingers, leaving moisture and chill witt
every touch.
There was no thought of fear in Madge'l
mind Why should there Der They wer
only short distance from the hotel
ashont that far Then. too, she was lean
Ing upon q strong arm, and she enjoye'
the sensation OF being In the midst Of
cloud IS she enjoyed everything that wa
new:
why. seer' abe exclaimed brightly
sits so thick one can almost grasp hand
full Why. dear mel can see Il pass be
tween me and your hat." she laughed n
abe threw her head 10 one side and glance.
upward and see the moisture on you
coatr' abe went on, rubbing her ham
along his arm and dipping the water from
her apzerz.
Bcbs syes we're ixed In front. and Will