The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-11-08


meuto's edge. Birds, in their green
shelter, twittered their joyous mathis.
Bees hummed about the wild azaleas
whose sweetness drifted out through
highway aud byway mingling with the
pungent scent of pine and fir. In the
distance rose Shasta, pare, majestic,
glorious in the morning light. The
Castle Peaks thrust sharp, gray crags
upwards against the serene blue of the
sky. just visible through leafy vistas
the gables OF the Tavern" bore sufii.
cicnt evidence of hospitable habita-
ton. Numbers of the guests had
strolled down TO the station to greet
the morning passengers.
The train proved to be late, and
nothing 10th, we had chosen TO await
its arrival so lettering on the bridge,
leaning over the rail to watch the
glistening fish rs they darted in spots
of silver along the swift waters, or
lounging on piles of sweet-smeling
lumber, one and all found the sun.
shine and fragrance and beauty ample
excuse for happy Incidence
While watching the rows of curious
faces at the car windows, complain
ing voice near by recalled my stray
ing attention.
"There are the Blanks oh, why
| couldn't they stay at home? There
isn't girl at the Tavern, not even
the very prettiest one, who eau shine
with the least little glimmer when
Mrs. Blank is in sight" and with n
pathetic sigh, IA very attractive girl
fastened of to condole with her fellow
sufferers.
To he sure, there was Mrs. Blank.
and as looked l felt that / had never
before fully realized her loveliness.
She seemed TO have gained new
charm; only an expression, perhaps,
but whatever the cause, it puzzled me.
Walking slowly up through the pine
grove, she now and then passed a
caressing hand across the rough
trunks which lined the path, and
while others hestened to the hotel she
fingered along the way if the pine
carpe. q u faxnry tosher feo..
Ono he paused for glimpse of
the ca % 'eaks, and as she gazed at
the grehA IS and domes a wonder
full iishtQ M into her face, and,
turning, ~ liked full into the eyes
of her husbS hwho had been eagerly
noting every change in her coun
tenance.
at is inspiration, I said. "She
loves the mountains, and the pines,
and-her husband.
As | sat on the west veranda that
afternoon, watching the quaint effects
OF light and shade on the peaks of
Castle rocks as they rose sharply
above the dark pines which seemed
striving with ever hopeless endeavor
to reach the summit, the Blanks
passed near me.
"How glad l am to breathe the old
familiar atmosphere again. believe
was truly homesick for the scent OF
pines" said she; and from the look
which accompanied his reply ! knew
that she was the one fair and gracious
being for him in all the world.
just then one of group of men
called to him: "We want to climb
the peaks tomorrow. You know the
trail. Will you go with us?"
Certainly; / shall enjoy the trip :"
but q gentle pressure on his arm
caused him to look down into very
white face and eyes which showed
abject terror
With sudden exclamation he said.
turning again to the men, son sec.
ond thoughts, must beg you to ex-
cuse me. / am sorry, but / can give
you all necessary directions.
That evening, after stroll up the
logging road, we gathered on our ia.
vorite veranda. For awhile we were
silent, absorbed in the moon traced
beauty of the night. The great crags
were tipped with innumerable silver
spires, and a broad band of soltest
light was stretched across the meadows
below. No breeze stirred the fragrant
air. Only the murmurs of the stream
and the faint sounds of distant music
broke the stiffness until low voice
said: "Now, Stella, is the very time
Tor the story you promised. Some
thing to do with Castle Peaks, WAS it
not?"
"Oh, do tell it," pleaded another.
"The Crags are wonderful tonight,
and it will be SO realistic to have the
very mountains themselves right be-
fore our eyes"
So we listened to the story of "The
Shasta Lily" told in Stella's low, i'm
pressive tones, 80 thoroughly in har-
mony with the scene.
Several years ago, before the iron
horse had plunged his wey northward,
a small building, scarcely more than a
cabin, stood near the bridge span
ming the Sacramento, at the foot of
Castle Crags. This was the home of a
beautiful girl, the pride of the coun-
try far and near. She was the beauty
OF the neighborhood, which might be
considered to extend from Sissons to
Sims. At seventeen she wss tho re.
cipient of attentions from every man,
woman and child who came under the