The Forrest City times., 1894-10-12
COURTING IN COLORADO
Some of the Difficulties an Ardent
 Suitor Encountered.


 Such an awkward situation and in- opportune time for . declaration of lOve-shaking about on the backs of burros which were plodding along up North Cheyenne canyonl Really, there was too much of the ridiculous about it for him to succeed. He should have known better.
 To be sure the surroundings were picturesque enough, or grand would be better word, perhaps. Those great masses of rock towering thou sand f1et above them, those glimpses of higher hills in front, those solitary pines and furs, the mountain brook urging it's tireless way along by the road which they were following-it was all sublime. All but the burros. Truly those laughable little beasts would spoil anything, and just as For tescue had spoken. 'crack" went the drivers whip behind them, with: "Get up, Johnny; get up, Stripes." and the burros actually broke into trot, and Miss Bacon and Fortescue went bobbing up and down on their backs until the natural laziness of the ami mals made them again subside into their slow walk. It was then that Ger trude remarked almost grossly:
 ''l would thank you, Mir. Fortescue, not to mention this subject again"
 Poor Fortescue! but he deserved his rebuf. Why. on horseback would have been bad enough, but burro back-!!
 The truth of it was Fortescue was desperate Try as he would he had never succeeded in getting better opportunity, and tomorrow would find them going their separate ways. Miss Bacon had too many admirers for him to trust to future chance; he would let her know that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her during these few weeksof companionship, and he did, with the result we have just re- lated.
 Miss Bacon was one of gay party stopping at Colorado Springs, and doing" all the objects of interest in the vicinity. Fortescue was staying at the same hotel and always made one of their party. Everything to him had taken on new interest since viewing it with Gertrude. The Garden of the Gods, the caverns and passes of Manitou. the wonderful Cheyenne can- yons, seemed altogether more awe-in- spring. Had he not sat by her side going and coming on that wonderful cog road up Pike's Peak, and, oh rap ture, had she not shyly confessed to sense of safety with him? Had they not peered over the summit down on to the clouds below them? and surely, she had chung to him just moment at that dizzy height.
 And when they stood together by the lonely grave of Helen Hunt, in that lofty, silent spot beneath the trees, and he was thinking of the noble woman who so loved that place in life, did not Gertrude, too, stand silent as if she shared the same thoughts. while the rest of the party were making exclamations of wonder and gathering memcn.os? Indeed, he felt there was bond of sympathy be- tween them, and now, how cold. how rough, even, she had been; she might have softened her refusal a little. She might have known the pain it would cause him. Would he ever get over it. he wondered.
 He did not blame those poor, in- offensive burros. which was fortunate, for the patient beasts had enough to bear, and it isia question if they would have endured Atiie addition of dis appointed lover's reproaches. They have been known to lie down and re-