The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-12-06

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 Canon, 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
a better word perhaps. Those great
masses of rock towering a thousand
feet above them, those glimpses of high
er hills in front, those solitary pines and
furs, the mountain brook urging its tire
less way along by the road which they
were following-it was all sublime. All
but the burros. Truly these laughable
little beasts would spoil anything, and
just as Fortescue had spoken. 'crack"
went the drivers whip behind them,
with Get up, Johnny; get up Stripes!'
and the burrOs actually broke into a
trot, and Miss Bacon and Fortescue
went bobbing up and down on their
backs until the natural laziness of the
animals made them again subside into
their slow walk. 1t was then that Ger
trude remarked almost GROSSLY.
Il would thank you, Mr.. Fortescue,
not to mention this subject again"
Poor EOrteocue! but he deserved his
rebuff. Why, on horseback would have
been bad enough, but, burTo back!
The truth Of it was, Fortescue was
desperate. Try as he would. he had
mover succeeded in getting a better op-
pOrtunity, and tomorrow would find
them going their separate ways. Miss
Bacon had too many admirers for him
to trust to a future chance; he would
let her know that he had fallen hope
lessly in love with her during these few
weeks OF companionship and he did,
with what result we have just related
Miss Bacon was one of a gay party
stopping at Colorado Springs, and do
inc" 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 Caverus and Passes of ManitOu, the
wonderful Cheyenne Canons, seemed
altogether more awe-inspiring. Had
he not sat by her side going and COM
ing on chat wonderful cog road up
Pixies Peak? and, oh rapture, had she
not shyly confessed to a sense of safety
with him? Had they not peered over
the summit down on to the clouds be-
low them? and surely, she had clung
to him just u 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 mementos?
Indeed, he felt there was a bond of
sympathy between them, and now, how
cold, how rough, even, she had been;
she might have softened her refusal
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. inof-
fensiye bulros, which was fortunate, for
the patient beasts mad enough to bear,
and it is a question if they would have
endured the addition Of disappointed
IONer : 1epEOdtneS- L IHeN nave DtSh
known to lie down and refuse to stir
when their loads were too heavy.
ForteScue had plenty Of time to think
of all these things, for Gertrude had
managed to urge her burro forward un
til she caught up with some other men,
bers of the party, and he was left to the
company of the guide. The party had
planned to go up the North Canon to
the Silver Cascade Falls, then cross the
Divide and come back by the South
Canon. They now reached the trail
which led them from the road they had
been travelling up the mountain to the
Falls, so the guide left his place at the
rear of the procession and took the lead.
The others followed him, single file,
down steep pitches and then up-up the
narrow path, the burros 10th to go, un-
til they reached level place just below
the Falls. There they dismounted to
rest. Some of the party descended TO
the II. II. Falls in the brook below
them, while far above their heads, down
over the broad masses of grey rock.