River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-10-18
COUNTING IN COLORADO.
Some Of the Difficulties an Ardent
Sutton Encountered.

opportuue time for declaration of
Devastating about on the backs of
burros which were plodding along up
North Cheyenne canyon. Really, there
was too much 81 the ridiculous about it
for him to succeed. lie 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 feet above them, those glimpses of
higt hills in front, those solitary
pin and furs, the mountain brook
urging its t5reless way along by the
road which they were foIlowing-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 an
tile. 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 ami
mails made them again subside into
their slow walk. II was then that Ger
trude remarked almost Grossly:
II would thank y1u, Nr. Fortescue,
not u mention this subject again"
Poor Fortescue. br [ he deserved his
rebuff Why. on horseback would
have been bad enough, but burro
hack e!
The truth 81 II was Fortescue was
desperate Try a. ne would ne had
never succeeded ia getting a better
op, Irtunity ard tomorrow would
fin them going their separate ways.
\. sss Bacon had roO many admirers for
LA - trusf - a future chance. he
would 1T her know ths ae had fallen
hopeIessly in love with her during
tirse few weeks II compa uioHship, aLi
ht. aid. VII tar result we have Just r.
iate,l.
Miss Bacon was one of a gay part
stsppir at Colorado Springs. and
doing all the objects Of interest in
tie vicinity. F0rtescUe was staying
at the same otel and always made
ore Of their party Everything To him
had taken on new interest since
viewing Il with Gertrude. The Garden
ar tie Gojs. the cayerns and passes of
Iaaituu. the wonderful Cheyenne can
spring Had he not sat BY her side
going and coming on that wonderful
cog road up Pixies Peak, and. oh rap
TURF. had she not shyiy confessed To a
sense of safety with hm2 Had they
not peered over the summit down on
TO the clouds below them? and surely,
she had chung to him just a moment at
that dizzy height.
And when the eood together by
the lonely grave Of Helen Hunt. in
that lofty. silent spot beneath the
trees. and he was thinking of the
n lie woman who 50 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 ordinations of wonder
and gathering mcmento~2 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 little. She
might have known the pain it would
cause him. Would he ever get over it,
he wondered.
lie did not blame those poor. in
offensive burras which was fortunate.
Tor EAkE ENAAaEAAN &Hf-A~L~ AAt#A N%AtFAlH II ~
bear. and il j. question if they would
have endured the addition of a dis
appointed lovers reproaches They
have been known To- lie down and re-
fuse 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 hurro for
ward until she caught up with some
other members Of the party. and he
was left t. the company Of the guide.
The party had planned To go mp the
North Canyon To the Silver Cascade
Falls. then croSS the DIVIDE and come
back by the South Canyon. They now
reached the trail which led them from
thu road they had been travelling mp
the mountain 10 the falls. so the guide
left his place at the rear OF the process
sion and look the lead. The others
followed him, single hie. down steep
pitches and then up-up the narrow
path. the hurros 10th 10 60. until they
reached level place just below the
falls. There they dismOunted to rest.
Some IF the party descended 70 the II.
H. Falls in the brook below them.
while far above their heads. down
over the broad masses Of gray rock,
leaped and shimmercd the Cascades.
Fprtescue threw himself upon t.le
ground. Gertrude had gone down to
the Falls. and Benson was assisting
her. IL there was person whom
Fortsscue despiSed. il was this same
benson. And he was always stumbling
III these ron IN places Suppose he
should stumble down that steep hill
side and drag Gertrude with him But
there. ne hardly thought he should
mucll-he would be glad 10 have
her see that She was safer with him
than with anyone else. Fortescue was
plainly in an uuenvia BILE state of mind.
but Gertrude had been cruel. II she
had only shown a little regret
His reverics were interrupted by the
party's preparing IN mount the burros.
and they were soon picking their way
back down the mountain There were
some rather rough places climbing the
Divide. but what view from the top.
Once or twice GertTude's ewes sought
Fortescue. as he sat silent amid their
ordinations Of wonder ard delight,
but he was not looking at her. She al
most decided 70 speak 10 him, then she
thought.
NO who would have believed him
81 stunid?" referring "a the love cpl
sode, and she again felt vexed.
Now. what did FJrtescue DO that
evening early. but 20 up to the differ
ent members II the party and bid them
good-by. explaining that. they were
going early the next morning. he
would not see them again Gertrude.
standing near the piano with several
Others. gave him a timid glance as he
careleSsly put ont his hand. but She re-
ceived no look in return.
That night She cried herself sleep.
and il one had asked the reason she
would have replied. in al probability;
Because"
After all. what better answer Is
there for some stupid questions?
The next afternoon they all met
again al Cheyenne. and this Is how il
happened:
Starting for the east that morning.
the train which carried our party met
with an accident and ea1id not pro-
coed. so the passengers we're brought
back to the city.
What shall we 10 with ourselves