The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-16

e enc tering death even here. the ar
I 10" winged by casual touch of chance
without Fermentation as TO which of M
shouio race the victim TO It's dart.
after leaving the timber tract the ali
ere" s"eeter and sweeter until IL BEGAN,
POSITIVE boon 10 breathe All the non.
ey OF the lilac and all the nectar of the
pine seemed 10 condense like steam froIc
! oohins Kettle and MI the spa ces OF IN,
mus win a perfume that could almost
De seen and felt. The rock forma tior
now Dtcame granite and there was nc
aust Inc outlook from the cliffs we
shrted seemed TO comprehend the con-
hnes or the globe. II the guide mad told
me that hamlet which lay like IA,
hakes OF a scattered rose along the east
eIn me OF the valley had been, or was
Chicago ! should have believed him.
ielt mat ] swept with my glance the
range or the world. 1t was impossible
that there was anything left in created
matter That could not be seen from this
upliit OF 1000 feet. | saw the sea from
zone 10 zone and the earth from pole
10 pole. Mountains. forests, cities. rivers
ana towns with orchard lands dropped be-
tween were spread before my eyes FOR
hundreds or miles I'm all directions. Fan
me gToaned occasionally as one TO whom
my proportions were unsuited and now
ana then stopped 10 rest on a verge at
which my very soul grew dizzy. But I
chung tighter still and not even the
earthquake that shattered Greece could
nave unseated me or unlocked my hands
from their tight clasp Of the saddlebow.
regretted later on to find that tight
lacing was the cause of Fannies frequent
halts and sepulchral grunts. Her saddle
grin was strapped as tightly as a Sill
. ~ won-an's corset. However. that was
hardly her fault and | willingly absolve
her memory from the only blight so far
cast upon II.
II was after four hours Of constant
riding that we rounded the last point
in the Zigzag and swept out on the free
summit Of Mount Wilson. | had long
felt the pangs Of tooth-ache in both my
legs. and about a half a mile before
reaching camp I implored the guide to
allow me 10 dismOunt that | might be
spared the circus feat Of "untossing" my
leg from Fannie's ample back. Moved by
my prayer he halted and with the grace
OF flour sack falling down an elevator
shaft | descended from my mule. The
pain that had been but simple toothache
became nerve destructive and tooth pull
Ing both In one. | could not stand but
fell to the ground a heap OF anguish and
toms weight Of woe.
Pass on / said TO the smiling guide
and tell Mr. Martin that n dead woman
awaits Christian burial on the trail"
The guide rode away. and after a mo-
ment or two I gathered myself up and
tottered after II took but few resolute
steps to timber up my stiffened members
and start the blood thrilling through my
cramped limbs. so that in less than ten
minutes there strolled into the sunniest,
prettiest camp in the world n jaunty
dame who showed no signs Of the wear
and tear Of her mule ride up the noun
tain.
The camp consists OF a handful OF
tents pitched beneath the pines on the
border Of the mountains crest. The view
from the terrace is one never TO be for
al hrpa bp6 from
sunny altitude would almost restore the
dead to lfe. 1t is inexpressibly sweet
and charged with the tonic Of balsam and
wine.
Invalids once carried to this serene
height however serious their pulmonary
disorders may have become. begin d.
rectly 10 improve. as a seed grows when
planted in irrigated soil. The affable host
or king of the camp. Clare Martin, is a
gentleman Of means who prefers to spend !
much Of his leisure time In the noun |
tains. and has kindly consented to es- |
tablish a small hosiery for the benefit |
Of tourists and invalids Ne makes no |
prctense at keeping a regular inn. hut |
his resort IS far-famed for good cheer and |
An hour before sunset we walked three |
miles along the ridge TO Sunset Rock |
through what seemed to be a natural |
park Of pines The top Of the mountain |
was not bare and bald like other peaks. |
but was clothed with verdure and needed |
bloom like rose The view from Sunset |
Rock would have repaid five times the |
labor Of the walk. and as saw the light |
hrim the valley and overflow the noun
tain sides with glory said to myself Tor
the ninetieth time during the trip. My |
dear old lady, you were not born hand
some. neither were you born rich, but,
by my faith you were born lucky!
That night, standing on the terrace that
overlooked the depths where Pasadena
and Los Angeles lie among score Of
other sister towns. beheld the marvel
Of the electric lighting Of the cities.
gather within the gloom Of forest. the
whole valley filled with twinkling stars.
II was the lovelest sight imaginable and
one 10 make worshiper Of beauty fall
darkness haunted by the murmur Of
pines and the answer Of the distant sea,
the next a second armament and a new
constellation to mock the steady shining
of those antique orbs that sang together
on creations morn.
l slept that night in a tent that was
pitched in the forest where ] heard the
Wild cats cry and I washed my face
and hands before sunrise next morning
In q spring that gushed IS clear as a
diamond and as cold as snow from rock
bigger than the Auditorium Hotel.
II was with A sad heart that l mounted
Fannie for the downward trip. ! never
onged TO stay in place so ardenty as
/
amp forever But the same voice that
allied me for the redwoOds and from
ach and every charming place thus far
ound in life's march bade me begone from
fount Wilson. and l obeyed. The ride
own TO the valley was made notable by
ur joining the funeral cortege Of the old ,
IAN reported dying on the upward trip.
lie had passed in his checks. and some
Z the distant villagers had come up to
ear him down the trail to Christian bur- Y
A. They were a ribald gang Of fellows
hat had been deployed as pall-bearers.
nd they made the woods ring with their
TRANCE carousal. Behind them. last and
My mourner, astrde Of a mule that
OF even the solemnity Of deaths occasion
Guild thrill into the abandon Of a new
ansation. I rode with tear in my heart
nd a smile or my lips at thought OF
fes myriad happenings and odd encoun-
RS Who would have thought that all |
" trip had been planned for me that
light Join a lonely old mans funeral :
recession and be the only decent mourn
TO follow him TO his grave Shall
now him, wonder. II we meet later on
nj recall our dusty ride together when
ley "rattled his bones over the stones"
lay them in consecrated ground be- l
cath the shadow Of the mountain he 6ad
we'd. amber. in Chicago Herald. I