Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-09-09
CHAPTER 1I-(continued1

human industry. Down the dusty high
roads defiled long streams of heavily
laden mules, all heading to the West,
for the gold fever had broken out in
California, and the overland route lay
through the City of the Elect. There,
too, were droves of sheep and bullocks
coming in from the outlying pasture
lands, and trains of tired immigrants,
men and horses equally weary of their
interminable journey. Through all this
motley aSsemblage, threading her way
with the skill of an accomplished rider,
there galloped Lucy Ferrier, her
face flushed with the exercise and
her long chestnut hair floating out
behind her. She had commission from
her father in the city, and was dashing
in as she had done many time before,
with all the fearlesSness Of youth,
thinking only Of her task and how
it was to be performed. The travel
stained Adventures gaZed after her in
and even the Unconditional
Indians, jOurneying in with their pei
try, relaxed their accustomed StOiciSm
as they marvelled at the beauty of tie
pale-faced maiden.
She had reached the outskirts Of the
city when she found the rol1 blocked
by great drove of cattle, driven by
a half dozen Withholding herdsmen
from the plains. IN her Impotence she
endeavored to pass this obstacle by
pushing her horse into what appeared
to be a gap. Scarcely had she got
fairly into it, however, before the
beasts closed in behind her, and size
found herself completely imb9dded in
the moving stream of fierce-eyed, long
horned bullocks. Accustomed as she
was to deal with cattle, she was not
alarmed at her situation, but took adj
vantage of every opportunity to urge
her horse on in the hope of pushing
her way through the cavalcade. In
fortunately the horns Of one Of the
creatures, either by accident Or design,
came in violent contact with the tank
of the mustang and excited it to mad
ness. In an instant it reared UP upon
its hind legs, with a snort OF rage,
and pranccd and tossed in a way that
would have unseated any but most
eslzilful rider. Every plunge of the eX-
cited horse brought it against the
horns again and goaded it to fresh
madness. It was all the girl could do
to keep herself in the saddle, yet slip
would mean a terrible death under the
hoofS of the unwieldy and terrified ami
mails. Unaccustomed to sudden emer-
gencies, her head began to swim, and
her grip upon the bride to relax.
'Choked by the rising cloud Of dust and
by the steam from the struggling crea-
lures, she might have abandoned her
efforts in despair, but for kindly voice
at her elbow which assured her Of as
sistance At the same moment a sin
hor fPiO0fAnnN
horse by the curb, and forcing a way
conditions in Hong Kong, according to
the outskirts.
You're not hurt, / hope, misS!" s.
her preserver, respectfully.
She looked up at his dark, fierce face
and laughted saucily. I'm awful fright
ened," she said, naively; whoever
would have thought that Poncho would
have been so scared by a lot of cows?'
THANK God you kept your seat" the
other said, earnestly. He was tall,
savage-looking young fellow, mounted
on a powerful roam horse, and clad IN
the rough dress of a hunter, with long
rifle slung over his shoulders. II guess
you are the daughter of Joan Terrier"
he remarked. II saw you ride down
from his house. When you see him, ask
him if he remembers the Jefferson
Hopes of ST. Louis. If he's the same
Terrier, my father and he Were pretty
thick"
Hadn't you better come and ask
yourSelf?" she asked, demurely.
The young fellow seemed pleased at
the suggestion. and his dark eyes spark
led with pleasure "Ill do So" he said;
-''we've been in the mountains for two
months. and are not over and above in
visiting condition. He must take us
as he finds u.s."
HE has good deal to thank you for,
and so have l." she answered; hes
awful fond of me. If those COWS had
jumper on me he'd never got over
i.
"Nelrner would l." sa|d her com
panion.
you! Well, I don't see that it would
make much matter to you, anyhow.
You amt even a friend of ours"
The young hunters face grew so
gloomy over this remark that Lucy
Ferrier laughed aloud.
There, didn't mean that" she said:
'''of course, you are friend now. You
must come and see us. Now l must
push along, or father won't trust me
with his business any more. Good-by!
"Good-by," he answered, raising his
broad Sombrero and bending over the
little hand. She wheeled her mustang
round, gave it cut with her riding
whip, and darted away down the
broad road in a rolling cloud of dust
Young Jefferson Hope rode on with
his companions, gloomy and taciturn.
He and they had been among the Ne
vada Mountains prospecting for silver,
and were returning to Salt Lake City
ia the hope of raising capital enough
to work some lodes which they had
discovered. He had been as keen as
any Of them upon the business until
this sudden incident had drawn his
thoughts into another channel. The
sight of the fair young girl, as frank
and wholesome as the Sierra breezes,
had stirred his volcanic, untamed
heart to its very depths. When she
had vanished from his sight, he real
lied that crisis had come in his life,
and that neither silver speculations
nor any other questions could ever be
OF such Importance to him as this new