The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-13
IN THE REDWOODS.

It was the night of Nov. go, 1880. Tho |
moon, half spont, rose over the long I'M
broken range Of mountains that extends |
along tho northern coast Of California |
from Bodega inlet to Humboldt bay.
Perhaps an hour before midnight O |
young girl stood In tho doorway Of n de-
serted cabin far up in tho Russian river
canyon, watching tho east grow light and
waiting for the moon to rise. A trail, half
elaborated by the growth of undorbrush
md fallen trees ran q few yards in front
Of tho cabin and led on down tho canyon
to tho camp. BY tho light of tho moon
this trail would be plainly visible at tho
place n quarter of u milo higher up tho
mountain, whoro it crossed clearing in
the rcdwoods, and toward this spot tho
girls face was turned.
She was nlono and seemed impatient for
tho coming light, which fingered SO long
among the tall trees on tho summit Of the
range. A cloak black and long, and from
its shape evidently gcntlcmans, was
thrown over her shoulders, and it's hood
covered her head.
Tho moon had risen. Tho trail which
Nal had been straining her eyes to sec
through the darkness now showed clearly
where it camo from thick growth of
chaparral, and she watched it's stretch
across the clearing moro earnestly than
ever. She had not long to wait for soon
tho man for whom she was looking issued
from the brush. He was on horseback,
and n ridorloss horse followed him. At
the center of tho clearing he stopped and
discharged II small revolver.
Malls heart leapcd. "All Is right" she
said slowly to herself but her conscience
hfk- pll 1eI,e ;,~&,
sobs.
"Poor dadl He'll never tako mo back
IN Bon an Jiml Oh, know he'll never
do 1t. But If he don't" she said between
her tooth, "I'vc seen folks die, an-nn''-
But pair of strong arms were round hor,
and that voice which Ind led her so far
was calling hor his Nal, his sweet Nal, his
little Nal, and asking her If tears wero all
sho had for him.
Her arms sought his neck, and she beg
gcd h i'm not to be angry
II won't cry no more" sho said i'm
ploringly. "Promise never to DO angry
with me again"
AND now, Nal" no said, "wo must DO
getting out Of hore. Well cross tho river
and stop ut Jim's.'
"No, no, no!' she begged. 'Not ut
Jim's. Jim would know something was
wrong an-an he might kill you," sho
| whispered.
| well, if you can stand it, we'll cross the
range and stop in ono of tho old logging
camps tonight. Tomorrow we'll go on to
| Sonoma.'
"Oh. can stand it," she said "I've
| been there with dad lots of times. Only
don't stop Mt Jim's."
Ho lifted her into tho saddle, and she
! chung to his neck until he had kissed her
many times and called her over and over
again by all those sweet names that lovo
| makes up for its ornaments. Then he threw
| himself upon his own horse, and in single
| flo, ho leading, down into tho depths OF
| tho canyon they departed
| I Tho trail which thoy followed had once
been used rs n logway. On each side roso
the giant redwoods. Among those trees
had been her home Their every sound
and look in pleasant and fearful weather
she knew, and now sho was leaving them
Was it forever?
Shortly thoy came to the old camp where
she had spent SO many happy hours watch
ing tho hugo logs thin themselves out into
timber and seeing tho great saw spin
round and round. Perhaps somo of that
very timber which she had seen cut had
conc to tho city to help build his house
tho house which he had told her was to be
hers. Thus sho thought on until, leaving
bed and followed on down toward the
river. They could hear it ripping over
tho stones ut the crossing.
Then they passed Jim's. It was so
strange, she thought, to go by Jim's with
out stopping-Jim, who had rescued her
from drowning when sho had attempted
to cross to his cabin during tho rising of
the river the fall before; Jim, who was nj
most rs dear as her own father and SO
much gentlcr; jim who loved her so.
"Jim!" sho called aloud.
Her lover halted, startled ut tho sudden
cry, and camo to her.
81 didn't mean to do that" she said.
sit came out. couldn't help 1t. I was
thinking SO much of him an wishing I
might just say goodby to him that it slip
ped out oil of sudden"
A milo beyond .Jim's they came into the
trail again just where it commenced its
upward climb into the redwoods of tho
coast range. An hour later, mt tho edge
of tho woods Of Eel Diablo, they reached
the cabin where thoy wcro to spend tho
night. Here they dis,nountcd, and Malls
lover led tho horses into tho brush while
she, not in tho least afraid, pushed open
the door Of the dark and vacant hut
There was u close and sitting odor with
In from tho old and musty straw scattered
over tho bunk in tho corner. A wildcat
jumped out through tho window. Nal
gavo little start. She sat down on tho
edge of the brush where shO could sec her
lover looscning tho saddle girths. Once
more shu thought Of her homo far back at
the head of tho Russian river. That dear
Old river-hOw 1t panied her to lcavo its
soft ripple, and its blue, clear waters and
her dad, and jim, and her brothcrsI