The herald., 1895-10-20

the fact that there we're other ways of OBJ
| tanning gold that did not call for pick or
sluice. During all his lonely wears of
| toll it did not appear to have occurred to
him that the same energy, expended in
any legitimate wage earning industry,
might easily have carried him to his goal,
and enabled him to make homo and
| send tor the wife ana child to whom he
had been SO loyal in purpose, but had SO
miserably failed in deed.
Now you know why l don't want nv
name to go down in your book. You
khow why I've never exchanged n need
less word with man or woman till YOU
came up the tail today. I've lived so
long alone with the rocks and trees and
the bare facts of natura that Tvs almost
forgotten the ways of civilized speech,
but think have made you understand.
Do you want my name"'
The girl hesitated in Indecison and
doubt.
"You don't know? No more do I. Do
you see that place in the rocks across the
gulch?"
He led her to an opening on the hill
side and pointed across the chasm down
whose bed the mountain stream leaped
In the Jagged outlines of a great cliff
that overhung the gulch the girl easily
discerned massive sphinxlike profile.
When you live alone in the mount
aims" said Grizzly Jim. you get to de-
pending on signs and omens. You can't
help it. When the sun touches that
cliff, little past noon, some days the
face smiles, sometimes it frowns. Well
watch it today. Ii the face smiles, I'll
write in your book"
The mists had long since flown back
to the sea, and the sun rode high IN the
heavens. Only this portion of the gulch
remained in the shadow. shut off by the
crags that rose above 1T. Slowly the
sunlight crept past the rocky barriers. A
HOOH NJ c1p1iuht hathod ba 1ayl l. ;oba
The ripple of the water below sounded
like chime OF bells; a burst of bird
song thrilled the air. wave of light
passed over the sculptured face. and Ia
benign smile fingered there for a mo-
ment; then the features relapsed into
their customary calm.
Grizzly Jim reached out a trem Bling
hand for the book and pencil.
The census marshal slipped over to her
horse and examined her saddle girths,
Tor her business there was finished and
the steep trail was slippery of descent.
Tho miner wrote slowly and awkwardly,
closely scrut1nizins the fine print at the
head of each colnmn before he made the
entry beneath. Wien he had finished he
returned the book and pencil to the mar
shall with grave courtesy. She could not
resist feeling of absurd solemnity as
she received it. She had meant to show
proper delIcacy by closing it without
looking into it, but her woman's S curius-
ity overmasteIed her. and she took one
quick glance at the name, which was
boldly and plainly written.
Her face crimsoned.
''lt is not true.' she said, Indignantly. !
James Godfrey Peyton died while cross
ing the plains in 40. Miriam Peyton is
my mother
The effect of the Intelligence was like
a stupendous blow. The old man pressed |
his hands to his temples, while he made |
an effort to span the cruel gap of years.
Miriam-my little Miriam's child?'
His smouluering eyes devoured her
with the hunger of starving soul.
Her cold unbelief was beyond his
power to combat. That which had been
his strength had became his weakness.
The secret SO closely guarded tor nearly
half centdry unnamed him when it
was laid bare. He sat down at the foot
CT the oak, burying his face in his hands.
Impelled by an instant faith in his
truth. the girl knelt humbly beside him.
a gentle hand stroled his gray hair, a
fresh young face was pressed against his
cheek.
They are both here; only few miles
away. Come with me. Come home to.
day."
He didn't answer for many minutes.
Then he said slowly:
IAN old, weather. beaten wreck rag
ged. penniless. l can't do it. I'd better
live on here. You'll keep it from them.
l can trust you."
But even as he protested, the longing