The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-22
BY BRET HARTE.

the sledge. if he was lucky enough to
find one. The party quickly acquiesced
in Jacks first suggestion.
VERY WELL said Jack, then there's
no time to be lost; unhitch your horses
and We'll dig a hole in that bank for
them to stand in out Of the snow, This
was. speedily done. Now" continued
Jack, you'll just follow me up to my
cabin; it's a pretty tough climb, but
I'll want help to bring down the
runners
Here the man who seemed to be the
head of the party-of middle age and
a superior professional type-for the
first time hesitated. L forgot TO say
that there is a lady with us-my daugh
ter" he began, glancing towards the
wagon
Il reckoned as much" interrupted
Jack. simply. "and I allowed to carry
her up myself the toughest part of the
way. She kin make herself warm and
c0mfble in the cabin until we've got
the runners ready"
You hear what our friend says,
Amy?" suggested the gentleman, ap-
pealing TO the closed leather curtains
of the wagon.
There was pause. The curtain was
suddenly drawn aside and a charming
little head and shoulders, furred to the
throat and topped with a bewitching
velvet cap, were thrust out. In the OBJ
security little could be seen of the girls
features. but Athere was a certain viii
fitness and Impotence in her attitude.
Being in the SHADOW, she had the ad-
vantage of the others, particularly
Jack, as his figure was fully revealed
in the moonlight against the snowbank
Her eyes rested for a moment on his
high boots, his heavy moustache, so
long as TO mingle with his unkempt
roTI l,se-
ders, on his huge red hands streaked
with black grease from the wagon
wheels, and some blood, staunched with
snow drs vn from bruises in cutting
ont bramg3les in the brush, or-more
awful than ala monstrous, shiny
specimen gold ring encircling one of
his fingers--on the whisky bottle that
shamelessly ! bulged from his side
pocket ard then-slowly dropped her
dissatisfied eyelids.
why can't l stay here?" she said,
languidly. It's quite nice and COM
Portable"
Because we can't leave you alone
and we must go with this gentleman to
help him.
Miss Amy let the tail of her eye
again creep shudderingly over this
gentleman Jack Il thought the-the
gentleman was going to help u.s." she
said dryly.
Nonsense, Amy; you don't under
stand. This gentleman is kind enough
to offer to make some sledge-runner
for US at his cabin, and we must help
him.
But 1 can stay here while you go. ]
am not afraid
Yes, but you're alone here-ani
something might happen"
Nothing could happen" interrupted
Jack quickly and cheerfully. He had
flushed at first, but he was now con-
sidering that the carrying of q lady as
extensively attired and apparently as
delicate and particular as this one
might be somewhat difficult. There's
nothin' that would hurt We here" he
continued, addressing the velvet cap
and furred throat in the darkness, land
if there was it couldn't get at ye be-
in, so to speak, in the same sort o. fix
as you. So you're all right he added
positively.
Inconsistently enough, the young lady
did not accept this as gracefully as
might have been imagined, but Jack
did not see the slight flash of her eye
as ignoring him. she replied markedly
to her father, I'd much rather stop
here, papa"
And" continued Jack, turning also
to her father, you can keep the wagon
and, the whole gorge in sight from
the trail all tx way uD. SO you can
see that everything's all right. Why.
saw you from the first" He stopped
awkwardly and added, Come aIc-.z,
the sooner were off the quicker the
jobs over
Pray don't delay the gentleman and
the job" said Miss Amy, sweetly.
Reassured by Jacks last suggestion
her father followed him with the driver
and the second man of the party,
youngish and somewhat undistinctive
individual, but to whose gallant ankle
ties Miss Amy responded effusively.
Nevertheless. the young lady had es-
pecially noted Jacks confession that he
had seen them when they first entered
the gorge. And I suppose she added
TO herself mentally, that he sat there
with his booZing companions, laughing
and jeering at our struggles
But when the sound of her compan-
ions voices died away, and their fig
ures were swallowed uD in the dark |
ness behind the snow, she forgot all |
this and much else that was mundane
and frivolous in the impressive and ma
jestic solitude that seemed to descend !
upon her from the obscurity above. |
At first it was accompanied with a |
slight thrill of vague fear but this |