The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-24

lazy wind stirred up n,yrlads of little
clouds Of brown, sandy dust, appear
ing, from the distance, like % many
smoking bonflres. Looking backward,
looking to the right, looking to the left,
the stupendous mountain solitude Of
the Rockies rose In rugged, chaotic
piles Of dead browns and blues, against
which the blotches Of vegetation, here
aud there, glowed darkly, while peak
on peak, looming up more distinctly,
became fairer and bluer. until, there.
beyond, in the faintest outlines, glist-
ened in the summer sunshine.
Far away TO the north and far away
to the south the great mountain chain
stretched out giant arms, nearly half
encircling the vast tract OF prairie that
swelled away from the foothills. To
the north one peak lifted it's head high
er than its peers, like a solemn sentinel
guarding its mountain approach. To
the south two twin perks lowered
seemingly from the base Of the plains.
that there stretched, arid, sandy and
hungry with but one tiny thread OF
water gladdening the eye by its re-
freshing CLEAN.
Around the mountaineer's hut, how
ever. Nature had been liberal OF her
gifts. The mountain side was green
with pleasant foliage, and the soft,
thin mountain grass throve even where
the foot Of man and beast had done it's
best to crush It out Of existence. VIII.
flowers and luxuriant ferns intermin-
gled in welcome profusion. and behind
every rock and every boulder some
tiny, graceful greenery struggled for
life.
1t was truly pleasant spot on that
glorious, blazing summer day, but 1t
made one shudder to think what 1t
would be like in winter, when the
great pine-clad ridges and the deep
gorges would alike become as q home
of the hurricane. where 1t would roar,
and rage and howl, and shrek, filling
the air with hail Of broken branches
and frozen snow, driving great drifts
Of tie white, icy masses against the hill
sides and piling them against the
trees; while beyond, the great white
plain would be as one white sheet, ap-
palling with its frigid monotony, while
scattered rocks, uprooted trees and
huge. jagg d pine-stems would shape
themselves into one chaotic ,treacher-
GUS mass underneath the snowy COW
erlet, while oil traces of road or trail
would be effaced. and the intrepid
frontiersman would be left to fight
with the elements, In addition to his
natural enemies.
George Mclane was we'll seasoned In
Rocky Mountain experiences. He was
one Of the first to build stout and
roomy log cabin, where previously but
trappers' huts and Indian villages had
existed; and more than that. year in
and year out, summer sun or winter
snow. he lived there with his child.
Frontfersmen ,trappers and traders
asked themselves in wonderment why
George Mclane-"Freckled George"
they called him-had chosen such
a place for his home, when all
the country between the San
gre de Christie and Pixies Peak
stood open to him, and rumor Ind 1t
that "Freckled George" was searching
the mountains for gold. Men had
looked for the precious metal in these
rocky Businesses before that day, and
had come back with heavy hearts and
light pouches. When the matter was
mentioned to Mclane. he grinned and
shook his head and said. "Rot. Cayn't
a man abide whar he likes" he would
say, "wittout lot Of loafin' boosters
a-tryin' to stick their fingers in his
pie?' As George was known to be not
slow with his pistol and his knife, the
inquiries invariably stopped ut that
point.
Lucy had finished her task, and was
engaged in spreading out the flannels
and other articles of household wear
upon a piece Of smooth greensward
that seemed strangely out Of place in
it's wild surroundings. That being
done, she emptied the tub and carried
it into the small clubhouse by the side
Of the cabin. Then she wiped the log.
the cabin, she sat herself down.
Lucy's little brain was busy. That
handsome, biignt-cyed stranger had
upset its maiden equilibrium. The
knitting made but poor progress, and
more than once Lucy had to undo what
she had completed and to recemmence
1t. Suddenly she arose and stamped
her foot in petty temper.
WAL" she exclaimed. in pretty ir-
rftation, sit cayn't be that I'm that
nuts on him, an 'on'y seen him jest
this once, an know no more about him
than about the man in the moon. And
don't care to know she added. with
another stamp of her tiny foot. Thar
TO Be ContinuedA
HIS AMPUTATED LEG ACHES.