The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-17

q !uouutalA pun sup
~ ped and looked about
her in wonder. On one side ROSE the
rugged mountain, on the other lay a
deep gorge. Where was the singer
The question was answered by 8 stall.
wart masculine form swinging around
q sharp turn in the pathway just
ahead Of her, and coming to sudden
stop. Evidently maiden tair" was
al unexpected vision on this lonely
mountain trail. The hesitation was
only for m instant; removing his hat,
be said:
"a beg your pardon. The path is so
narrow here III go bac', p Bit" and
he turned. The girl followed him
with IN amused smile.
''If it were only the least bit dan
gerous," she thought, "this would
really be On adventure; but it's not,
more's the pity" She murmured her
thanks to the young man, who stood
respectfully aside to allow her pas.
sage.
ae2ry Maxon gave ono glance over
his shoulder as he again rounded the
corner.
"Well, she is 'vinseme wee thing,
but she must have thought mo an
idiot to stare at her so must be
stopping at the Glen" And he went
on his way.
The trail, following the curve of the
mountain, formed a semiclrcle; as
Neva Hildreth reached it's innermost
point, she uttered a cry of delight; q
tiny canon opened before her, it's
rocky sides covered with a dense
growth of brush, moss and ferns ;
through the branches CLEANED the
white rocks of waterless waterfall.
Miss Neva cultivated p passion for
ferns, and she could not pas these by.
Entering the csnon, she was soon
gathering the dainty golden and sill
yer ferns. A particularly fine cluster
just above the little fall attracted her.
There were tempting little cracks and
crevices,
"Ican comp there Just as we'll as not, "
she thought; and up she went. On
reaching the higher level another lit
tie fall was disclosed, aad the wild
confusion of growth was even more
picturesque.
81 must bring mamma here" unused
the little lady; lit is one Of the most
beautiful spots l have ever seen, ROW !;
what must it be with the water
tumbling over these rocks!" Taking
seat Oh stone. she gave herself up
to the contemplation OF the beauties
about her
bnt reverles must end, and girls who
climb up rocks must climb down
again. 1t looked easy enough, and
the young lady had no fears as she
placed her foot upon an apparently
firm bit OF rock only to find herself
suddenly precilitated to the ground
below. Fortunately the distance was
not great, and alter momentary
shock she picked herself up; out when
she attempted to walk she found that
her ankle had been injured in some
way, aud she was compelled to lean
against the bank for support. She
tried again, and managed to make her
way back to the trail; hut here she
sank down, faint with pain. and could
go no further. Already tho SUI had
gone behind the mountain, and though
the opposite hills and valleys were still
flooded with light, the shadows were
falling III the little canon.
Miss Neva suddenly realized that
she was having al adventure, after all.
"lt's quite romantic to spraiu ones
ankle, people always do that in
stories, only there can't be many
people passing THIS way to rescue me
that Young man stared at NE so
when he SOW me. And nobody knows
where am; mamma was asleep when
I came away. What if there should
be wild Annals what was that man
telling about mountain lions at the
table?".
She glanced about her rather ner.
vously, but she prided herself on ne1
"nerye,' and for fully half an hour
sue bore the situation very philosophi.
cnlly, assuring herself that neIp must
como in some way soon. But her foot
was growing very paiuiul. and the
shadows were growing very deep,
ard her courage was fast ialling her,
when she at last heard footsteps up
Froaching. Presently she saw Mexi
cnn laborer, with spade over his
shoulder, coming around the path.
When he was opposite TO hcs she calico
10 him. He stopped with an erclama
ton Of astonshment, hot when hi
saw her foot, from which she had re
moved the boot, he asked:
"Hurte?-Mucha mao" he added
shaking his head lie listened to he.
explanations with many expressions O.
sympathy, and at It's conclsiou said:
81 so Tor Meesta Smith; we come
pretty quick aad moved away at
remarkable speed or y Alexicar.
1t seemed hours 10 the sufHerin!