The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-17

vi Y strolllng along the
mountain path stop.
~ ped and looked about
her in wonder. On one side rose the
rugged mountain, on the other lay n
deep gorge. Where was the singerp
The question was answered by stall
wart masculine form swinging around
q sharp turn in the pathway just
ahead Of her, and coming TO q sudden
stop. Evidently "maiden iair" was
an unexpected vision on this lonely
mountain trail. The hesitation was
ouly for an instant removing his hat,
he said:
al beg your pardon. The path is go
narrow here I'll 90 back bit," and
he turned. The girl followed him
with an amused smile.
"If it were only the least bit dan.
gerous," she thought, "this would
really be an 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.
Henry Maxon gave one glance over
his shoulder as he again rounded the
corner.
"Well, she is 'winsomo wee thing,
but she must have thought mo an
idiot to stare at her so must be
stopping at the Glen" And lie went
on his way.
The trail, following the curve of the
mountain, formed semicircle; as
Neva Hildreth reached its inncrmost
point, she uttered n cry OF delight; o
tiny canon opened before her, its
rocky sides covered with n dense
growth of brush, moss and ferns
through the branches CLEANED the
white rocks Of II waterless waterfall.
Miss Neva cultivated n passion for
ferns, and she could not pass these by.
Entering the canon, 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.
81 lean so up there just as we'll as not"
she thought; and up she went. On
reaching the higher level another lit.
tie fall was disclosed, and the Wild
confusion OF growth was even more
picturesque.
81 must bring mamma here" mused
the little lady; "lt is one of the most
beautiful spots ] have ever seen, now;
what must it be with the water
tumbling over these rocks!" Taking
a seat on Il stone, she gave herself up
to the contemplation of the beauties
about her.
But reyeries 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 precipitated to the ground
below. Fortunately the distance was
| not great, and after n momentary
shock she picked herself up; but when
she attempted to walk she found that
her ankle had been injured in some
way, and she was compelled to lean
against the bank for support. She
tried again, and managed to make her
way back TO the trail but here she
sank down, faint with pain, and could
go no further. Already the sun had
gone behind the mountain, and though
the opposite hills aud valleys we're still
flooded with light, the shadows were
falling IN the little canon.
Miss Neva suddenly realized that
she was having an adventure, after all.
'lt's quite romantic to sprain ones
ankle, people always do that in
stories, only there can't be many
people passing this way to rescue Inc
that young man stared at me SO
when he saw me. And nobody knows
where am ; mamma was asleep when
l came away. What if there should
be wild anImals?-what was that man
telling about mountain lions ut the
table".
She glanced about her rather ner.
yously, 5ut she prided herself on her
"nerve," and for fully half an hour
she bore the situation very philosophi.
cally, assuring herself that help must
come in some way soon. But her foot
was growing very painful, and the
shadows were growing very deep,
and her courage was fast failing her,
when she at last heard footsteps ap,
proaching. Presently she saw Mexi
can laborer, with spade over his
shoulder, coming around the path.
When he was opposite to her she called
to him. He stopped with an exclama
tion OF astonishment, but when he
saw her foot, from which she had re
moved the boot, he asked:
"Hurta?-Mucha malo," he added
shaking his head. He listened to hei
explanations with many expressions o
sympathy, and at its conclsion said:
81 go for Meesta Smith; We come
pretty quick, aad moved away at
remarkable speed-for Mexican.
1t seemed hours to the suffering
and impatient girl before she agaiI
heard footsteps. This time it was tn,