Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21

tie head and shoulders furred to the
throat and topped with bewitching velvet
cap, were thrust out. In the obscurity lit
tie could be seen of the girls features. but
thence IN her attitude. Being in the
shadow, she had the advantage of the
others. particularly Jack, as his figure was
fully revealed in the moonlight against the
snow bank. Her eyes rested for moment
on his high boots, his heavy mustache so
long as 10 mingle with his unkempt locks
which fell over his broad shoulders, on his
huge red hands streaked with black grease
from the wagon wheels, and some blood,
stanched with snow, drawn from bruises in
cutting out brambes in the brush, or-more
awful than ala monstrous, shiny "speci-
men gold ring enclrcling one of his
fngers-on the whisky bottle that shame
lessly bulged from his side pocket, and
then-slowly dropped her dissatisfied eye
lids.
why can't 1 stay here?" she said, Ian
guidly. Its quite nice and comfortable -
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 stuGderingly over this gentleman
Jack. Il thought the-the gentleman was
going to help U.s." she said dryly.
Nonsense, Amy. you don't understand.
This gentleman is kind enough to offer to
make some sledge runners for us at his
cabin, and we must help him."
But can stay here while you go. I am
not afraid"
Yes. but you're alone here-and some
thing might happen"
Nothing could happen" Interrupted Jack
quickly and cheerfully. He had flushed at
first, but he was now considering that the
carrying of a 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 1t couldn't get at We, bein, so to
speak, in the same sort o. fix as you. So
you're all right" he added positively.
Inconsistency enough, the young lady did
not accept this as gratefully as might have
been imagined, but Jack did not see the
slight flash of her eye as ignoring him, she
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
things all right. Why, I saw you from the
first" He stopped awkwardly and added,
Come along, the sooner we're of the
quicker the jobs over
Pray don't delay the gentleman and the
job" said Miss Amy, sweetly.
Treasured by Jacks last suggestion her
father followed him with the driver and the
second man of the party, a youngish and
somewhat undistinctive individual, but to
whose gallant anXieties Miss Amy respond
ed effusively. Nevertheless the young lady
had especially noted Jacks confession that
he had seen them when they first entered
the gorge. "And 1 suppose she added to
herself, mentally, that he sat there with
his boozng companions, laughing and jeer-
ing at our struggles"
But when the sound of her companions'
voices died away, and their figures were
swallowed up in the darkness behind the
Snow, she forgot all this. and much else
that was mundane and frivolous in the inn
pressive and majestic 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 passed
presently into that profound peace which
or perturbed children. 1t seemed to her
that nature was never the same on the
great plains, where man and cities ALWAYS
doomed into such ridiculous proportions
when the Great Mother raised herself ia
comfort them with smiling hills!des, OF
encompassed them and drew them close in
the loving arms Of mountains The long