Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-07-11
isn't il lovely 2"

Isn't it lovely 2"
"Purty as pictur'. There amt
nothin' that lays over an October
sunrise in these mountains. Look at
the mist rising from that cascade
t'other side of the valley. Makes a
raipbow. You kinder take to this
sort O. thing, don't you, Miss Penn
brook z"
ooh, yes, indeed. | am a worship
per at the shrine of nature. One
glimpse of such scenery as this is to
me worth journey across the con-
tinent," and the truth Of Miss Penn
brooks assertion was reflected in
her flushed cheeks and sparkling
eyes.
They we're on horseback, and had
halted on high plateau where the
sunrise and this choice bit of noun
tain scenery bad burst Simultaneous
~ upon their view.
To look at these two riders one
could not avoid the impression that
both were somewhat out of place in
each others society. One was beau
tlful young lady, fresh from the
heart of characterization, with an
unmistakable air OF culture and high
breeding; the other was hardy
miner, whose knowledge of the
world was confined to the wild
mountainous gold regions of Cali
fornia and Nevada. One had slight,
wiliowy form, displayed to good ad-
vantage in a neat-ftting habit of
some rich material the other reveal
ed tall, athletic figure, clad in gar
ments that were coarse and unpre-
tentious, but by no means unbecom-
ing.
They had met by the merest
chance.
A party of tourists from some
Eastern city had stopped for month
in the little town of Blazeaway, and
Miss Pembroke and her parents were
10 the party. Blazeaway ,one year ago
had been nothing more than min
ing camp, but it had grown like a
mushroom IN the night, as it were,
and had become so popular with
travellers end pleasure seekers that a
passible hotel was now one of its
most important institutions In it's
immediate vicinity was some of the
grandest scenery to be found in the
whole range of the Sierra Nevadas,
and this, with it's delightful climate
and many advantages OF location,
was the secret of its attractiveness.
1t so happened that Joe Langdon,
the miner, became the favorite guide
of this particular party on their
SIGHT seeing expeditions, during their
sojourn at Blazeaway. He was a
good looking, big hearted, inteli-
gent fellow, with a certain rough elo.
quence in his speech and manner,
and peculiarly graphic style of re-
lating the legends and anecdotes con-
uected with the points Of interests
that came under their observation.
Strange to say, the proud Miss
Pembroke became deeply interested
in this Joe Langdon, She found him
an entertaining companion, with
views and ideas similar to her own,
if they had only been cultivated, and
she was amused, rather than shocked
by his simple, unpublished language.
He liked poetry, and she read to him
sometimes by the hour, while he lis.
tened with beaming eyes and bated
breath. And while she maryeled
that man SO utterly without cul-
ture and learning, could be fond of
such things, it probably never oc-
Cured to her that it might not be SO
much the poetry as the musical
rhythm of her own sweet voice that
engaged his rapt attention.
At any rate, they we're good
friends, and when the entire male
portion of the excursion party went
off for a two weeks hunt up the Sac
ramento river, Miss Pembroke was
left with little less to amuse herself
with besides this new admirer of
hers. 1t was certainly a great COM
fort to her to have him always GEAR
her, as guide and protector, when
she went beyond the limits of the lit
tie town.
They had risen early this morning
on purpose to see the sunrise. Lang
don having expatiated on the beauty
OF the scene as viewed from certain
point on the mountain, Miss Penn
brook went into raptures over it.
ut is the most beautiful sight /
ever witnessed II she exclaimed again
and again. How good of you to
propose this morning ride, Mr.. Lang
don. You are always thinking of