Middletown transcript., 1898-06-04

y
~S~
Jack could observe distinctly the outlines
of the black aUdgoT.
erance was now sure and immediate, but
Jack, on arriving, speedily dissipated
that illusive hope. They could only get
through the gorge by taking off the
wheels of the wagon, placing the axle
on rude sledge runners of split saplings,
which, with their assistance, he would
fashion in a couple of hours at his cabin
and bring down to the gorge. The only
other alternative would be for them to
come to his cabin and remain there
while he went for assistance to the near
est station, but that would take several
hours and necessitate double journey
for the sledge if he was lucky enough to
find one. The party quickly acquiesced
in Jacks first suggestion.
every well, said Jack, "then there's
no time to be lost. Unhitch your horses,
and we'll dig hole in that bank for
them to stand in out of the snow" This
was speedily done. "Now," continued
Jack, "you'll just follow me up to my
cabin. It's a pretty tough climb, but
I'll want help to bring down the run
ners."
Here the man who seemed to be the
head of the party-of middle age and
superior professional type-for the first
time hesitated. ST forgot to say that
there is lady with us-my daughter, "
he began, glancing toward the wagon.
ST reckoned as much" interrupted
Jack simply, "and allowed to carry
her up myself the toughest part of the
way. She kin make herself warm and
conf BILE in the cabin until we've got
the runners ready"
"You hear what our friend says,
Amy?" suggested the gentleman, ap-
pealing to the closed leather curtains of
the wagon.
There was a pause. The curtain was
suddenly drawn aside, and charming
little head and shoulders, furred to the
throat and topped with bewitohing
velvet cap, were thrust out. In the OBJ
scurity little could be seen of the girls
features, but there were certain will
fulness and impatience in her attitude.
Being in the shadow, she had the ad-
vantage of the others, particularly jack,
as his figure was fully revealed in the
moonlight against the snow bank. Her
eyes rested for a moment on his high
boots, his heavy mustache, so long as
to 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 brambles in
the brush, or-more awful than ala
monstrous, shiny specimen" gold ring
encircling one Of his fingers, on the
whisky bottle that shamelessly bulged
from his side pocket, and then-slowly
dropped her dissatisfied eyelids.
"Why can't I stay here?" she said
1anguidly. "It's quite nice and COM
Portable. y
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 shudderingly over this gentleman,
Jack. IT thought the-the gentleman
was going to help u.s. she said dryly.
Nonsense, Amy, you don't under
stand. 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 CO. /
am not afraid"
eyes, but you're alone here, and
something might happen.
Nothing could happen, interrupted
Jack quickly and cheerfully. He had
flushed at first, but he was now consid-
ering that the carrying of lady as ex-
pensively attired and apparently as del
icate and particular as this one might
be somewhat difficult. "There' S nothing
that would hurt you here, T" he continu-
ed, addressing the velvet cap and furred
throat in the darkness, "and if there
was It couldn't get at you, being, SO to
speak, in the same sort of fix as you.
So you're all right, :" he added positive
ly.
Inconsistently 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 replied markedly
to her father. "I'd much 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 the way up So you can see
that everything's all right. Why, saw
you from the first" He stopped ayk-
wardly and added: "Come along. The
sooner we're off the quicker the jobs
over"
Pray don't delay the gentlemen and
the job, said Miss Amy sweetly.
Reassured by Jacks last suggestion
her father followed him with the driver
and the second man Of the party, q
youngish and somewhat undistinotive
individual, but to whose gallant ankle
ties Miss Amy responded effusively.
Nevertheless, the young lady had es-
pecially noted Jacks confession that he
had seen them when they first entered
the gorge. "And ! suppose. 2 she added
to herself mentally, ''that he sat there
with his boozing companions, laughing
and jeering at our struggles. z
But when the sound of her COM
panions' voices died away and their fig
ures were swallowed up in the darkness
behind the snow she forgot all this and
much else that was mundane and frivo-
lous in the impressive and majestic soli-
tude that seemed to descend upon her
from the obscurity above.
At first 1t was accompanied with q,
slight thrill Of vague fear. but this pass.