The Delta independent., 1898-01-21
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CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER /.
"Wilmot! l say, Wilmot! Let's stop
where we are and wait till it's light.
lIcAlvord's bound to hunt us up in the
morning"
Come ahead. I smell smoke. There
must be some sort of humanity not far
off,"
"Well in heavens name, don't ex-
plore. There never was q blacker night.
And now that we've escaped ornament
ing the Oregon desert with our bones
don't let's run the risk of turnbling of
the mountain into a canyon"
"Come little farther up. hear
child's voice, and moment ago surely
saw light.
They pushed on up the steep trail,
when suddenly child appeared before
them encircled with a wavering light.
They were neither superstitious nor
particularly reyerent young men, but
they drew rein in momentary awe.
However, they SOON discovered that tho
door of q rude hut, which seemed to
cross their bride path, had been opened
BY a very human little hand. A youth
came and stood beside the child, and
young girl looked over its head, while
an old woman came slowly forward
from q seat by the great blazing fire.
They made inquiry for the settle
ment on McAlvord's ranch and found
that it was miles away. Then the old
woman asked them to "put mp their
beasts and stop for the night" and they
were glad to accept.
In another minute the youth was
leading the way, with rickety Ian
tern, to shed for tho horses, ard short
ly after the travellers were within the
hut before . great cracking fire Of fir
logs
"Yo' mus be hungry" said the old
woman. Laurel, git summat fur EN-"
They were hungry. There was no de-
nying the fact. They were sorry to
make trouble, but they would be grate-
full for bit Of food.
'Tain't no trouble" said the grand
mother in slow western speech, with
slow emphasis Of every word. Then she
drew fir wood table from against the
wall and began to make ready for the
meal.
Laurel hung . kettle over the fire,
and when the water boiled she took q
great stick in one hand and stirred it
slowly while sitting through the fingers
Of the other something that shone in
the firelight like dusky gold. The mix
ture sputtered and steamed and sent
forth . most sayory odor. The girl set
the kettle beside the fire and hung an
other in its place. After few moments
she broke some eggs into this latter.
Two or three swift errands back and
forth for the 1.-the young figure, and
the food was upon the table and the
chairs were in place.
Then she turned and with shy cor
diality said: won't yo' set by? 1t be
all ready
was a charm in her gentle voice which,
by some divine magic, made the un-
couth words sound like new, sweet
tongue.
Craymer, now that the danger Of be-
ing lost was passed, inclined to look
upon the scene as q farce enacted for
their entertainment. He looked quizzi-
cally at Wilmot, who arose and thanked
her courteously.
She laid her hand on the better chair.
"This un is fur yo'," she said softly,
and Wilmot accepted it simply.
Craymer's nature was not largo
enough to understand the attitude of
his companion. This was O scene Of
such bare poverty that he could see In
Wilmot's manner nothing more than q
continuation Of the farce. So he waited
In nook gravity, with neither open
smile nor open sneer upon his lips.
The girl looked up in surprise. Then
she made . little motion toward the
other chair. "That thar is yourn," she
said
Craymer sat down after an elaborate
bow, which brought an angry fash