The Portland daily press., 1899-09-25


she reached tie top OF the hill was almost
out OF breath. zeb had gone out Of sight
down the mountain. She tried to call bis
name, but her utteran,'c was only a whis-
per. But at last she managed to call:
"Oh, Zebp'
The breeze blew the echo OF her own
tones back into her face. Tears gushed
from her eyes, and she sank down upon
the roadside to sob away her sudden
heartsickness.
The clouds began to gather, and at mid.
night rain began 10 fall Ia torrents. BY
dawn the waters Of the Tuckasiege were
high between its banks, and the boom
loggers were busy with their RATS. but
Zeb Norton, their former foreman, was
not among them.
Six years had slipped away. Nance
Hooper still lived with her father in the
cabin on the side Of the mountain. She
still went out each evening to call the
hogs at the head Of the ravine, and In
her heart she still lived the old love and
deep regret. Zeb Norton had never been
heard of since his sudden disappearance.
Gold had been discovered on the Tucka-
siege and the community was wild with
excitement But what seemed unfortu-
nate TO the prospectors was that the rich
vein had been discovered on land belong
ing to one Zeb Norton, whose where
abouts were unknown. They feared to
proceed with mining operations without
first having secured lease of some kind
and since this could not be obtained from
the owner the enterprise was at a stand
still.
Half a year passed by. One day a
passenger stepped from the morning train
which stopped at Dollsboro and stood
with his hands rarnmed down into his
pockets. He was dressed in the style OF
a westerner. A wide brimmed sombrero
rested on his head, and a heavy brown
mustache ornamented his upper lip. For
moment be gazed all around him.
It's not exactly like ii used to be,
though II amt much changed either" he
muttered as he picked up his valise and
walked toward little boarding house
few yards away. 1t was noon. and the
traveller was hungry. Meeting the land
lady at the entrance, he gave her a so
cent piece and asked the way to tho
dining room.
After dining the stranger spent several
hours in wandering about the village
Late In the afternoon he suspended his
vailse on stout staff, which he rested
on his shoulder and set of up the river
road afoot. Ever and anon, as he tramp.
ed along the highway he would stop AZ
some high point and gaze away across
the hills and valleys.
Just like they used to be, all just the
same, he would usually mutter as he
turned away and continued his journey.
AT last he reached the highest point IN
the road where 1t turned down the moun.
tain on the other side toward the river.
just the same" he said. There's not
even change in the road Wonder IL
Mark Hooper lives there yet" he con-
tinued as he looked toward the cabin off
to the right.
A little farther along he turned away
from the road and walked slowly down to
where the fence crossed the rayine. Here
ne seated himself on an old, fast decay
ing stump, allowing the staff and the
valise to carelessly slip from his Shout
ders- Then, pushing his sombrero back
upon his head he locked his fingers across
his knee and gazed away through the
opening over the rayine. 1t was almost
shutdown, and there were few clouds In
the sky.
Just the same" he muttered again.
after few moments silence. EVERY
thing just as it was. / wonder il Nance
did,
He closed his lips tightly against fur
ther utterance. There seemed to be sud
den breaking loose of something which
had been long tied up in his breast.
AT last he rose, and, shouldering his
staff and yalise, started back to the road.
And just as he turned his back toward
the cabin Nance came out with her apron
full of vegetables for the hogs, and came
on slowly down the path toward the
fence.
The traveller, who had walked on with
out looking backward, had scarcely dis.
appeared beyond turn in the road when
his ears caught the sounds:
Pig g-pig-oo-ehw as Nance called
the hogs.
Again the staff and valise slipped from
his shoulder, and, with his hands ram
med down into his pockets, he listened,
while his heart beat heavily against his
breast
AT last he turned about and slowly
retraced his steps, leaving his baggage
where it had fallen in the middle of the
road. He approached within a few feet
Of Nance before he stopped. Then, steady
ing his voice as well as he could, he called
her name.
Nance suddenly turned about and gaz-
ed upon the tall form of the westerner
Then, bursting into tears, she dropped
her apron and impulsiyely sprang toward
him.
"Oh, Zebl" she cried through her tears.
81 didn't mean it; you know / didn't
oh, why did you go awayT
Zeb caught her in his arms, and for O
few moments there was sweet silence.
Nance" said Zeb at last, II never
could think of loving anybody but you.
But when l came back to look after that
gold mine didn't expect to find such
jewel as this waiting for me. 1t appears
like / am mighty rich all of a sudden
"Ain't half as rich as / am now, Zeb,
for I've got you back again." and, reach
ing up, she took his rough cheeks between
her palms and kissed him under his big
mustache.-Chicago Record.
What sIeepIessness Means.