The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-05-10
A GIRL WHOSE NAME IS FAITH.

A GIRL WHOSE NAME IS FAITH.
On the trail which crosses Sunset
peak from the gold camps of Eagle
and Murray to the mines in Big Horn
gulch is prospect tunnel located I'M
der the name of the Black Dwarf.
In the summer of 1892 two men were
working it and sharing the cabin OF
Undetermined logs that made trifiing
excrescence on the profile of the hill
into which the tunnel of the Black
Dwarf retreated. The senior partner
and more experienced miner OF the
firm was big, valiant, hilarious Irish
man. Mike MCGOWAN, a man of his
hands, vet not disdaining weapons; the
other was a young gentleman OF pre-
possessing appearance and uncertain
antecedents, who had come into the
partnership rather on the strength OF
a small capital than of his muscle. Mike
called him little Darcie;" but this
must bsSundsing lod as term OF en-
dearmA 81. lrcie's inches were as
many ~ Nh. per though his pounds
avoirdufpSooiiss We're Y Re fewer.
Mike had learned that his partner was
OF OCOlllSu anu Ill llGh SNuNo
lion, and that he had travelled in vari-
Gus parts of the world. He was easy
tempered, and clever in ways in which
Mike had the skill of a bear; but he
was slack about camp work and clean
ing up after meals. Mixes acquain-
tances said he was too tony" for a
miner. People called him Darcie be-
cause he seemed to expect it; but doubts
were entertained in cautious circles as
to it's being his name, or all of it
caution, not to say suspicion, being the
common attitude in the summer OF 1892
of persons who were not sure OF one
another's sympathies and business in
the Occur d'Alene.
The situation of the Black Dwarf is
exceedingly shy. The crypt-dark en-
trance to the tunnel gives upon mar
row ledge formed by an excavation OF
the hill; the trail crosses this ledge.
after diving down toward it with ex-
IRENE and slippery suddenness, between
the tunnel mouth and the dump. From
above or from below the humble plant
is equally invisible; but all travellers
by the old trail know of the Black
Dwarf, and on the last night Of June
closing in thunderous and wild with
rain, two riders, overtaken on their way
from Canon Creek, came knocking a
the door of the cabin.
Imagine the CONSERVATION, delight
embarrassment and concern of the two
hosts of the Black Dwarf when it wa.
seen that one of their guests was til,
lovely young lady of the Big Horn, ant
that her first imperative need, after
shelter from the storm, was a tota
change of clothing.
She stood beside her father, the man
ager of the famous Big Horn-a com
monplace man who borrowed his i'm
portance from the mine-in front O
the fire which MCGOWAN was heapint
with fuel, while Darcie, the only mem
Der of the firm possessed of trunk
searched wildly among its contents TO
any garment remotely suggestive o
the needs and proportions of nymph
like girl. Her glowing cheeks told OF
rough encounter with the wind an
rain, her eyes beamed intelligence an
mirth, her lips smiled pleasure an
, sympathy and appreciation. She wa
an adorable girl.
In despair Darcie placed at her dis
posal his entire wardrobe, including hi
boots, and she made clever selection O
d Turkish bathrobe, a red and whit
Navajo blanket for drapery and a Sc
of deplorable f1annels which Mistres
Mallory, of Gem, had soaped an
punched and kneaded till no vestige re
,,,o;,.ol &c +la;,~ ri oil cize n
condition.
Its better than going to bed, like
naughty child" laughed the girl. St
rescued the situation from much of il
awkwardness by her lightness of touc
and her practical, womanly franknes
which rather abashed the more CONVEX
tional young Briton, while her beaut
and girlish rapture in the nights az
venture quite went to his head.
Mike, in a trice,. rugged rope acro
the low, far end of the cabin, and strun
upon it line of camp blankets, to mai
dressing-room for the lady, who +
tired to her bower as damp as Undin
and as gay, but to modern Hildebrar
more enhancing because so entire
human.
Meantime, in the mems part of Il
cabin most distressing complicatie
was waxing to a crisis. Mike was coo
ing supper, sitting on his heels in fro
OF the mud hearth, with his old hat {
his head, taking it off occasionally
use it as holder, in shifting his sauc
pans over the Goals. Darcie was layiI
the table in high ecstasy, brought
earth only by the discovery that the
was no more butter. and tv renew