The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-08-13

Jason Gazed IN Stupid Wonder.
slow and uncertain. But in January
Jason reached Colorado.
Fooisore and weary. but with the
bright vision OF his Princess Mildred
before him, he was limping across the
foothills. The air was bitterly cold
but dry. and not the faintest breeze
was stirring Before him the cold,
gray mountains pressed their snow.
capped peaks against the cloudless
blue. The sunshine fell with uncom-
mon brilliancy. and the atmosphere
was 80 transparent that objects iifty
miles away appeared scarcely as many
rods.
OF a sudden he felt a sharp pain on
hia face az though be had been stung
BY bee. Again and again he expert
enced the painful sensation. although
not an insect could be seen. Then he
noticed that a mist was swiftly hiding
the mountains from his sight A
breeze sprung Up aud the air became
a dazzling mass Of scintilaung par
ueles like diamond dust
Jason paused and gazed with fran
tic, startled eyes. he knew that the
dreaded white Death was wrapping
It's chilling Hhroud around him. lie
had heard old miners tell Of the
white Death" and he knew the glis-
tening fragments Ia the air were par
ficlea Of ice 90 soiidly frozen that they
reach ones lungs before they melt He
knew that deadly pneumonia inyari-
ably claims the luckless traveller who
inhaies the breath Of the "White
Death"
But although frantically he Eazed
around him. there was no habltation
visible. no building in which shelter
could Be sought He wanted 70 cry
out "a bis agony. but be dare not open
bis mouth for fear the Ice would an
his lungs He took a greasy bandana
Handkerchief from his pocket and tied
it across his mouth.
Then 20 his ag0nized eye8 there
came from out the mist the figure OF
a girl The features were those Of his
Princess Mildred and she seemed to
teekon him He followed her and she
led him TO a deep ravine.
Weak and exhausted. he flung him
self over the edge and rolled down the
bank The rayine led upward to a
chaam in the side Of the mountain.
from out Of which a small stream
flowed. Staggering onward. Ne finally
pulled himself into che chasm ana
found shelter under projecting ledge
Piling a quantity Of loose powders
across the entrance. he soon had
snug retreat into which the ice-laden
breeze could not enter. Then be lay
down 20 rest
IL was daylight when he awoke and
the air was clear. He felt no evil e.
fects Of the storm and was about 70
continue on his journey when his eye
was attracted hy a brilliant glitter In
the tiny stream. Failing upon bis
knees. be pcered into the crystal wa
ter. Directly below him a hollow had
been worn IN the rock by the current
The bottom OF this pocket was lined
with gold dust
Jason gazed IN stupid wonder for
several moments. then a mist dared
bis eyes and a wild exhilaration pos
sesscd him Clambering down the
rocks he grcedily scraped the gold
dust into his handkerchief and then
cautiously withdrew
A week later he yFas az work with
pick and shovel and pan. searching for
the lode from which these particles
had been washed. And one evening
the light OF the setting sun fell upon
him. picking great mug GETS out Of a
ledge bis pick had penetrated, and
laughing hysterically.
And that IS how Jason located the
famous Princess Aiildrcn Mine.
man and a woman stood under the
naples. The man was holding both OF
the womans hands and bis eyes and
the moonlight were looking down into
her upturced face.
"You have been 60 long returning.
Jason she said. "knd did you find
no gold9a
The man tangled bis hand ID her
hair and held G. out in the moCnlisht
yes De answered her. at last
have found the brightest cold on
earth. See. Il is dripping through my
fingers You shall have a marble pai-
ace IN the midst Or 3 thousand acres
my Princess Mildred. and Il shall face
% the north where the Polar Star
hangs forever 10 the heavens
The woman plucked q violet and
pinned Il on his coat. and be Kissed
her happy eyes