The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-27
THE ADVERTISERS # # M .x # DAILY SHORT STORY.Si /
(Copy right. 1soo by Daily Story Publishing co)

"Aeh "iSIhui eyeS anu gOloeh CurllS, standing under the naples, with the moonlight kissing her upturned face.
 Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out dirty wallet from whence he took faded violet. He pressed the blossom to his lips, then staggered to his feet and strode away through the night.
 When one has no money travelling is slow and uncertain. But in January Jason reached Colorado.
 Footsore and weary. but with the bright vision of his Princess Mildred before him. he was limping across the foothills. Ele 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 so transparent that objects fifty miles away appeared scarcely as many rods.
 Of sudden he felt a sharp pain on his face as though he had been stung by a bee Again and again he experi- 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 and the air became l dazzling mass of scintilating par ticles like diamond dust.
 Jason paused and gazed with fran | tic. startled eyes. He knew that the | dreaded White Death" was wrapping its chilling shroud around him. He | had heard old miners tell of the White l Death" and he knew the glistening | fragments in the air were particles of | hot nh ones lungs before they melt. He knew that deadly pneumonia invariably claims the luckless traveller who in- hales the breath of the White Death" But although frantically he gazed around him, there was no habitation visible. no building in which shelter | could be sought. He wanted to cry out in his agony. but he dare not open | his mouth for fear the ice would fill his lungs. He took a greasy bandana handkerchief from his pocket and tied it across his mouth.
 Then to his agorized eyes, there came from out the mist the figure of girl. The features were those of his Princess Mildred. and she seemed to beckon 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 ravine led upward to a chasm in the side of the mountain from out of which a small stream flowed. Staggering onward. he finally | pulled himself into the chasm enc found shelter under a projecting ledge
 Filling @ quantity of loose powders across the entrance. he soon had z snug retreat into which the ice-lader breeze could not enter. Then he laS | down to rest.
 It was daylight when he awoke ait the air was clear. He felt no evil eff. fleets of the storm and was about tC continue on his journey when his eye was attracted by a brilliant glitter ir the tiny stream. Falling upon his | knees he peered into the crystal wa. ter. Directly below him a hollow ha4 been worn in the rock by the current The bottom of this pocket was Fl et with gold dust.
 Jason gazed in stupid wonder fol several moments, then a mist daxet eyes and wild exhilara tion possessed him. Clambering down the rocks kt greedily scraped the gold dust into Iii: handkerchief, and then cautiously withdrew.
 A week later he was at work witt pick and shovel and pan. searching fol ae lode from which these part .cle: had been washed. And one evening tn, light of the setting sun fell upon him picking great nuggets out of laigt his pick had penetrated, and laugh. in hysterically.
 And that Is how Jason located tn, famous Princess Mildred Mine.
 A man and a woman stood under tht naples. The man was holding both O the woman's hands, and his eyes ant the moonlight were looking down intt her upturned face.
 You have been so long returning Jason" she said. And did you fnc no gold?"
 The man tangled his hand in he hair and held it out In the moonlight
 Yes" he answered her, "at last have found the brightest gold on earth You shall have marble palace in th, midst of a thousand acres, my Prin cess Mildred. and 1t shall face to tn, north where the Polar Star hangs fer ever in the heavens.
 The woman plucked violet and rin ned 1t on his coat, and he kissed he happy eyes.