Middletown transcript., 1903-01-31

veniences. Ours, which is some
what better than most of them
is q two-room cabin, the larger
one used as kitchen and dining
room; the other is where the
miners bunk.
1t is far up in the mountains,
distant from any other habita.
tion except that of the foreman's
! family. This family, by the way,
will furnish lodging for the cook,
and will be almost her only asso.
ciates. Of course, some day we
! will have a Cripple Creek there,
but at present it is very lone
some. Then there is some snow
the greater part of the year,
and very heavy snow much OF
that time. Nothing but groves
of pine and aspen, and stretches
of snow, and mountains and
solitude. How do you like the
prospect?'
"Groves of pine-stretches OF
snow-mountains and solitude.
1t hath a soothing sound after
the continued din of noisy streets
amid the haunts of men. like
the prospect much," said Eliza
beth.
"Why do you think you could
fill such place, and why should
you want to?" he asked.
II think I could fill it because
I am q sensible woman-much
older than you think-and I can
cook, and am not afraid Of work.
And I want to because I love the
mountains, the freedom of them
and the pure air and the peace
and the solitude that is there,
yet l cannot afford to live any
where long without making my
expenses; and because I like to
make a home for somebody, and
/ have no one to make a home
for"
Elizabeth ended a little chok-
ingly, thinking of other days.
The old gentleman looked at
her kindly and understandingly.
Il believe you might du it, and
l have a mind to let you try
though the boys will think I
am crazy when they see you,
I am sure. Do you know-have
you any idea-how much a com
mon-sized miner, say one who
does not happen to be very hun
CRY at the time, can eat at one
sitting?"
II can guess. l have had a
father and five brothers who
have been hungry at one time
or another, and besides, just so
one can cook a thing, one can
always cook more of it,"
Every true," he assented. 81
would advise you to make it a
point to always cook more of it. "
'Then I may go?" she asked,
with a beaming face.
eyes, we will try you, he said.
"Come in in the morning and 1
will have ticket for you. Mean
while, 1 will send word that you
are coming and someone will be
at the terminus of the line to
meet you. You can go to. NOR
row."
eyes, sir"
every well. he said, and bow
ing, he turned abruptly to his
desk.
The two heavy mountain en- |
gines puffed their way slowly |
round curves and over bridges, |
the ascent was 200 feet to the mile |
IN some places. and there were |
eight full coaches behind them;
SO close to the rushing stream at |
times that they seemed to be puff
ting their way over it; through |
narrow, rock-bound gorges; then |
suddenly emerging into a mini
ture valley with widening stream |
and a circle of Mountains all in |
gold and green with the aspen
and pine, and dotted here and
there with patches of snow. It|
was September, and although the
frosts had tinted the aspen, some
Of the harder wild flowers were
still blooming in corners and
crannies Of rocks and around the
pines. The Columbine seemed
bent on out-doing all others in
reward for her exalted position as
state flower, and thrust up her
blue and white by patches of
snow, among the rocks and by
The stream.
1t WAS Elizabeth's first glimpse
into this grand and gorgeous
fairyland, and she enjoyed It with
. tenderfoot enthusiasm. So
much that she could hardly be-
lieve her own ears when the !