The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-03-03
by X. C. PITZER.

THE red sun had disappeared behind
| the range, and the narrow gulch
was filled with shadows before Everett
gave up. Then he sat down on
bowlder and wiped the sweat from
his face.
It's on me-" he said, ruefully, as he
threw his sketch-book aside. They
told me not to get among the pines.
Oh. yes, | knew it all, of course.
couldn't possibly get lost with the
town right below me all the time. OF
course not. Here | am, though-heaven
knows where-a good many miles
from nowhere, and night is falling.
1t will be pleasant; it will be decidedly
pleasant"
He leaned back and made a vim
dictive kick at the sketch-book. A
breeze ran through the wooded hills,
and the murmuring pines lifted their
voices into a solemn evensong. Far
away, an owl hooted, and the scream
OF night hawk answered from near
at hand Everett shivered and stood
up.
4 must so on" he said doggedly.
This creek runs somewhere, and it's
= Zip to me to follow it,"
Ee started with bowed head, but
he had not gone far before he stopped,
and his fact lighted up.
BY Jove!" he exclaimed, "a path!
I'm all right, after all. Some one lives
up there in the woods
The path was old and worn, and
rains had washed it down into the
Garth, while here and there grass and
weeds INSTRUCTED it, but it did not look
entirely deserted. Beneath the trees,
dusk had already settled, and the tall,
straight trunks, unobstructed by
brushwood, stretched away on all sides
into the shadows. -
For a time Everett went along
cheerfully enough, but soon the melan-
choly of twilight began to take possess
sion of him, and he felt the sombre
influences of the forest, the murmur
of the wind in the needles overhead,
and the distant cries of the night
birds. He stopped moment and drew
long breath.
1T feels eerie in here" he muttered,
land lonesome. By George! l didn't
know that was so tired!" In fact,
he suddenly discovered that his body
ached, and that his brain was ex-
hausted; so exhausted that, for an
instant, film gathered before his
eyes, and he heard loud buzzing in
his ears. He sat down and leaned
against a pine.
Il wonder where they live" he solil-
oGuized. Seems funny that anybody
would want to live in this place, but
there's no accounting for tastes"
AS ne thought this he heard Il low
whistle ahead of him, and listened
Yes, there it was again; some one was
climbing the path above him. Everett
started up, and soon caught sight of a
shadowy form fitting before him
through the dusk The whistle
stopped, and a girls voice began to
sing-a melodious Groom, of which the
words were barely distinguishable.
"O-hoo-ho!" Everett called, in the
long-drawn-out cry of the hills won't
you wait for me, please? I'm lost"
The girls voice did not falter; she
seemed wrapped in some pleasing
dream, and her low song fioated gent
ly to the tourists ear
Voice of the night-wind, mournfully
stealing,
Oft have L listened for thee
''O-ho!" Everett called again. I'm
lost! Won't you wait for me?"
Say, hast thou been where blossoms of
Eden
Kiss the bright fountains
wait! Wait! Can't you hear me ?
Are you deaf?"
The singers voice died away into 81
lence, but she went straight on.
Don't be frightened" Everett con-
tinued, encouragingly. I'm a tourist.
came out from the springs this after
noon, and lost myself"
The girls voice rose again in low
chant:
I'm the heart of the forest primaeval-
Drimaeval-
Where the moon never hallows the
night,
BIZ the Slack-fiowing river