Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-12
CHAPTER V.
UP SKIPLAP CANYON


 The meal was ending in smoke, the women, excepting Miss Milbrey, having lighted cigarettes with the men. The talk had grown less truculently sec. tional. The Angstead twins told of their late fishing trip to Lake St. John for salmon. of projected tours to Brit ish Columbia for mountain sheep, and to Manitoba for elk and moose.E !.
 MT. Milbrey .descdbedaIith minute and loving particularly the prepara- tion of aeufs de Faisan, avec beure au champagne.
 Mrs Milbrey related an anecdote of New York society, not much in itself, but which permitted the disclosure that she habitually addressed by their first names three of the foremost SO ciety leaders, and that each of these persohages adopted like familiarity toward her.
 Mrs. Drelmer declared that she meant to have Uncle Peter Zines at one of her evenings the very first time he should come to New York, and that if he didn't let her know of his com ing she would be offended.
 Oldaker related an incident of the ball given to the prince of Wales, trav- cling as Baron Renfrew, on the even- ing of October 12, 1860, in which his father had figured briefly before the royal guest to the abiding credit of American tact and gentility.
 Shepler was amused until he became sleepy, whereupon he extended the freedom of his castle to his guests and retired to his stateroom.
 Uncle Peter took a final shot at oldaker. He was observed to be laugh ing. and inquiry brought this:
 "I jest couldn't help snickerin' over his idee of Gods own country. He thinks Gods own country is a little strip of an island with a row of we'll fed folks up and down the middle, and a lot of hungry folks on each side. Mebbe he's right. I'll be bound, it needs the love of God. But if it is His own country. 1t don't make Him any connysoor of countries with me. I'll tell you that"
 Oldaker smiled at this assault. the well-bred, tolerant smile that loyal New Workers reserve for all such bar barrie belittling of their empire. Then he politely asked Uncle Peter to show Mrs. Drelmer and himself through the stamp mill.
 Al Pereival's suggestion of a walk. Miss Milbrey was delighted.
 After an inspection of the Zines car. in which oldaker declared he would be willing to live forever. if 1t could be anchored firmly in Madison square. the party separated.
 Out into the clear air. already cool ing under the slsnting rays of the sun. the young man and the girl went to- gether. Behind them lay the one street of the little mining camp. with it's wooden shanties on either side of the railroad track. Down this street Uncle Peter had gone. leading his ehsrges toward the busy ant-hilI on the noun tain-sids. Ahead the track wound ID the canyon. cunningly follouing the tortBogs course of the little river to be sure of practicable grades. On the farther side of the river a mounfais road psralleIed the railway Vp this road the two vent followed y play fuI zimonition from Mrs- MilbTsy- -Remenbsr. Mr. Binez- I place ny child in your keeping Pereivzl waved conscientious about his charge and insisted at Ones upon icing assured that Mss Milbrsy would te wsru enough with the sczrist golf szpe ahoat her shoulders. that she -ss zsed to paIkInz long dista1ces, that Der boots were s1o1tly solsd- and that she disn-t ziud the szn ia thsir fsrss- The xiri azkhed d hi2