The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-02-12

.foat % lltile cabin. nesting at
the foot Of a great mountain. and
facing a level stretch Of sandy plain.
dotted with ciumpa 81 saEr brush.
A. | dismounted saw coming
slowly tosara me the figure 81 :
man Ills long hair aud longer
beard Nefe snowy white. and hla
tall form was bent. a. With the
weight q years.
I asked permission to stay all
night lie readily assantei. and led
the way into the cabin. where be
soon prepared supper
when the table had been cleared
away. eonfidrd 10 him my mania
for prospecting. aiiil persistent
after years of fruitlsaa efforts %
strike II rich
"A mania you call 81" be said
"and FiKhtiy. too. a. are all other
furma of oHr greed fef gold. Cod
knows n one can realize this truth
more bitterly than I
Eighteen years aEo this month ]
discovered a rich ledge. bearing gold
and silver. up the mountain aide
ahout a mile had high hopes and
worked hard. for I paasrsssd the
mlEhtleat Incentive that can nerve
man 10 srest a foftane from fats
a iaslns little woman back IN
New England awaited my return
For name time I worked AZ man
- - $500 aass4H
hopes Aa sure rnias nut I Saa Hoou
forced 20 the conclusion that ] mus'
have assistance aud machinery q
develop ny mine. one day set ou'
on foot across the mountain IL
search az aomrone who would al.
vance the necessary capital UpuH
reaching town ! sent straight q
the pestoffice. Nhsre, a. ! expected
I found a letter from my sweetheart
4 ned not tell yaB that my isftei
contained a story a. old az love
itself the STORY ~ woman's faith
ieNanezs.
-Fof a long. long time lay Il
my little bunk yoada9 praYing Fl
death. and then there grew In M
mind the suggestion 81 suicide.
4 sut 40 At last. and DRAGGED ny
nsis outalAs the cabln Sitting II
the sunshine. ! lifted my eyes 10 ID.
westward. and then leaped 60 IA
feet shouting fnr insane SOY. 4
great bank 81 gray clouds lay Almaa
touching the mountain topa
You noiicsd thls evening III
level stretch ~ plain 70 the east
ward Thn plli Ia a loose hEht sand
ana the terrific winds which ocra
sinnallY sweep down over The noun
tains play rad prauks With r. Orsa
hills aud holiowH are piled up ans
aononnd out. familiar landmarks ar
ohiiterat@i. and new unea uncovered
In the bank % clouds ! naw tn
promise Of one % these pariodii
storms. and like an inspiration
90 my mutdlrd brain came the idsl
% fanhinning myself q grave II
which I rnuld lie down allowing III
wind % wrap mo deeply in n wind
Ing sheet % sand
It waant far. Just out yonder. 3
the fnui Of a giant saKehush that
chose the spot Tor my grave.
work 81 rapidly. pausinK for an ocea
aioual rpaaaurinK glance At the hAnl
~ clouds / had scooped out the san
60 depth ~ perhaps three Zee
when the point ~ nv spade unsx
peciedly came IN contact with
hard surface { knsa that the san
vas from 10 10 - feet deep. aus
that Il VAS impossible that coui,
have reached h~irock 40 Cloae q
the surface A few moments Vufl
clsarcd away tho Intervening san
disclosing a flat. round rock Usnl
my spade "a a pry. I lifted the roel
slowly from It's resting place, an
perhaps you can imagine my sur
prise when sncuvered the darl
mouth Of a yell I secured a pitei
stick from tho cabin for a torch. an
returned 70 fallaw this new lead Il
its coneluslon. Al the bottom % tn
well. on one side. Was a small open
iug
Scattered about the floor wer'
rude implements Of stone. specimen
OF primitive pottery small Jars
covered and uncovered = bows an.
arrows Of Rnyly painted wood. ar
ROW heads and apear points
knew At once that I was standing II
an ancient indian grave. and VA
not surprised 20 see three grinninl
skeletons In one corner.
4 turned again. In idle curiosity
tn the pottery Pushing of tht
cover Of the Jar nearest me. eau
tiously thrust my hand into ths
mouth. and lifted q full % the Hight
and then I dropped upon my knees