The Washington herald., 1906-12-16

Il was the first grateful spot they had
seen In hours a brook fed by the SHOWS
above formed pool in the hollow, and
then. overlooking it, dropped down the
mountain But in this sheltered
nook and around the life-giving water
green grass was growing. and there was
a rim Of gOOdly trees. The horses, wheh
their riders dismounted. grazed eagerly,
and the riders themselves lay upon the
grass and ate with deep content.
Sylvia talked little. She seemed Thought
ful, and. when neither OF them was look
ing. she glanced now and then at Harley
and King Plummer. Had they no
ticed they would have seen a shade OF
sadness on her face. Mr. Plummer did
not speak. and 1t was because there was
a growing anxiety in his mind He was
sorry now that they had let Sylvia come
and he silently called himself a weak
fool
shall we reach Crows Wing by dark?'
asked the candidate of the guide.
Jim had risen. and. standing at the
edge OF the cove, was gazing out over
the rolling sea OF mountains Harley
noticed troubled look on his face.
IF things go right we kim he replied.
but I amt shore that things will go
right"
What do you mean2''
DO you see that brown spot down
there In the southwest. Just atop the
hills? waal. it's a cloud. an It's comm
this way. Clouds you know, always
hev somethin' in en-"
THAT Is to say we shall have rain,
said the candidate. Let il come. We
have been rained on too often to mind
such a little thing-eh, Sylvia? You see.
take you at your word
Il don't tiuk I'm be rain, said the
guide I'VE are so high up here that
mOre'n likely it'n be snow. An when
there's a snowstorm In the mountains
you can't go climbin along the side o
cliffs
The others, too, looked grave now Per
haps. with the exception Of king
Plummer they had not foreseen such a
difhculty, but the guides came to their
relief with more cheering words-after
all. the cloud might not continue TO
grow. "an' II amt worth while TO holler
afoTe were hit"
This seemed sound philosophy to the
others, and. dismissing their cares, they
started again. much refreshed by their
stop in the little cove. The road now
grew rougher. the guiue leading and the
I
ahead Of Harley BY and by their cares
returned. Harley glanced toward the
southwest and saw there the same CLOUD,
but now much bigger. blacker, and more
threatening. The sunshine was gone. and
the wrinkIed surface OF the mountains
was gray and somber. The air had grown
/ cold. and down among the clefts there
was a weird. moaning wind. Harley
glanced at the guide. and noticed that
4 his face was now decidedly anxious. But
the correspondent said nothing. Part Of
+ his strength lay In his ability to wait.
and he knew that the guide would speak
I in good time
Don't any Of you be discouraged be-
| cause Of me" said Sylvia. I'm not afraid
/ Of storms-even snowstorms. Am l not
a good mountaineeT, daddy
/ The king" nodded his head. He knew
/ that she was a better mountaineer than
any in the party except the guide and
/ hinlself. and he felt less alarm for heI
/ than was in the mind OF Grayson or Har-
/ ley
But Harley was thrilled by her courage
/ Here amid these wild mountains. with
/ the threat Of darkness and the storm. she
was unafraid and stiH FEMININE. This
/ Is a woman to be won was his unutter-
{ ed thought
! Another hour passed. and the air grew
darker and colder Then Jim stopped.
! Gentlemen he said, there's a snow
storm comm soon. I didn't expect ons
I 50 early. even on the mountains, be-
it's comm. anyhow, an If We keep Oh
for Crows Wing they'll have 20 dig oul
bones out o. the meltln' drifts next sum
meT. We've got TO Inake for Queer
! City"
Queen City" exclaimed Mr Heath
cote Il didn't know there was anothel
town anywhere near here"
Shes e-standin' all the same re
piled the guide. brusQuely, 'an' I woul'
not hev started on the trip to Crow
/ Wing II there hadn't been such a stoppin
place betwixt an between. in case O
trouble with the weather. An let m
whisper TO you, Queen Citys quite
sizable place. Wen pass the nigh
there It's got a fine hotel, the finest an
biggest I'm the mountains.
He looked grimly al Mr. Heathcote. a
much as to say. ASK me as much NOR
as you please, but I'll answer you moth
ing" Then he added, gIanciug at Syl
via.
It's a wild night for a gal"
But you said that the biggest and fin
, est hotel in the mountains was waitin
for me-" replied Sylvia. with spirit.
The guide bowed his head admiringly
and said no more.
Something cold and damp touched Har
! ley's cheek. He looked up and anOthe
/ fake OF snow, descending softly, set
tied upon his face The clouds role
over them. heavy and dark and shu
, out al the mountains save a little islam
where they stood The snow, followiE
/ the first few flakes, fell softly but rap
. idly.
ITS Queen City or molderin' in tn
E drifts tin next summer cried jim. an
he turned his horse into a side path Th
others followed without a word. willin
= to accept his guidance through the great
Z est peril they had yet faced in an arduou
campaign. Despite the danger. which b
= knew 10 be heavy and pressing, and h
anxiety for Sylvia, Harley's curiosity va
r aroused. and he wished 70 ask more {
al Queen City but the saturnine face {
the guide was not inviting. Nevertheless
2 he risked one question.
s How far is this place, Queen City?
s he asked.
e Bout two miles" replied Jim, wit
n what seemed to Harley a derisive gril
e "an it's tarnal lucky for us that it
Y so near"
n Harley said no more, but he was sa
5 isfied with nothing in the guides rep
: save the fact that the town was on
8 two miles away. any shelter would
g welcome. because he saw now that
y snowstorm on the wild mountains ";
a terrible thing.
o The guide led on; Jimmy Grayson, wit
d bent head. followed; Mr.. Heathcot
: shrunk in his saddle came next; the
= king Plummer, and after him Sylv
d and Harley. who were as nearly side
/ side as the narrow path would permit.
|. 1T won't be far. Miss Morgan" sa