The Meeker herald., 1908-05-23
LIES ASPIRATIONS
BY ANNA HELLMAN


| naturedly; her sister Henrietta said:
wait until Bob Hobson comes out OF
the west. The girls were perfectly
wild about him last year"
Robert Hobson was not a man who
was easily daunted. and he had not
weathered two strikes in Cripple
Creek without learning little diplo-
macy. But the training OF four years
was not to be broken up In a few days.
nor weeks. as he discovered. And the
next month he went back to Colorado
alone, in anything but cheerful
frame OF mind.
Allies father expostulated mildly
once or twice. and her sister Henri
eta lectured her soundIy, for she
knew that 1t was not every day that
the right man falls in love with q girl.
Henrietta's handsome young hus-
band had closed his eyes forever on
this world during the springtime of
their lives. and although electing to
travel life's journey henceforth alone.
she desired for her sister the happi-
ness that had been hers for 80 brief
II period.
After Roberts departure Allie did
not appear to find the usual pleasure
in her various fads. Somehow they
seemed less important than formerly.
and her plans for remodeling the
world were In danger OF falling
through. when one day as she returned
from delivering lecture on Higher
Ethics before the Ladies' Aid society
her father entered the room with
newspaper in his hand and asked her
II she could be brave.
Instinctively her thoughts flew to
Robert, and she held out shaking
hand for the paper.
1t contained short article with
glaring headlines, telling that the
mining camp of Cripple Creek, Col.
had been almost entirely destroyed by
fire. Several lives had been lost and
many lay at the point of death.
The fire department had proved In
adequate to contend with the flames.
and the miners had turned out bravely
to help. One. the superintendent OF
the Anaconda mine, by the name OF
Robert Hobson, while trying to rescue
some children from the second story
of the Palace hotel, had fallen through
and was carried out almost lifeless.
My God, save him and forget me-"
Sasped the girl. sinking to the floor
and burying her face in the couch.
A moment later she was on her
feet again: her eyes heavy miserable.
but resolutc.
Father. | am going to start for Col
,lytf h
me. Henrietta will"
And Henrietta did. In few hours
they were in a Pullman on a west
bound train. They left 1t for stage
at picturesque Manitou on the morn
ing of the third day. but Allie had no
eyes for the grandeur Of the noun
tains; the long journey was tragedy
to her
All day long the stage. going At
moderate pace. BETTING the severe
grades of the primitive road, literally
climbed into the recesses of the Rock
les: traversed deep canyons. and
chung to narrow shelves cut on the
side of the rocky barrier. Toward
evening 1t dashed noisily down the
side OF a steep mountain and rolled
into charred, blackened, smoldering.
forsaken-looking place. with only
few isolated cabins left to mark the
once hourishing town OF Cripple
Creek.
In the tent which served for tho
stage office. the sisters learned where
the invalids were being cared for, and
thither they went. When they
reached the entrance OF the shack Al
lie sank down on the rough step. II
cannot go another step. Henrietta"
she said
1t was not necessary. for just at
that moment the door opened. and on
the threshold stood a tall young man
with bandage across his forehead. =
scar on one cheek, and his right arm
in sIng-a pitiful.looking object
truly.
Allie sprang to her feet Bob"
she cried.
Henrietta strolled away to inspect
the ruins.
Dearest" Hcbson said, when earth
and heaven had once more assumed
their proper relationship, your aDpi-
rations will be realized after all. I
am badly in need of a nurse. and As
soon as lin able to travel we will
take Henrietta with us and visit the
our wedding trip. yoo