Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-06
Crossing
The Divide.
cOpyrishtsa, iOs, by Jessie Morgan.
By AEILE AIDYL


nnappy December evening. The driver
swung his six horses with great -four
fab and cracking OF whip through the
rough but level road OF the main street
and out at the north end of the town.
A brilliant dash down the steep in
cline to the creek. and he brought the
coach far up the road on the other side.
where the mountains rose 50 suddenly
from the plains. And so began the
climb over the divide.
The three passengers inside the
coach, a young girl and two men, APP
parentiy accustomed TO this mode of
travelling. did not brace themselves to
resist the pitching and rolling Of the
ponderous vehicle, but allowed them
selves to sway with its every motion.
The road was broken and rough from
the heavy autumn rains. Once the
coach struck ''chuck hole" which al
most brought the inmates TO their feet
and caused a general friendly laugh.
Up to this time the girl had paid no
attention TO her fellow travellers. She
had been absorbed with her own home
sick thoughts. To start the drudgery
Of q g0verness' life, miles from no
where. with no prospect OF returning
home Cor a year. was depressing. oh,
well. abe must make the best OF It.
She tried to distinguish the mems faces.
but II was too dark. and both were
munied In heavy Overcoats. As they
boarded the coach at Reddlng she had
uars4f assSi4 oil he al
gray as to hair, broad, strong and
youthful as to shoulders.
The older man sat beside her on the
back seat The two men chatted about
the rich strike" in Deadwood. where
fortunes were being made In a day.
She gathered that the young-old man
was mining an old hydraulic property
tust beyond Lewiston. and he was on
his way there. Well. she was going
-just beyond Lewiston" also, and she
wondered II this huge person was to
BE- q neighbOr OF hers.
Their desultory talk gradually died
away, the old man fell asleep. and his
head bodied and swayed and ducked
about until he seemed I'm danger OF
losing II. but be slept On obliyious OF
such alarming possibilities.
Al II o'clock they reached the Half.
way House. and while the driver
changed horses the passengers stretch
ed their cramped limbs, pacing the
narrow porch Of the Inn. Later they
went into the low, long dining room,
where q cold lunch and hot coffee were
served them on a table spread with a
rod and white cloth. The girl saw
that the young-Old giant could not be
more than thirty or thirty eight
years old. though his hair was silver.
And such blue eyesl They seemed
20 belong to q child, 80 clear and IN
eloHded were they.
He supplied her needs at the table
without seeming TO do 80, and when
the driver called IAN aboardt he
helped her into the coach In the same
nnObtrualve manner.
The fresh horses, only four now, as
the heavy climb was over, pulled the
stage along at a llvelier pace, and
within 4 half hour they had reached
the summit Of the divide and com
meneed the descent.
The driver cracked his whip, and
they whiFied down the narrow noun.
tain road, swinging the horses far out
ON the very edge Of the embankment
~ they turned the outward curve OF
the mountain and then sweeping rapid
" In at the bend-as only a stage
driver can and keep his coach In the
middle Of the road.
II was q magnificent night. the moon.
light making It clear as day. The
giri from her window could see In
Vulnerable lofty peaks Of the great
coast range stretching IN what seemed
q level line.
The passengers were startled by q
sudden Jerking OF the coach and = wild
imprecation from the driver
''Bomething's wrong" said the giant
ana be opened the window on the right
hand side and looked out In a mo
ment be drew back.
The on lead has broken the inside
trace and II frightened" he said as b.
Invested himself OF his overcOat The
driver must have some help. "Don'I
- AadNoAa TINS 20 mo young klfi
wen Ok Il ali right"
He opened the door and stood on the
Stsp q second BY this time the terror
e the runaway was communicated to
TIE other horses. and they were fast
getting beyond control. The coach was
rocking and pitching ut a tremendous
rate.
-ClOss the door after I get on top"
ha called 70 the old man, who was
thoroughly awake by this time. and
thsn. waiting until the coach swung
around the inner curve. be put one
foot halfway up the door on the open
window ledge and. grasping the low
railing above. pulled himself up on 70
the top Of the coach.
Tha girl had closed the door and.
lsanlng far out. watched him as the
swinging coach permitted step to the
ooat Of the driver and over the dash
board to the tongue A terrible lureh
=