The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-04-04
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
The Lonely Battle with the Storm.
A fierce April storm, the severest Of
the year! Wet snow, melting almost
as it fell, wrapped the town in a sheet
of red mud.
1t was wearing toward dark, and the
stage, seven hours late, had not yet
arrived. Stella stood alone by the
hotel office window looking up at the
mountain peaks, which doomed dis.
tant and ghostly through the fitful
fakes. Rarely did snow fall at that
altitude; and its untimeliness, after
two months of Summertime spring,
doubled Stella's depression. She was
worn with anxiety. This was Uncle
Billy's trip.
The wires had gone down. The last
word had been from Ccburn's. where
he had passed safe and on time. But
Coburn's was only at the eastern door.
step of the Sierras! Along Donner's
frozen shore, zigzagging up the awful
sleeps, across the trackless Summit
valley where the summer road lay
twice a coach's length beneath the
winter snow road-Stella trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Billy's passengers might be men Of
courage and strength. young men.
Poor Uncle Billy! He was so old!
Fifty, forty-evcn the prime of life
is old age to youth so lately embarked
on the souls voyage.
Stella turned from the dark land
scape to read again Gideon's letter
that had come the day before, an
other perturbing portent.
1t was dated at Virginia City. For
tune has been good to me, sweet
STAR" he wrote; 80 good that pour
libations to her shrine and trust her
to give me in due time the one great
gift that Is all of life for me.
I'm glad l dared fate. Such in
credible luck I've had! was pros.
pecting in the gorge just above your
fathers old, worked-out mine, and in
dilapidated cabin-built since we
left there, it was-I found cigar box
with lot of bullion in it. 1t must
have been years there; for it was half.
covered with pine needles fallen
through a hole in the roof
Il came to this city, sold the stuff,
bought stocks, sold them. bought
again. and have now $4,000 good
money in the hank, besides more that
I've saved and my stock. That five
thousand shall not be touched. 1t is
to found home, our home! I'm
studying men. I'm trying to learn the
things you'd have me know, and do
something that you won't be ashamed
of. think it will be teaming. There
are couple of outfits here that go at
sheriff's sale tomorrow. If can get
them cheap enough, and trusty men
Ill buy, and lease other teams.
And soon I'm coming to you-when
I'm used to my cane; and my clothes
and are older friends; and when I've
and men.
There's some secret on foot. Cad.
wallader has been here for a week OF
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago; said
Virginia was doomed, mines worked
! out, and lot more. That means
something's in the wind. look for q
strike somewhere-the announcement
Of it, rather. 1t has already happened
I'm sure; but the owners are keeping
dark till they can buy in all the stock
at bedrock figures.
| S~k
weeks have been years to me. When
l come you'll see different Gideon
the same heart. though-and you'll
think me better than the old Gideon
your lover always"
1t was his first mans letter to Stel.
Ia. She maryeed at his fiuency, yet
recalled their childish game of post.
Office and his smoothly worded though
ink.blotted epistles.
Who was Gideon? Many times she
had asked this question Of him, once
of her father. He told her that Gideon
was a waif, and babe her think OF
something else.
She started from the window with
sudden, unaiming energy, as II she
would shake free hand already
grasping her. The sharp rap and dull
thump Of Alvin's alternating crutch
and shoe came down the street, vel
| come sounds to her.
Like a draught Of cool air on . hot
cheek came his merry voice.
Are you here, Miss Stella?" he
asked, poking his head through the
door into the dim room. You stood
1T the window a minute ago."
Yes: and so glad to see you, AL