The Yale expositor., 1908-05-22

~ NHOSha" ~ "Ss
valley where the summer road lay
twice a coachs length beneath the
winter snow road-Stella trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Biliy's passengers might be men of
courage and strength, young men.
Poor Uncle Billy! He was so old!
Fifty. forty-even 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.
II was dated at Virginia City. For
tune has been good to me, sweet
star" he wrote; so good that | pour
libations to her shrine and trust her
to give me i'm due time the one great
gift that Is all of life for me.
I'm glad / 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
a dilapidated cabin-built since we
left there, IL was-I found a cigar box
with a lot of bullion in 1t. IL 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 stun,
| bought stocks, sold them, bought
again. and have now $4,000 good
money in the bank, besides more that
I've saved and my stock. That five
thousand shall not be touched 1t is
to found a 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 il will be teaming. There
are a couple of outfits here that go at
sheriff's sale tomorrow. If / can get
them cheap enough, and trusty men,
I'll 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
picked up few more points on stocks
and men.
There's some secret on foot. Cad
wallader has been here for a week or
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago; said
Virginia was doomed. mines worked
out. and a lot more. That means
something's in the wind. | look for a
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.
Goodnight, little Star! These long
weeks have been years to me. When
come you'll see a different Gideon
the same heart, though-and you'll
think me better than the old Gideon
your lover always"
II was his first mans letter to Stel
la. She marveled 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 Gideor
was a waif, and babe her think o
something else.
She started from the window will
sudden, unaiming energy, as If sh'
would shake free a hand already
= grasping her. The sharp rap and dull
thump of Alvin's alternating crutcl
and shoe came down the street, wei
come sounds to her.
Like a draught of cool air on no
cheek came his merry voice.
= Are you here, Miss Stellar h
= asked, poking his head through tn
!. door into the dim room. You stoo'
q at the window a minute ago"
). "res; and so glad to see you, Al
e win. Come in"
{ Il can't stop minute. Here's som
stuff that's been on my mind eve
: since II went through on the wire be
: fore daylight yesterday. It's Chocta'
to me. Some mans cipher, all right
but I'll bet a cookie that's Blowhar
Cabs signature"
Stella looked up quickly, appreher
" sion in her face. THAT means"
It CTo BE coNTINUED.l