New-York tribune., 1909-07-25

Copsc where pine trees were ntighbCTS ot the
aspens. Van disappeared though hardly more
than fifty feet ahead. Through low hanging
boughS that She needs must push. aside. Beth
followed blindlv on. decidedly piqucd by the
wholly ungdllant indifference to her fate Of the
horSoman leading the way.
She caught but a glimpse OF him now and
again IN the density of the growth. How
strange II was to be following thus, meekly
helplcsSly pcrforcc with some sort OF con
tidcnCc. in the charge Of this unknown mountain
man, to-whatsoever he might elect The ut
terly absurd part OF II all was there was nothing
else 10 do-dnd It was pleasant
Vt length they emerged from the shady halls
OF trees 70 find themselves confronted by the
wall of mountains Already Van was riding up
the slope, where larger pines. tall thIckcts OF
green ChInhdpIn- and ledgeS ei rock compelled
the trail 10 many devious wIndlngs. once
more the horSeman was whlstng-hIS ICToadCr
refrain. He did not look back IT his charges
That he was watching them both. from tho tall
Of h's eve was "a tact that Beth fclt-and re
Sentcd
The stecpncss Of the trail increased. At
times the ncagcr pathway disappeared entirely
Il lay along rocks that gaze sign Of the hoois
that had previously rung metallic clInkS on the
granite. How the man N the lead dlsCcTncd Il
here was q matter Beth could not comprehend
Some half-,OnfcsSel need 81 admiration, a.
ready astir IN her nature for the horsenau and
ms way. increased as he breasted the ascent
How thoroughly II home how much - part oi
II all hc appeared. as he rode on his pony
Two hours of steady climbing. with her mare
ohEguo beneath hcr weight and Beth iclt an
awe IN her being II was wonderful. II was al
most terrible the fathomlcss silence. the alti-
tudys, this heretofore inexperienced intimacy
with the mountains very nake'inc~s- II Wa
strange altogether. and Impressive, the vast UT-
folding Il the world below. the frequency with
which n, pathway ~bIrtcd some dark Irroipioo
and the apparent uuCOnCern Il the man
ahead. now so absolutely master And still
that soul iuviting eNhilaratIon of the ar
aroused those crstdsies within her spirit that
she had Not known were there.
THEY were nearing the -u1--rit 81 the pas
i was et,ll thousand feet below The snow
To the left ID mighty ,hasm tren,hod the add
uant Us bottom lowered away 20 depths Il
1rstori.us blue. lt9 SIDE. above which The
thre, stout PONIES picked thor wy. wae q
ragged st 81 terrace over the brink 80 wfl, p
the ,tsccuts were Perpendicular
Rising as II 20 bay ID, way. The oroWunE ter
race apparently ended the trail against I'D
farther advance. Here Van finally halted a5e-
mounted and waited for hls charge
Beth rode up uncertainty. her brown eyes
closely -orutinizug his face, il appeared as j.
they hal come % the end oi ev,rFtalr. tho
place for l,arlng of INTO downward space
Let me sac D; the siu, hes are tight. s..sl Che
hur- cu4.4n quietly. and b. looked 20 ~, Er;a %
her saddle.
I; vas found 90 -, IN sltr.taltorv condition
The glrtn on The tar he tiHhteu,d ,-f'!'e~tf
pushing El-.'- foot and Tho l,rrup ASIDE for th'
Turpg=,.
His own horse now showed uumi. taxable
signs Il w,.r1u,ss. He had travelled some
tvcntl-odd mile ra arrive - Dawes t'tof'
undertaking this present Int Il hardship ~lu,'
then Van had pushed hlm - The liuit q ne
strength and speed ~ the effort 20 reach b'laitr
with the smallest possible DELAY.
II % sober expression of sympathy -ame for
second INTO the hnrscman .'cady eye. as IT,
glanced g. where his pony W. standing. it
qrIiyklv gave way =. -pmctnng more Hle,Tl-
tahIc IS he looked up a: Beth. N advancing
once more o. tho fore.
Both of you give then ;hc -cins. he sr-
stru,tcd quietly. Iast drop them down. Le'
the hrou,os pick the trail He paused. th'n
added as II on second Thought shut youT eyes
j, you fnd yau' 're getting dIzzy-
Beth turned slightly pale. IN anticipation 't
some ordeal. undoubtedly imminent. tut 'hc
look ~ her eyes Wa one e.! splendid courage
She might feel that they wcr. ~ at the gate o'
something awful. hut hrrsature Tosc 90 meet u
She -aid nothing She IMPLY ubcycd direction.
and looked with new cInot tIuns Oh thc somewhat
dropping mare 20 whom her own safety was lrl-
trusted.
Van was once more IN his eaddle lie started
and The ponies behind resumed thor faithful
4