Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-02-12
In Deer
Fork Canyon.
How a Man Helped to Save
His Enemy's Life.
BY ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.
BY ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON.
1910, by American Press
Association.

tin was gathering wild red raspherries
a young man In miners garb who
was prospecting behind the powders
on the opposite slope saw her and had
just made up his mind to cross the
stream that zlgzagged down the can
yon and join her when he saw u man
swinging along up the trail toward
her.
Its Nick" he said to himself. Il
had forgotten for the moment what he
told me last night ! meant then to
leave the canyon at once. and must.
for | can't bear 10 stay and see her
throw herself away on such a fellow
as Nick Sanders" And Howard Olney
turned and walked away that he might
not witness the meeting between the
two.
The girl did not need TO turn her
head TO know who was coming. There
was an unmistakable individuality In
the shutting steps. and recognition
face as she continued her work.
"Pickln' berries. be you. Faith!
You're lookin' sweet as lnjun pink.
What's the use OF your workin' so
hard for them boarders when you
know I'm ready for you?" he asked.
But you ought 10 know by this time
that I'm not ready for you.' she
flashed back.
The man Redeemed to the roots OF
his sandy hair. but. controlling his
anger. replied:
1--WE got enough TO keep you from
slavin' here. boardin' miners. rs you're
dom. There's no use in your stayin
single for Howard Olney. lie left Tor
good this mornin' He's goin' to keep
books for MIR. owen. the superintend-
ent OF the High Tone mine"
The telltale color mounted to Faiths
cheeks. but she bent forward to cap
ture a refractory vine. thus hiding her
face from her companion.
You think I'm not good enough for
YOU" he went on. as she took no no.
tice of his insnuetiO You think
Olney's better'n me cause he's been
a schoolmaster back east and can use
lots OF grammar. But II you'd lived
In the same shack with him. as I've
done, you'd know hes not such Il saint
~ galoot as you think he IS. It's no
man that'll turn his back on the girl
as loves him and go of courtin' super
inteudent owens daughter he tn'
ished contemporary
Faith faced him with flashing eyes.
Nick Sanders. you're worse than /
thought you were. Howard Olney
took you into his cabin aud nursed YOU
through a spell of fever when nobody
else would. and now you Try TO inJurs
him behind his back. That's your
gratitude!'
His eyes fell beneath the whitening
scorn of hers. or the allusion 10 her
self she took no notice. but she could
not help resenting the slur put upon
| the man she loved.
You've no call To fire up for Olney."
he said maliciously. He's above court
In a girl who makes her Twin eookin
for miners. Besides, he's In love with
Daisy Owen. and she's struck ON Oh
neys good looks. It's bound to be a
match"
Faith again bent over her berry
picking that her tormentor might not
see the effect OF his words. She had
heard through her mothers boarders
about Miss owens wealth. beauty and
accomplishments aud realized that she
was mere nobody compared with the
superintendcnt's heiress. What right
had she 10 hope that Mr.. Olney would
ever love her; Still. the mocklng tones
stung Der keeuiy, aud. her basket being
filled, she said goodby and hurried
away up the rocky trail that led to a
dlngy. weather worn cabin half hid
by the powders aud eyergreens sur
rounding it.
Faith and her mother were alone In
the world About a year before her
father had been killed by an explosion
10 the mines. II was Howard Olney. a
young schoolmnster from New York
turned prospector. who had riskcd his
own life To recover the body. They
could never forget this nor his untir
ing kindness during that time OF be
reavement IL was he who had en-
couraged them 10 go on with the regu
lar routine Of life and from this sad
period Faith dated her love for the
young man. He had shack two miles
down Deer Fork. and most OF his days
were spent prospecting
Soon after Sanders suddenly return
ed. having been away several months
lie had been "speculating." he an
nounced. and had brought back SOM
money. Nick had known the family u
indiana. In fact. he had accompanies
Mr.. Austin 10 Colorado He was
. crafty. shiftless fellow and did no
| make friends among the miners. In
deed. so unpopular WIS ne that whe
! stricken with fever shortly after Their
was no one 10 care for him except Mrs
Austin until Howard. 10 relieve th
overburdened woman. took the FELLOW
. home with him aud nursed him hac
to health and strength. Had Il no
been for jealousy he would hay" Heel
grateful as one 1f his selfish natur