Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1910-02-25
By ELEANOR Q. GARDNER.
'Grandpu Colonel, tell us a story. >

"slxty or more years ago, 10 the days
WHEN California was only poor. faroff
MexlcaiF California aud nothing more
nnd was very young officer In Un'
che Sans little army. once found my
relf stationed ut certain inland town.
N n collection of adobe or mud nuts
deserved the name. situated about six
ty mlaa distant from the then scarce
ly larger village Of ierba Buena. the
now mighty city OF Sun Francisco'
I'VE were duiug garrison duty. sin
glc company under old Captain JACK
a.. an easy going commander. VINO
gave us little TO do aud plenty OF time
10 do Il IN.
$50. as the hours hung somewhat
heavily upon our hands, Captain Jack
aud 1.-The only officers nt the post
took TO hunting and shooting. with
now aud then a little hahing by way
OF change to vary the monoiony OF our
soldier life. Countless fiocks OF wild
geese, brnnt aud lesser waterfowl
came by thousands TO banquet upon
the wild oat fields and make their
reedy homes among the wide marshes
which separate the irmcr land about
2onoma from the spreading bays that
terminate In the Golden Gate.
I'VE had goose for dinner. brant for
breakfast aud cold duck for supper
and lunch till old Jack declared his
belief that he should quack II we ate
any more such fare.
"Ono morning had been very sue
ceazfal az duck shooting. and when
tired OF the sport proceeded 10
shoulder my piece aud secure my
game for the homeward tramp of three
or four miles.
AS | lost sight OF the shooting
grounds and began TO enter the live
oak groves scattered here aud there
along the higher ridges bordering the
narshy edges Of the bay found my.
self suddenly enveloped In one OF
those dense mists which sweep up nj
certain seasons from the sea. like the
ocean vapors OF Newport summer
afternoon.
AS had no special path and was
travelling only by familiar landmarks,
now rendered indistinct by tho hoary
haze, was Obliged TO move more slow.
ly and soon felt satisfied that ! had
missed my way.
"Reachlng nj length a space open
upon three sides. the fourth being thin
L., I..N A..t skstt 0aa rttala al
underground. paused for moment
e. survey. NO fur as my limited borizOu
would permit. tract OF country which
was new TO me. Moreover. | hoped e
hear the sound OF running wnter
which, as l knew the general direction
OF the streams. would serve TO guide
me In taking what sailors call a frest
departure.
"Whlle listening intently ! heard
from the wooded side of my narrow
visible world sort Of pounding. a'
II some man with large boots and ne
corns had found his feet unpleasantly
cold and was endeavoring to warn
them by stamping in manner which
betokened an utter disregard for sho'
leather
"Then came n wheeze like that Of I
gruff giant troubled with the asthma
and finally mixed compound o.
crunchlng and mumbllng. as IL hug,
hog were eating hard corn. My atten
tIon now being thoroughly aroused b.
no remarkable combination OF sounds
peered Into the gloom until fancie,
could perceive the vague. misty foru
OF some creature stirring up the To-
within twenty feet Of tho spot ol
which ! had halted.
1T is-no, II can't be--yes. but It
grizzly! Don't wish was, ut home
That's what thought. You see,
hadn't come bear hunting. was due
shooting and had no conveniences fo
carrying home bear even II shoul
kill one, and the more looked at Nj
Grizzly the better satisfied l was tha
he had every convenience for killin
and carrying me.
"All had ever heard or read Of hI
ugly. hateful ways seemed to rush int
my mind.
"If | had been examined on this sui
Ject In natural history Just then
should have gone UP to the head q
my class Immediately.
I'VE stood looking at each other.
was evidently surprise on both side
stared very hard at the bear wit
wide open eyes, while the bear stare
very hard at me with wide open moutl
II think the bear got over his astoi
ishment first, and, what Is worst,
could see he wasn't at all alarmed Il
stopped eating, gave sniff and a sol
of interrogatory Who are your grun
and then took step toward me.
"As / am of retiring dispositio
and have never been willing to Il
trude myself into company where,
have not been invited, felt some del
cacy in continuing to be witnessst
his repast and was accordingly. swift
drawing in as unostentatious a way |
e,ood ynannara xyonld Oarsfnit when