Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-01-22

In the maroon haze which always in
the late summer enWrapS the rugged
slopes of Deer Fork canyon Faith Aus
tin was gathering wild red raspberries.
\ 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 Zigzaggcd down the can
yon and join her when he saw Il 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 I can't bear to stay and see her
throw herself away on such Il 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 i'll
the shuttling steps, and recognition
brought look of annoyance to her
face as she continued her work.
"Pickin' berries. be you, Faith?
You're lOOkin' sweet as a 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 to 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:
I've got enough to keep you from
slavin' here, boardin' miners, as you're
dOin'. There's no use i'll your Stayin'
single for Howard Olney. He left for
good this mornin'. He's goin' to keep
books for Mr. 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," he went on, as she took no no.
tice of his insinuation. You think
Olneys better'n me cause he's been
Il SchoolmaSter back east and can use
lots of grammar. But if you'd lived
i'll the same shack with him, as I've
done, you'd know he's not such Il saint
ly galoot as you think he is. It's no
~ ri
as loves him and go off courtin' Super
intendent owens daughter" he fin
iShed contemptuOuSly.
Faith faced him with flashing eyes.
"Nick Sanders, you're worse than |
thought you We're, Howard Olney
took you into his cabin and nursed you
through a spell of fever when nobody
else would, and now you try TO injure
him behind his back. That's your
gratitude!"
His eyes fell beneath the withering
scorn of hers. OF the aliuSion to her
self she took no notice, but she could
not help resentins the slur put upon
the man she loved.
you've no call to fire up for Olney,"
in a girl who makes her livin' cookin'
for miners Besides, he's in love with
Daisy Owen, and she's struck on OIL
ney's good looks. It's bound to be
match"
Faith again bent over her berry
picking that her tormentor might not
see the effect of his words. She had
ri
about Miss Owens wealth, beauty and
accomplishments and realized that she
was mere nobody compared with the
superintendent heireSs. What right
had she to hope that Mr.. Olney would
ever love her? Still, the mocking tones
stung her keenly, and, her basket being
filled, she said gOodby and hurried
away up the rocky trail that. led to a
dingy, weather worn cabin half hid
by the powders and evcrgreens sur
rounding it.
Faith and her mother were alone in
the world. About a year before her
father had been killed by an explosion
in the mines. 1t was Howard Olney, a
young schoolmaster from New York,
turned prospector, who had risked his
own life to recover the body. They
could never forget this nor his untir-
ing kindness during that time of be-
reavement 1t was he who had en-
couragcd them to go on with the rcgu-
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.
He had been specializing" he an
nounced, and had brought back some
money. Nick had known the family in
Indiana. In fact, he had accompanied
Mr.. Austin to Colorado. He was a
crafty, shiftless fellow and did not
make friends among the miners. In
deed, so unpopular was he that when
stricken with fever shortly after there
was no one to care for him except Mrs.
Austin until Howard to relieve the
overburdcncd woman, took the fellow
home with him and nurSed him back
to health and strength. Had 1t not
been for jealousy he would have been
grateful as one of his selfish nature
could be.
Meanwhile Faith had wandered
down the canyon, unccnsciously taking