The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-04-14

snow capped mountains 10
- The westward as a the SUD
lssg mil Of The road came upon
tie village Of Brayle.
/ shifted my knapsaek from ny
shoulder and. leaning upon my stat,
STOOD contemplating one Of the most
glorious paDoramas NY eyes had ever
rested upon. Behind me 10 the north,
stretching away eastward and west
ward, the great mountain range lifted
its fr0wning tops TO heaven, and 10
the south and southwest from whence
/ had come. the world fen down to
ward verdurs and cultivation and
lands watered bT streams, which grew
slowly and joined together into d riT-
~ far away toward The horizon
As evening came rapidly over the
lower lands and 9 chill wind struck
the mountain road ] entered the III
lage and went toward q long, low
building which seemed likely 10 afford
g resting place for the night -Four
men were sitting Al a rough table
smoking and drinking. They were IL
"a ger If not an angry COW ersatioD-
but stopped as ! entered and looked
at me in surprise. One Of them seem
ed delighted at my advent for he cried
our excitedly:
THE proof! The proof Look,
Here is one Of tbeDl"
Another man, whom ! rightly took
10 be the proprietor Of the establish
ment. growled saragely at him 10 be
silent and then rose and saluted ne
You are q Traveller, just an ordinary
traveller
Yes: Oh, yes" ! answered
There was something In his tone
which had the effect Of taking the
coneeit out Of one ] have never con
sidered myself quite an ordinary uar-
eler.
You see. MustaphaI" be said in ri-
umph.
The man addressed looked AT ne fix
edly. but did not speak He had sprung
excitedly from his seat AZ my en-
trance.
Il want 10 stay here tonight" I went
On Tomorrow ! nay 60 farther, or
the next day. or il may De next week
II al depends what ! ind 10 interest
ne There is e fine waterfall near
Brayle. ! have heard"
rs il only for this you have Gomez"
asked Mustapha, with some contempt
Yes" ] answered, throwing down
NY knapsack and spreading out ny
hands 10 the blaze. What else should
! hare~s-se >-
The disappointment il the man fatF
was quite comieaL and bis companions
burst out laughing
Take no notice Of what be says,
laughed the landlord -Mnstapha is
drea mer. He sees armies along the
mountain tops when Others see only
SLOW. He hears the ring Of steel in
every tlnkllDg goat bell and the shout
Of war IL the bark Of every dog
wonderful dreamer is Mustapha."
y said nothing Of armies; ! said
armed men" the dreamer returned
gullenly.
i am not armed" l observed
MANY Of the men ! have seen are
not armed" be returned but they are
no ordinary travellers. They al 60 the
same way-yonder."
His attitude was unconsciously ORA
matte as he stretched out his arm
pointing toward the mountains 70 the
north
Where Is yonderT ! asked, more
for tie sake Of saying something than
because ! wanted 70 know.
I only know the legend which every
body knows and which everybody
laughs at. but ! am wiser than every
body. because ! don't laugh
roar Of merriment greeted this
assertion l could not help joining
IN Il
Let me eat first and then wen
have the story. The story VIII walt
and nv hunger is 100 ripe 10 keep
OF necessity in this history l must
talk Of myself ! am the hero Of IL
and he's a poor hero indeed who isn't
worth talking about ] was wan
derer by inclination. not Of necessity.
and. although not actually seeking ad-
venture. ] was not unwilling 10 enjoy
some mild form Of enterprise should
such come my way, but ] little thought
Of the strange experiences which lay
before me Few people even II IheF
sre interested viii believe the story
and viii say Of me. a. was said OF
Mustapha. He IS 2 stupid dreamer.
To these I can honestly confess that ]
should sometimes doubt the history
myself had ! not always before ne
one incontestable proof Of the truth
Of il. For my personal appearance
stand over six feel. am broad shoui-
dered and athletic. have fair hair and
am clean shaver. and ] believe there
are less well favored men IN the world
than myself
Brayle lies, If indeed there IS still q
village there. al the foot Of one OF the
southern spurs Of the great Caucasian
range. X IS an out Of the way place
which probably few tourists have dis