The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-29

4
than she was. There was not an
ounce of superf1uous flesh upon her,
yet she had the grace OF Hebe' the
strength of Pallas Athene, anu the
! swiftness of motion of ATLANTA. HAD
| she but carried bow and spear, had
| she worn tunic and sandals, she mlsht
! have stood for Diana and she would
| have had no cause to blush by COM
harrison with the finest model OF
PraxiteIes' ehisel or the most splen-
did and glowing example OF Appelles
brush.
Uncle Robert was delighted with
heas his contribution to her western
outfit was small winchester. ohe
displayed astonishing aptitude under
his instructions and soon became won
derfully proficient with that deadly
weapon and with revolver also.
There was little danger to be appre-
I hended In the daytime among the
mountains, the more experienced men
thought. still it was wise for the girl
always to have weapon in readiness,
| so In her journeyings, either the WIN
chester was slung from her shoulder
/ or carried in her hand, or else the Colt
dangled at her hip. At first she took
both, but finally It was with reluc-
lance that she could be persuaded to-
take either Nothing had ever nap
pened. Save for few birds now ana
then she had seemed the only tenant
of the wilderness of her choice,
One night after a camping expert
ence Of nearly two weeks in the noun
, tains and just before the time Tor
breaking up and going back to. civil
, ization. she announced that early the
next morning she was going down the
!, canon for days fishing excursion.
None of the party had ever fol-
, lowed the little river very faf, Dut II
, was known that some ten miles below
: the stream merged In lovely gem
, like lake In a sort OF crater II .ne
, mountains. From thence by series
! OF water falls it descended through
Y the foothills to the distant plains pc
}. yond. The others had arranged to
r climb one especially dangerous ano
L ambition provoking peak which tow
cred above themaand which had never
t before been S@aaa55pnounted SO far as
q they knew. iznid enjoyed mountain
5 climbing. shssssiked the uplift In feel
d ing that camaarslm going higher ano
n higher till some Crest was gained, pu'
) on this occasion they urged her to &C
e company them in vain.
d When the fxity of her decision was
n established she had a number OF offer:
y to accompany her, but declined then
e all. bidding the others go their way
< Mrs. Maitland, who was not feeling
very well, old Kirkby, who hat
n climbed too many mountains to Zee
% much interest in that game, and Pet
IS / the horse wrangler, who had to lool
b after the stock, remained in camp
ID the others with the exception OF Emf
II started at daybreak for their long as
~ cent. She waited until the sun wa
is about an hour high and then bad
IL goodbye to the three and began tn
or descent Of the canon. Travelling Hgh
le for she was going far-farther, indeed
r than she knew-she left her W1nches
a ter at home, but carried the revolVe
ar with the fishing tackle and substant1s
luncheon.
= Now the rivera river by courtes
q only-and the canon turned sharpl
"A back on themselves just beyond tn
4 little meadow where the camp wa
a pitched. Past the tents that had bee
" their home for this joyous period tn
a river ran due east for a few hundre
A feet. after which it curved sharpl,
q doubled back and flowed westwar
n for several miles before 1t gradual
IN swung around to the east on it's pro
u er course again.
Il It had been Ends purpose to c,
81 across the hills and strike the rive
"A where it turned eastward once NOR
4 avoiding the long detour back.
81 fact, she had declared her intentie
n of doing that to Kirkby and he he
n given her careful directions SO tn
d she should not get lost in the mou
81 tains.
81 But she had plenty of time and ]
excuse or reason for saving 1t, 81
I never tired of the charm Of the cano]
| therefore, instead OF plunging direct
over the spur of the range, she t,
lowed the familiar trail and after s.
| had passed westward far beyond t.
limits of the camp to the turning, S
decided, in accordance with that
terly irresponsible thing, woman
will, that she would not go down t
| canon that day after all, but that S
would cross back over the range a
strike the river few miles above t
camp and go up the canon.
"A She had been up In that direction
sslA few times, but only for short d
sR lance. as the ascent above the cal
a was very sharp, in fact for lit
M more than mile the brook was OF
saM succession of water fall; the b.
aea fishing was below the camp and
saS finest woods were deeper In the can
a1 She suddenly concluded that s
would like to see what was up in tt
Of hn try