Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-08

d new machinery in the Little Loo
= mine, and Alma's father, who the
n foreman, having one else to call
-snx,H upon for the errand, had sent her after
!. : a. i !.
HN7AM1 Jessop. 1essop was an expert mechanic
E%S5ES clan who had recently struck it rich
EAN H3AN his lease in the Lett Over" and there
b@ Wfw after worked internationally and at the
vGAAAHu prompngs of his huinor, devoting in
EsEk&$H stead much time to castle building, and
GTSA 4 selecting with peculiar fitness Spanish
Alma as the mistress of his Castian
WAD&H0~ domains.
Gle will not come" she said to her
father "You know he will not work since money
is pouring in to him from his lease in the Left
Over And look at the snow
The gnarled old Spaniard set his lean jaw and
gazed at her from under his bcetling brows. His
skin was like parchment. 1t chung to his bones and
fell in heavy wrinkles in the hoows of his checks
and about his mouth but his dark eyes fierce as
youth.
He will come if you ask him." he said CURLY.
hang OF it yet; The workll have to stop unless it;
She knew bedf %an % r to y 2e m
at her that way with his hawks eyes; but it was
with rssentn,ent and rebellion in her heart that she
Monday threw over her shoulders heavy, long g
cape, twisted crimson scarf about her head and
started tip the hill to Jessop's cabin.
wagons from the "Left- over" a mile tip the hill,
had cut the into great ruts which made walk
ceediney slippery. But, Alma was a tirele,ss
ing over the mountains at all seasons of the year
and in all kinds of weather.
mine she paused few moments to rest and circling
the great ore dump, sat down little bench out
side the engine house and drew long breath. Two
men who were unloading ore from the cars gliding
along the shining steel tracks from the black depths
of the tunnel house stopped moment to give an
eager greeting to the girl She asked At once il
the Little Loo but they both assured her that he
was not and had not been there for several days.
Hn'd ,onr 1r,,,, 10 thtrC1 hcft
cabin. they believed.
With a heavy, sigh and several forebodine shakes
closely around her and started on. not forgetting
however, to thank the two very pretily. that t.
auby and to thank them still more prf t in
mesh OF long lashes and wonderful dimpes all
tangled up in unbelicvably adorable smile. -.
About quarter of a mile above the Lett Over"
she crossed bridge which spanned deep and
crevassc, cash which cleft the great noun
tain to its foundation. Alma fingered moment,
into those mysterious depths. The white walls Of
the sharp. irregular aeclvity reflected many cold.
prismatic lights; and down. far down where the eye
could no longer distinguish shapes and outlines,
there lay shadow like steam from some vast, sub
terranean caldron blue, dense, impenetrable.
now, and few feet on the other side of the bridge
she paused frownngly to contemplate narrow trail
and led to Jessop's cabin. Her approach had evil
IDENTIFY been noted from the window, for Jessop, big
and brawny red-hared, frecked insouciant to reck-
essness, appeared in the hastily thrown open door.
alma" he cried exhibiting the yeliest surprise.
to see You ' agan a you Mrs. Jack
hear the banns have been twice called: Sure you
'n't the, Spring walking over the snow? I've felt
"The Little Loo" she said hastily and YEARLY
Something's wrong with that new machinery and
'All right" said Jessop briefly, ".but guess there
amt any, any great hurry You look pretty we'll in
She shook her head, but it was perfunctory dis
sent.
Come on in and sit by the stove awhile" he
Urged, stepping aside that she might enter Il got
tend to some things here before ] can go down
and you got to, rest after such climb. You want
5oS dry b: your od 5fef Won't e es your
81 amt afraid of you, Bill, It would take ever
worse than you TO scare rene me- she flashed back at
Jessop fused about the room moment, ,pokinP
the fire. rafting cup and saucer ,rr moving the col
now" he said, lifting the i'd and peering into it
"You need it. Just wait. till get. you out some
Yesterday. Went down to camp and bought Out
the store, enough to last month or more 49,,
Alma's 1.-the young body was soon rested Thu
as she sat beside the fire.
Although accepting J9ssops hospitaiy she mad
.S t tG nSw r w
or an affirmative nod Of her head. Finally. he
last sip Of coffee taken she rose to her feet and pre-
pared to depart
"You can sure make good coffee" she admitted
grudgingly ., .,,. .. - ru,4 .;.,,
II can make Other things 100, III nghl, quick
Irish boasting 81 can make money, and l ca,
make love. You ought to know that"
She did not deign TO answer, but threw him ON
swift glance of scorn and busted herself fastening
Gust wait till give last pokedown to the. fire
There" He picked up his Mackinaw coat and fu
CAP. "Come' He paused in the doorway mo
rnrnt his reckless blue eyes looking deep into hers
lord I'd sell my soul to the devil to keep you her
forever" g,
she Knocked ndiferently as she stepped out into tn
snow and then fell back gazing a about her 9th
too stared about him. with d look K, not ye
hat thew waited the earth. too, seemed to wait
,oi.mn. awe-flled moment of inGalsulable change
forces of Nature were gathering themselves ogcthe
or some mighty unprecedented effort The soli
Ground beneath their feet trembled. as though iron
deep convulsion, the white peaks seemed bowin
and bending in a strange dance: then there was
roar as of many waters. the air darkened and cart
md sky were full Of flying snow :.
Alma had fallen her knees and was cl'ngin
blindy to the open door. her face banched white