The Springfield herald., 1912-05-17

newcomers.
Tho f1rst few days were days OF
learning and preparation. days OF mis-
laughter over blunders In getting set
tied, or learning the mysteries OF rod
and line. or becoming hardened and
acclimated. The weather proved per-
feet; II was late October and the
nights were very cold, but there was
no rain and the bright sunny days
were invigorating and exhilarating to
the last degree. They had huge fires
and plenty of blankets and the colder
it was in the night the better they
slept.
1t was an intensely new experience
for the girl from Philadelphia. but she
showed a marked interest and adapt
ability. and entered with the keenest
zest into all the opportunities OF the
charming days. She was good sports
woman and she soon learned to throw
fly with the best of them. Old Kirk
by took her under his especial pro-
lection and as he was one OF the best
rods in the mountains. she had every
advantage.
She had always lived in the midst
Of life. Except In the privacy OF her
own chamber she had rarely ever
been alone before-not twenty feet
from a man, she thought whimsically.
but here the charm of solitude at
tracted her, she liked to take her rod
and wander off alone. She actually
enjoyed it.
The main stream that flowed down
the canon was fed by many afiluents
from the mountain sides, and In each
of them yoracious trout appeared. She
explored them as she had opportunity.
sometimes with the others. but more
often by herself. She discovered
charming and exquisite hooks. little
stretches OF grass, the size perhaps OF
a small room, flower decked. ferny
bordered, overshadowed by tall giant
pine trees. the sunlight filtering
through their thin foliage. checkering
the verdant carpet beneath. Huge
moss covered boulders. wet with the
everlasting spray of the roaring
brooks. lay in midstream and with
other natural stepping stones hardly
| invited her to cross to either shore.
Waterfalls laughed musically in her
ears, deep still pools tempted her skill
and address.
Sometimes leaving rod and basket
by the waterside, she climbed some
particularly steep acclivity OF the
canon wall and stood poised. wind
blown, n nymph OF the woods. upon
some pinnacle of rock rising needle
| like at the canon's edge above the
sea of verdure which the wind waved
to and fro beneath her feet. There II
the bright light. with the breeze blow
ing her golden hair. she looked like
some Morse goddess, blue eyed. ex
hilirated. triumphant.
She was q perfectly formed woman
on the ancient noble lines OF Milk
rather than the degenerate softnes
of Medici She grew stronger of limi
and fuller of breath. quicker ant
steadier of eye and hand, cooler o
nerve, in these demanding, compelling
adventures among the rocks in thi
mountain air. She was not a tai
woman, indeed slightly under rathe
than over the medium size. but sh
was so perfectly proportioned. she car
ried herself with the fearlessness OF
young chamois. that she looked tale
than she was. There was not al
ounce of superiluous flesh upon her
yet she had the grace of Hebe. thu
strength of Pallas Athene, and th'
swiftness of motion of Atalanta. Hat
she but carried bow and spear. hat
she worn tunic and sandals, she nigh
have stood for Diana and she woult
have had no cause to blush by com
parison with the finest model o
Praxiteles' chisel or the most splen
did and glowing example of Appelles
brush.
Uncle Robert was delighted witt
her; his contribution to her western
outfit was a small Winchester. Sh'
displayed astonishing aptitude undel
his instructions and soon became won
derfully proficient with that deadly
weapon and with revolver also
There was little danger to be appre
hended in the daytime among the
mountains. the more experienced mer
thought. still 1t was wise for the CIR
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 Col,
dangled at her hip. At first she tool
both, but finally It was with reluc
tance that she could be persuaded tc
take either. Nothing had ever hap
pened. Save for few birds now and
then she had seemed the only tenant
of the wilderness OF her choice.
One night after camping expert
ence OF nearly two weeks In the noun
tains and Just before the time for
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 far, but II
was known that some ten miles below
the stream merged in lovely gem
like lake in a sort OF crater in the
mountains. From thence by a series
of water falls It descended through
the foothills to the distant plains be
yond. The others had arranged to
climb one especially dangerous and
ambition provoking peak which tow
| cred above them and which had never
before been surmounted 80 far as
they knew. Enid enjoyed mountain
climbing. She liked the uplift in feel
ing that came from going higher and