Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-11-21
CHAPTER XIV.
The Drauaht OF Joy.

CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Draught OF Joy.
The great library was the prettiest
room In Robert Maitland's magnificent
mansion In Denver's most favored res
idence section. It was a long, low.
studded room with a heavy beamed
ceiling. The low book cases, about
five feet high, ran between all the
windows and doors on all sides Of the
room. At one end there was a huge
open fire place built of rough stone,
and as 1t was winter a cheerful fire
of logs blazed on the hearth. 1t was
a mans room preeminently. The
drawing-room across the hall was Mrs.
Maitland's domain, but the library re-
f1ected hel husbands picturesque Il
somewhat cratic taste. On the
walls there were pictures Of
the west by Remington, March
and, Dunton, Dixon and others,
and to set them off, finely mount
ed heads of bear and deer and buffalo.
Swords and other arms stood here and
there. The writing table was massive
and the chairs easy, comfortable and
inviting. The floor was strewn with
robes and rugs. From the windows
facing westward, since the house was
set on d high hill, n could see the
great rampant of the range.
There were three men in the room
on that brilliant morning early in Jan
uary something like a month after
these adventures in the mountains
which have been SO veraciously
set forth. Two Of them e the
brothers Maitland; the third was New
bold.
The shock produced upon Enid Matt
land by the death of Armstrong to
gether with the tremendous episodes
that had preceded it had utterly pros
strated her. They had spent the
night at the hut in the mountains and
had decided that the woman must be
taken back to the settlements some
way at all hazards.
The wit Of old Kirkby had effected
a solution of the problem, using 6
means certainly as old as Napoleon
and the passage of his cannon over
the Great st. Bernard-and perhaps al
old as Hannibal! They had made 6
rude sled from the trunk of a pine
which they followed out and provided
with a back and runners. There wa
no lack of fur robes and blankets fol
her comfort.
Wherever 1t was practicable the
three men hitched themselves to the
sled with ropes and dragged 1t ant
Enid over the snow. OF course fol
miles down the canon it was impossi
BILE to use the sled. When the way
was comparatively easy the woman
supported by the two men, Newbol(
and Maitland, made shift to get aloni
afoot. When 1t became too Difficult
for her, Newbold picked her up as hi
had done before and assisted by Matt
land, carried her bodily to the mex
resting place. At these times Kirkb.
looked after the sled.
They had managed to reach the tenn
porary hut in the old camp the frs
night and rested there. They gath
cred up their sleeping bags and tent
and resumed their journey in tn,
morning. They were strong men, an,
save for old Kirkby, young. 1t was
desperate endeavor but they carried !
through.
When they hit the open trails tn,
shedding was easy and they mad
great progress. After a week of tel
rife going, they struck the railroad
and the next day found them all SAT
in Maitland's house In Denver.
To Mr.. Stephen Maitland his daugt
ter was as one who had risen fror
the dead. And indeed, when he frs
saw her, she looked like death itsel
No one had known how terrible tina
journey had been to the woman. He
three faithful attendants had surmise
something, but in spite Of all eve
they did not realize that In these las
days she had been sustained only b
the most violent effort Of her will. Sh
had no sooner reached the hous,
greeted her father, her aunt and tn
children, then she collapsed utterly.
The wonder was. said the physician
not that she did It then but that sh
had not done 1t before. For a shol
time 1t appeared as II her illness migf
be serious, but youth, vigor. o stron
body and a good constitution, q heal
now free from car and apprehensio
and a great desire to live and Low
and be loved, worked wonders.
: Newbold had enjoyed no opportunit
| for private conversation with the W,
man he loved, which was perhaps Jul
as well. He had the task of readjus
ing himself to changed conditions; M
only to a different environment. but I
strange and unusual departures frol
his long cherished view points.
He cculd no longer doubt Arm
I <trong'c nnai testimony to the puSit