The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-11-08
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho prauaht of Joy.

CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Draueht OF Joy.
The great library was the prettiest
room In Robert Maitland's magnificent
mansion In Denver's most favored res
tdence section. 1t was long, low.
studded room with 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 huge
open fire place built of rough stone.
and as it was winter cheerful fire
Of logs blazed on the hearth. It was
a mans room pre-eminently. The
drawing-room across the hall was Mrs.
Maitland's domain. but the library re-
flected hei husbands picturesque If
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, one 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 were 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
solution of the problem, using q
means certainly as old as Napoleon
and the passage of his cannon over
the Great st. Bernard-and perhaps as
old as Hannibal! They had made a
rude sled from the trunk of pine
which they followed out and provided
with back and runners. There was
no lack of fur robes and blankets for
her comfort.
Wherever it was practicable the
three men hitched themselves to the
sled with ropes and dragged it and
Enid over the snow. OF course for
miles down the canon 1t was impossi-
BILE to use the sled. When the way
was comparatively easy the woman,
supported by the two men, Newbold
and Maitland, made shift to get along
afoot. When it became too difficult
for her, Newbold picked her up as he
had done before and assisted by Matt
land, carried her bodily to the next
resting place. At these times Kirkby
looked after the sled.
They had managed to reach the tenn
porary hut in the old camp the first
night and rested there. They gath
cred up their sleeping bags and tents
and resumed their Journey in the
morning. They were strong men, and
save for old Kirkby. young It was
desperate endeavor but they carried II
through.
When they hit the open trails the
shedding was easy and they made
great progress. After a week of ter
rife going, they struck the railroad,
and the next day found them all safe
in Maitland's house in Denver.
To Mr.. Stephen Maitland his daugh-
ter was as one who had risen from
the dead. And indeed. when he first
saw her, she looked like death itself.
No one had known how terrible that
journey had been to the woman. Her
three faithful attendants had surmised
something. but In spite Of all even
they did not realize that in these last
days she had been sustained only by
the most violent effort Of her will. She
had no sooner reached the house,
greeted her father. her aunt and the
children. then she collapsed utterly.
The wonder was. said the physician.
not that she did It then but that she
had not done 1t before. For short
time It appeared as II her illness might
be serious, but youth. vigor, q strong
body and Q good constitution, heart
now free from care and apprehension
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