Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-05-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho prauaht Of Joy.


The great library was the prettiest
room in Robert Maitland's magnificent
mansion In Denvers most favored res
idence section. 1t was q 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 1t was winter cheerful fire
of logs blazed on the hearth. It was
q mans room preeminently. The
drawingroom across the hall was Mrs.
Maitlands domain, but the library re-
Elected her husbands picturesque II
somewhat erratio 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 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 80 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 1t 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 a
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 1t was practicable the
three men hitched themselves to the
sled with ropes and dragged 1t and
Enid over the snow. OF course fol
miles down the canon 1t was impossi
BILE to use the sled. When the wa,
was comparatively easy the woman
supported by the two men, Newbolt
and Maitland, made shift to get alonl
afoot. When II became too difficult
for her, Newbold picked her up as h,
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.
Whea 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 daugf
ter was as one who had risen froI
the dead. And indeed, when he frs
saw her, she looked like death itsel
No one had known how terrible this
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 la
days she had been sustained only b
the most violent effort Of her will. 81
had no sooner reached the hous
greeted her father. her aunt and II
children. then she collapsed utterly.
The wonder was, said the physician
not that she did It then but that sh
had not done It before, For q shol
: time II appeared as II her illness migf
: be serious. but youth, vigor. stron
body and q good constitution, heal
now free from care and apprehensio
and great desire to live and loy
and be loved, worked wonders.
Newbold had enjoyed no opportunit
D for private conversation with the W
D man he loved, which was perhaps ju
t as well. He had the task OF readjus
g Ing himself to changed conditions; n
b only to different environment, but
0 strange and unusual departures fro
" his long cherished view points,
, Continued navt uankl