The Springfield herald., 1912-05-24
CHAPTER Iv.-contlnusd.

at Kirkby's request keeps them.
CHAPTER IV-contlnued.
Surveying the great range she won
dered where the peak climbers might
be. Keen sighted though she was. she
could not discover them. The crest
that they were attempting lay in an
other direction hidden by a nearer
spur. She was in the very heart OF
the mountains; peaks and ridges rose
all about her. 30 much 80 that the gen.
Ieral direction OF the great range was
host She was at the center OF a far
hung cocavity Of crest and range. She
marked one towering point to the right
Iof her that rose massively grand above
all the others. Tomorrow she would
climb to that high point and from its
lofty elevations look upon the heav-
ems above and the earth beneath.
aye and the waters under the earth
far below. Tomorrow!-it is gem
terally known that we do not usually
attempt the high points in life's range
at once, content are we with lower al
stitudes today.
There was no sound above her; the
rushing water over the rocks upon
the nearer side she could hear faint
ly; there was no wind about her to stir
the long needles OF the pines. 1t was
very still. the kind Of stiffness OF
body which Is the outward and visible
complement Of that stiffness Of the
soul In which men know God. There
had been no earthquake, no storm.
the mountains had not heaved beneath
her feet. the great and strong wind
had not passed by. the rocks had not
been rent and broken, yet Enid caught
herself listening as II for voice. The
thrill of majesty. silence. loneliness
was upon her. She stood-one stands
when there is q chance of meeting
God on the way, one does not kneei
until he comes-with her raised hands
claeped. her head uplifted in exuita-
ton unspeakable. God-conquered with
her face to heaven upturned.
II will lift up mine eyes to the
hills whence cometh my salvation"
her heart sang voicelessly. I'VE praise
thee, oh, God. we magnify thy holy
name forever" fioated through her
brain. in great appreciation OF the
marvellous work of the Almighty shap-
ing master hand. Caught up as it
were into the heavens, her soul leaped
to meet its maker. Thinking to find
God she waited there on the heaven
kissing hill.
How long she stayed she did not
realize; she took no note OF time; 1t
did not occur to her even to look at
the watch on her wrist. she had swept
the skyline cut off as 1t were by the
peaks when first she came. and when
at last she turned away-even divtn-
est moments must have an end-she
looked not backward. She saw not a
little cloud hid on the horizon behind
the rampant of the ages, as 1t were,
mo bigger than mans hand. cloud
full of portent and which would alarm
greatly the veteran Kirkby in the
camp and Maitland on the mountain
top. Both of them unfortunately were
unable to see 1t, one being on the
other side of the range, and the other
deep in the canon, and for both OF
them as for the girl the sun still
shone brightly.
The declivity to the river on the
upper side was comparatively easy
and Enid Maitland went slowly and
thoughtfully down to 1t until she
reached the young torrent. She got
her tackle ready. but did no casting,
as she made her way slowly up the
ever narrowing, ever rising canon.
She was charmed and thrilled by the
wild beauty of the way. the spell OF
the mountains was deep upon her.
.rhoughtfully she wandered on until
presently she came to another little
amphitheater like that where the
camp was pitched. only smaller.
Strange to say. the brook or river
here broadened in little pool per-
haps twenty feet across; turn had
thrown a full force of water against
the huge boulder wall and in ages
of effort a giant cup had been hol-
lowed out of the native rock. The
pool was perhaps four or five feet
deep, the rocky bottom worn smooth.
The clearing was upon the opposite
side and the banks were heavily
wooded beyond the spur OF the rock
which formed the back OF the pool
She could see the trout in 1t. She
made ready to try her fortune, but
before she did so an idea came 10
her-daring. unconventional, extraor-
dinary. begot of innocence and mex
perience.
The water of course was very cold,
but she had been accustomed all her
life to taking bath at the natural
temperature of the water at whatever
season. She knew that the only peo-
ple in that wilderness were the mem
bers of her own party, three OF them
were at the camp below; the others
were ascending mountain miles
away. The canon was deep sunk. and
she satisfied herself by careful obser-
walton that the pool was not over
looked by any elevations far or lear.
Her ablutions in common with
those of the rest OF the campers mad
been by piecemeal Of necessity. Here
was an opportunity for plunge In
natural bath tub. She was as certain
that she would be under no ooserva-
ty hn VrivDNv