Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-01-24

by her uncle, Robert Maitland. James
Armstrong, Maitland's protege, falls in
love with her.
CHAPTER II.-His persistent wooing
thrills the girl, but she hesitates, and
Armstrong goes east on business with
out definite answer.
CHAPTER III-Enid hears the story
or mining engineer, Newbold whose
wife fell off cliff and was so seriously
hurt that he was compelled to shoot her
to prevent her being eaten by wolves
while he went for help.
CHAPTER Iv.-Kirkby, the old guide
who tells the story, gives Enid a package
of letters which he says were found on
the dead woman's body. She reads the
letters and at Kirkby's request keeps
them.
Sne was perfectly formed woman
on the ancient noble lines of Milo
rather than the degenerate softness
of Medici. She grew stronger of limb
and fuller of breath, quicker and
steadier of eye and hand, cooler Of
nerve, in these demanding, compelling
adventures among the rocks in this
mountain air. She was not a tall
woman, indeed slightly under rather
than over the medium size, but she
was so perfectly proportional, she car
ried herself with the fearlessness of a
young chamois, that she looked taller
than she was. There was not an
ounce of superfuOus flesh upon her,
yet she had the grace of Hebe, the
strength of PallaS Athene, and the
sWiftness of motion of ATLANTA. Had
she but carried bow and spear, had
she worn tunic and sandals, she might
have stood for Diana and she would
have had no cause to blush by COM
parison with the finest model Of
Praxiteles' chisel or the most splen-
did and glowing example of Appelles'
brush.
Uncle Robert was delighted with
her; his contribution to her western
outfit was small Winchester. She
displayed astonishing aptitude under
his instructions and soon became won
derfully proficient with that deadly
weapon and with a revolver also.
There was little danger to be appre-
hended in the daytime among the
mountains, the more experienced men
thought, still it was wise for the girl
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 Colt
dangled at her hip. At first she took
both, but finally it was with reluc-
lance that she could be persuaded to
take either. Nothing had ever hap
pened. Save for a 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 it
was known that some ten miles below
the stream merged in a lovely gem
like lake in 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
before been surmounted so far as
they knew Enid enjoyed mountain
climbing She liked the uplift in feel.
ing that came from going higher and
higher till some crest was gained, but
on this occasion they urged her to &C
company them in vain.
When the f1xity Of her decision was
established she lad a number Of offers
to accompany her, but declined them
all, bidding the others go their way.
Mrs. Maitland, who was not feeling
very well, old Kirkby, who had
climbed too many mountains to feel
much interest in that game, and Pete
the horse wrangler, who had to look
after the stock, remained in camp;
the others with the exception of Enid
started at daybreak for their long as
cent. She waited until the sun Was
about an hour high and then babe
goodbye to the three and began the
descent of the canon. Travelling light
for she was going far-farther, indeed,
than she lInew-she left her Winches-
ter 1T home, but carried the revolver
with the fishing tackle and substantial
luncheon.
Now the rivera river by courtesy
Only-and the canon turned sharply
back on themselves just beyond the
little meadow where the camp was
pitched. Past the tents that had been
their home for this joyous period the
river ran due east for few hundred
feet, after which it curved sharply
doubled back and flowed westward
for several miles before it gradually
swung around to the east on its prop
er course again.
1t had been Ends purpose to cut
across the hills and strike the river
where it turned eastward once more,
avoiding the long detour back In
fact, she had declared her intention
of doing that to Kirkby and he had
given her careful directions so that
she should not get lost in the noun,
taine