The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-10
/ Il /. LAND
OF SILENCE
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By Jesse c. Bowman

| town; l. you nave, u is place you
will always remember. Nestled In a
Gowl.shaped valley OF the Rockies, on
the line Of the Colorado & Southern.
Just east OF the famous Georgetown
loop, the little town lies. sheltered by
those mighty mountain walls which
have silently watched the ages come
and so.
Great is the army OF tollers that
has marched in review before those
sentinel hills, and many monument
! has been cut from their weather-beat-
en- ridges to mark the resting place of
heroes who have gone. But some.
where, cntomber in that mighty wall
of rock, rest the ashes Of one whom
Georgetown will long remember.
1t was in the early days OF the cit
tie mining tOwn-days when the lure
OF wealth drew men away from the
cities into the mountain fdstnesS and
the village OF few log cabins began
to grow and spread across the valley.
The rails Of the c. 4 S. crawlcd SLOW.
ly UP the tortu6uS gorge OF Clear
Creek and into the valley, forming an
artery which connected pIe embryo
town with the mother world. 1t was
In these days that Georgetown first
heard the name of Archibald Rayncr.
Tall and powerful, with shaggy
beard and brOws, he appeared to the
curious loafcrs at the depot like a lion
from his native plain. Men looked at
him and wondered. Two hours later
they looked at each other and wonder.
cd more. a quarrel had been started
in the saloon, and when the smoke
had cleared away, a few startled ma
tiyes who looked on from safe dis.
lance saw the newcomer standing
erimly over huddlc Of silent forms
that had been men. There was talk
of a lynching, but men looked on the
stranger and thought better of it, so
Rayner became boss Of the town.
In the mpcs he took the most dar.
ing risks, but always without Il mis-.
hap, and the long tunnels ate their
way steadily into the hills, Wrestling
the wealth of the earth from the grip
of the mighty rock.
Raynsr became man TO be respect
ed, with a respect born Of dread. Men
we're cautious OF him-all but one
man. Little Jack Hudson, from Jop.
lin, Missouri, had somehow become a
fast friend Of the giant. Again men
wondered and shook their heads; but
Hudson lived on.
The two were standing at the
mouth of the tunnel one evening,
watching the stars as they came steal
ing into the clear blue SKY. Hudson
smoked meditatively-his eyes fixed
on the clear heavens above him.
Ills a good world to be In, Archie" "
he said. at length; "a good world
The huge miner gruntei, glanced
I'M ut the stars and sCowled.
why" he asked quietly, knocking
the bowl of his pipe against a grimy
palm.
Hudson stared curIousIy. at his
friend. "Why?" he asked. We'll, why
not?"
The miner Strengthened himself up
with jerk, and his glance flashed
sternly into the others eyes.
Why he repeated scOrnfully.
why? Say, man, arc you blind?"
Hudson's pipe dropped from his lips
and he stared open.mouthed,
You say" went on Rayner stcrnly.
ITS a good world. Do you know what
you're saying? LeSk out into that sky
there. What do you see? Emptiness!
listen! What O. you hear? Silence!
The silence Of ages past, the silence
of men who are gone-wherC? Look
=. ahead, and what? The silence out OF
which the unborn generations come
into which you and ] go. A good
world? Say, Jack, you're fool"
lie scratched match noisily, lit
his pipe and started down the path To-
ward the town. Hudson followed,
amazed at the sudden outiurst. Silent
" they followed the W@ding path
downward. On nearing the foot Of
the path Rayner halted on a narrow
ledge. overlooking the bustling little
town below. Hudson paused beside
him and noted that the big man was
listening intently. 1t was Friday
evening, and there was Il service in
the little church. Softly out Of the
quiet night the words Of song arose,
and Hudson heard the man beside him
catch his breath.
keep Thou my feet; do not ask to
see
The distant. scene; one step enough
for me-"
"Ny mother used TO sing that. back
East once" said the miner, and Hud-
son noticed that his voice trcmbled a
little. 81 wish could" he continued.
Come" and they hurried downward
into the town.
The work in the mine vent forward
next day, with its usual roar Of ma
chincry and shrek Of drills. The ore
cars we're loaded, hurried away, and
returned empty for reloading. Men
were toiling and sweating, and al
ways the shaft was gnawing its way
into the heart OF the misty rock. Sud
,, 49, drjII, u,nrn