The state herald., 1914-02-13

hunted me through the woods ike Q
bear. l doubt II remember all that
happened. must have been crazed
with pain and fear until suddenly
woke up on q boulder by that awful
river. and saw him drift past me.
caught In the rapids. drowning.
would have shouted was so glad.
until he saw me. and dying as he was.
looked at me with Lionel's clear sane
eyes.
tainted, and when l awoke again
in the dusk. Jesse bent over me.
That night and for three weeks aft.
erward, lay delirious. At the ferry
mans cabin he made me bed OF
pine boughs, until my household stun
and the Chinese servant could be
brought down from the ranch. He
sent Surly Brown to bring Doctor Nc
Gee. and the Widow O'F1ynn as my
nurse, while her son Billy was hired
to do his pack-train work. From that
time onward the pack outfit carried
cargoes Of ore from the mine. and
loads from Hundred Mile House OF
every comfort and luxury which
money could buy for me. When got
well, found that Jesse had spent the
savings Of years. and had not dol
lar left
When at last ! crept out Of doors
to bask in the autumn sunlight. the
cottonwoods and aspens were changed
to lemon. the sumac to crimson, the
fallen needles Of the pines clothed
the slopes with orange. and mist Of
milky blue lay in the canon.
Jesse had arranged with lawyers for
the probate Of Lionel's will. and set
tlement of his debts. which would
leave me nothing. As far as Jesse
knew. was penniless. and to this
day have never dared acknowledge
that, secured from the extravaganza
OF my late husband. I have capital
bringing in some seven thousand fve
hundred dollars year. Jesse sup
posed me to be destitute. and when
spoke of returning to my work in
Europe. offered to raise the money for
my passage. Knowing his ranch to
be mortgaged already to its full value.
l wondered what limit there was to
this poor mans valor. Yes, would
accept, assuring him Of swift repay
ment, yet dared not tell him the
wages offered me at Covent Garden.
It seemed indecent that a woman's
voice should be valued at more per
week than his heroic earnings for a
year.
| sang to him. simple emotional mu.
sic: Orfeo's lament. the finale Of I'll
Trovatore." the angel song from Cho-
pins "Marche Funebre."
I wonder why women make It 80
important that a man should propose!
1t needed no telling that Jesse and I
were In love. It seemed only natural
that we should marry. and any pre-.
tense Of mourning for the late Mr..
Trevor would have been dlstastefui.
Although born In the Labrador.
Jesse had been a cowboy In Texas
for half his working life. As q stock.
man. he was TO wed q rancher's
widow. Was he ashamed Of his bust.
ness7 No. proud as Lucifer! Was
he ashamed Of the dress Of his trader
Not by . damned sight! Soldiers and
sailors are proud to wear the dress
Of their trade when they marry. 80
are COW punchers." said he. with his
head In the mir. ''S'pose we ride to
Cariboo City, and get married in that
little old log church.
He managed TO persuade me: and
consented also 10 n hunting trip. In.
stead Of the usual honeymoon.
When | was well enough for the
journey. ! rode my colt. and Jesse
his demon mare-Jones-my sole RI.
val. | think except that dreadful
bear. In his affections Two pack.
ponies carried our camp and baggage.
and each night he would set up q
little tent for me. bedding himself
down beside the nre. Al the end OF
Ave days Journey. we rode at dusk
Into Cnriboo.
House. and Pete Mathson. the carga
dor OF the Star Pack.train. two old
stanch friends OF Jesse. witnessed our
marriage In the quaint log building
which served as church and school.
house.
Captain Taylor is.a retired naval
ofiicer. n pioneer OF the gold mines.
n magistrate. n man to trust. and
when he gave me his heartfelt con.
gratulationr. II was not without
knowledge OF Jesse's character. lie
and Pete. the cargador. rode with us
to the camp OF his Star Packtrain.
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