Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-16
The Long Hike"
BY EVELYN LEE
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.)

P Mr. Taylor OF on his usual mixer
inq dired the presentable young man
who had stopped ut the gate to ac
cost Lizzie Taylor.
"He IS on an unusually long hike
explained the sun-browned pretty-faced
girl.
Not by way of the old desert trailT'
81 fear yes but you see he knows
every foot OF the land, all the safe
resting spots and water holes. There
Is a political campaign on at Blairs-
Vile, and one OF the contestants asked
him to come over and speak"
81 see" murmured the young man
uhSently. Then he fixed his glance
close upon Lizzie and ne added: Dare
speak again of what you have for
bldden?"
"Not now-please, Mr.. Merrill, do not
distress me. have told you clearly
that I cannot marry you. though "a a
friend l deeply respect you. Do not
make it--make 1t so hard for me-"
Ward Merrill bowed his head mute
ly and passed on. and Lizzie stood
gazing sorrowfully. almost longingly
after him.
Ward Merrill was considered for
tunate Young man. His father had
started general store In the thriv-
ing little border town. There were
numerous mining camps IA the dis
trict and the business grew. When
Wards father died he left his son one
of It's wealthlest citizens.
The popular young merchant had
fallen I'm love with Lizzie. She was Il
newcomer John Taylor was her un-
Gle, and Mt his solicitation she had
come 10 keep house for him and in
fact became his adopted daughter.
TAYLOR had met with a terrible accl-
dent In II mine explosion and lost
of property. and when he wrote to
his sister. Lizzie's mother who had Il
family OF eight. Lizzie had been moved
to pity at his forlorn condition,
81 haven't much" ne had told her.
'but you shall be my adopted child.
the home here shall he yours, and |
am sure, crippled though | am, / can
earn enough to keep it comfortable"
Lizzie was content with her new
life. IT was only when Ward Merrill
came around that the even current Of
her life was disturbed He was a
model young man, but rich one, had
been the object of onslaught from
many maneuvering mothers, and at
once Lizzie discerned that she would
be considered n fortune hunter If she
encouraged his suit, Besides that. she
felt 1t her duty to remain true to her
trust TO her uncle. If he was fully
provided for, It would be different
Two days Inter, llmping, dust Gov
cred and utterly exhausted, John Tny-
lor arrived Mt the little cabin looking
as though he had gone through ter
rible ordeal He had taken the aban-
doned and much stunned desert trail
coming back, and had nearly persisted
"If I had not discovered canyon
with springs in II. I should never have
got back" he told Lizzie There was
two miles OF clayey quagmire where
sank To the waist ut times. You can
see where the muShy stun stuck to my
boots"
These were in fact coated an inch
thick with the mud Taylor described.
Lizzie removed them as was her wont.
She made her uncle comfortable and
an hour later In the midst of cleaning
and oillng the boots on the back
porch was Joined by Ward Merrill.
II heard your uncle was home" he
said, and Lizzie recounted the details
OF the hazardous trip.
Ward sought an excuse to remain
I'm the company of the girl he loved
and laughingly offered to clean up the
Jumps of clay that Lizzie had removed
from the boots. AS he swept It off
the porch steps he stopped over and
picked up a piece of the hardened
earth. He inspected It, his eyes eX-
pressing secret excitement He slip
ped the fragment into his pocket and
went his way
i+itfA'.s N'ililIE liNlAit ilblh ~l'lilftli[
next day, found her uncle and Ward
IN close consultation.
Ward and l are going To take n
little trip, Lizzie" Taylor announced
1--WE may be gone several days" and
an hour later they departed in
wagon hauled by two horses
She hailed their return with a smile
thar lightened the heart of Ward
Merrill He did not linger and as
she came into the house Lizzie oh
served new animation in voice and
face of her uncle.
"TiZzie," he spoke, rs he finished the
appealing meal she had prepared for
him, 'you remember that queer clay
ey stuff YOU cleaned from my bootS?"
Eyes, replied Lizzie wcaderingly.
We'll. Ward noticed il, too. lie
took a lump Of Il TO the assayer gold
chuck FUN Of gold and Oh, my dear.
faithful helper who have found no
duty too irksome so II has added 90 my
comfort, your reward has come The
quogmlre | waded through Is great
patch OF virgin gold We've pre-
empted the deposit. and we've brought
home q wagon load Of 1t. that win
make rs rich for life Aud. by the
way, dear, don't let poverty break you;