The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-23

his son Bryce was born, and here, two
days later, the new-made mother made
the supreme sacrifice Of maternity.
For half a day following the de
structfop Of his Eden John Cardigan
sat dumbly beside lis wife, his great,
hard hand caressing the auburn head
whose every thought for three years
had been his happiness and comfort.
Then the doctor came to him and men,
toned the matter of funeral arrange
ments.
Cardigan looked up at him blankly.
Funeral arrangements" He passed
his gnarled hand over his leonine
head. "Ah, yes, suppose so. j shall
attend to it."
He rose and left the house, walking
with bowed head out of Sequoia, up
the abandoned and decaying skid
road through the second-growth red
woods to the dark green blur that
marked the old timber, up the skid
road recently swamped from the land
ing to the down timber where the
crcsscut men and barkpeelers were at
work, on into the green timber where
the woods-bOss and his men were
chopping.
"Come with me, McTavish,' he said
to his woods-boss. They passed
through a narrow gap between two
To-. hills and emerged in long mar
row valley where the redwoods grew
thickly and where the smallest tree
was not less than fifteen feet in diam
eter and two hundred ane fifty feet
tall. Mc|avish followed at his
masters heels as they penetrated this
grove, making their way with diff
Guilty through the underbrush until
they came at length to little amphi-
theater, clearing perhaps hundred
feet In diameter, oval-shaped and
surrounded by wall of redwoods of
such dimensions that even McTavish,
who was 10 stranger to these natural
maryels, was struck with wonder.
"McTavish," Cardigan said, "she
died this morning"
I'm sore distressed for you, sir,'
the woodS-boss answered. "We'd q
whisper in the camp yesterday that the
lass was like to be in a bad way"
Cardigan scuffed with his foot a
clear space in the brown litter.
''Take two men from the section-gang,
McTavish," he ordered. "and have
them dig her grave here; then swamp
a trail through the underbrush and
out to the donkey-landing, so we can
carry her in. The funeral will be
private"
McTavish nodded. "Any further
orders, sir?"
eyes. When you come to that little
gap In the hills. cease your logging
and bear Off yonder." He waved his
hand. SIN not going to cut the tim
Der in this valley. You see, McTavish,
what it is. The trees here-ah, man.
/ haven't the heart to destroy Gods
most wonderful handiwork. Besides,
she loved this spot, McTavish, and she
called the valley her Valley of the
Giants. II gave it to her for wed.
ding present because she had a bit of
dream that some day the town I
started would grow up to yonder gap,
and when that time came ard we could
afford it, twas in her mind to give
her Valley of the Giants to Seuuoia
for city park. all hidden away here
and unsupported.
"She loved it, McTayish, twas our
playhouse, McTavish, and who am no
longer young-I who never played I'M
til met her-I-I'm a bit foolish. /
fear, but found rest and comfort
here, McTayish, even before / met
her, and Pm thinking I'll have to come
here often for the same. She was
like this sunbeam, McTavish. She
| She"
AYE" murmured McTavish huskily.
Il ken. Ye wouldna gle her common
or public spot in which to wait for
ye. An yen be shuttin' down the
mill an loggin'camps an layin' off the
hands in her honor for bit?
"Until after the funeral, McTavish.