The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-09-19

| herself would break silence. And now
she had asked him to accompany her
to her fathers home, and to spend
few days roaming their old haunts in
the foothills.
Y.D., older. but in unimpaired vigor,
greeted him boisterously. swell, well,
you old coyote! Had to come back to
the hills They all do. If l was
young man again I'd get me herd o
heifers an trek into the back country.
spite o. hell an high water"
The greeting of the rancher's wife
was less ELUSIVE, but no less sincere.
The evening was spent in hospitality.
The next afternoon Zen appeared at
the gate with horses saddled for two.
Come, Denny, we are going for
ride" she announced, land in few
minutes their mounts were pounding
down the trail which led over the foot
hills to the South Y.D.
Zen was strangely silent upon their
ride, and Grant, after futile attempts
to engage her In conversation, was
content to ride at her side and admire
her Craftsmanship and her beauty. The
suffering and the years had left her
strangely unscarred; she seemed to
Grant wholly as adorable as on that
day Of her unspoken confession when
they had met at the ford. Soon she
must speak, Well, he had waited; he
still could wait.
They followed the trail, little
changed by all the passage of years,
down the slopes to the South Y.D.
They forded the river, and Zen swung
her horse about in the grove of cotton
woods.
You remember this spot, Denny"
she asked. at is where we first met"
81 remember" he said. No, he would
not be tempted into a demonstration.
She must lead.
The sun was gliding the mountain
tops with gold, and gliding, too, Gems
face and hair with beauty ineffable.
For a moment she sat in the slanting
light like a statue Of bronze. For an
instant her eys met his; then fell. She
spurred her horse to a plunge and gal
loped ahead up the valley.
Miles passed, and the quick twi-
light of the foothills was upon them
before she drew up again. This time
it was by great bowlder, sort of
fiat rock stranded on the slOping
shoulder of a hill. Something seemed
to burst In Grants throat as he rec
ognized 1.-THE rock on which they
had spent that memorable night SO
long ago when the world and they
were young Thank God. Zen was
young still! Romance burned in ner
heart-who but Zen would have
thought of this?
/ He sprang from his horse, and she
from hers He approached her with
open arms.
"Zen-you have brought me here
for a purpose! Don't deny I'll I I'M
derstand!"
She was In his arms. "How we'll
YOU read ones mind" she murmured
"But oh, how slOwly!'
He held her tight. There were
worlds to say, but he could whisper
only "Zen-my Zen," into the tangled
glory Of her hair.
At length she held him gently away.
TRAIL" she said.
1t was true enough; horse and
rider were rapidly approaching. AS
he skirted the hill he caught sight of
them, swung off from the trail and
rode up beside them.
"Ah, here you are!" he exclaimed.
Hope didn't keep you waiting. Mrs.
Transley?"
you are punctuality ITSELF" Zen
said as she took his hand. "You
haven't met Mr.. Grant? Denny, this
Is Mr.. Munroe-the reverend Mr..
Munroe."
1.-THE reverend! Whati Howl Zen,
explain things!'
Every simple. Mr.. Munroe was to
meet us here at eight. It's eight
o'clock. and here he is.
Zen was unstrapping kit from her
saddle. 81 have a document here-if
!, haven't lost (which will interest
Mr.. Munroe All, here 1t isl
She produced an envelope, and Mr..
Munroe examined the contents. Seems
all in order" he remarked. "A
license authorizing the marriage of
i Dennison Grant and Zenith Transley
This rock should make a very ac-
| ceptabIe pulpit. Suppose, Mr.. Grant,
you take this woman's hand in yours
| and stand before me?"
i 1t was dark when the minister, hav-
ing completed the ceremony and shared
j in the supper which Zen produced from
saddlebag, said hearty adieu and
/ turned his horses head down the val
ley. Dennison and Zen listened to the
pounding of hoofs until it died out in
the distance. Then the tremendous.
/ the unreasonable silence of the hills
wrapped them all about, folded them
in it's friendly arms, fondled and
caressed them on the threshold of
their new life. -.
After awhile the moon came up,
| white and glorious. as 1t had that night
so many years before.
THE END.1
4
CONGREGATION Broved