The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-11-27
II E H BoR s

rather stoutly, but that was no reason
why he should suggest that hitch an
OK to 1t.
can ok" I retorted. "This Is built
for speed. l am going to ask Jean to
go coasting."
"Aha!' said Jack, significantly. 81
wish you all possible-speed."
Jean showed no reluctance about go.
ing. She drew on wooden sweater
and short, cloth winter coat, with O
collar of some fluffy kind of fur which
had originally grown on cat. She
had little fur cap of the same ma
terial which she pulled down snugly
on her head, and we were off.
We followed the crest of the gully
for some distance in the direction OF
| Sneezit's farm, ostensibly in search OF
good coasting spot, but actually much
engaged with our. thoughts and the real
purpose Of our outing. That Jean
understood 1t perfectly l was con
WINGED, and under such circumstances
the fact that she had so readily &C
cepted my invitation was at least a
hopeful omen.
Walking on the untracked snow In
| midwinter Is an uncertain business,
and the prairie people rarely make use
of snowshoes. For the most part
there was frozen crust that bore our
weight, but this crust has an unfor-
tunate habit of giving way at unex-
pected moments, particularly when one
has just taken big stride forward
There is an effect very much like
coming upon the head of the stairs In
the darkness when you think you are
still safely walking along the hall. II
precipitates one forward with great
suddenness, but fortunately snow is
good thing to fall in. We scrambled
to our feet, laughing and in high
spirits. 1t was a wonderful thing to
laugh again. and mean it.
AT last we found a place where the
snow had curved in a great white
plume over the bank of the gully. For
fifty or sixty feet it dropped away in
| an absolutely smooth descent; then
came sudden pitch, as though great
ladle had scooped out the drift; then a
succession of little pillows whipped
up by the cross currents at the foot of
the hill.
at looks good" said Jean. LET me
see if it is firm"
With that she ran out upon the drift,
her dainty feet tripping down it like a
bird. But the descent was sleeper
than she thought; her momentum over
balanced her, and in an instant l saw
her careering wildly down the slope,
her arms outstretched, her hair flying
loose from under the rim of her cap.
Near the foot she disappeared entirely.
Perhaps / should have rushed after
her, but didn't. l sat down leisurely
ut the top of the hill and waited for
hand came up over the crest which
hid her from view; then something
something round and furry, like a
sleeping kitten then forehead, two
eyes, and a glimpse of cheeks.
Aren't you coming down-to help
me?" she called.
Now l had meant to stand on my
rights; to tell Jean that she had gone
down the hill on her own accord, and
might come back in the same way +;
perhaps to poke some quiet mirth at
her efforts to scramble up the slip
perry drift. When a man contemplates
| matrimony he may as well settle at
once who's who, and why. Now was
my time to be firm.
"No, I'm not coming" said.
Jean looked at me for a moment, in
surprise; then uttered not another
| word. But from her hand she drew
her wooden mitten, and raised her fine,
| firm fingers in the air. One of those
| fingers crooked, with the knuckle bent
toward me, and the finger pointing to
her face; then, with little seductive
| flicker, she beckoned me to her.
| 1t was too much. / sprang on my
sled and shot like an arrow to its
| target.
isn't it wonderful, wonderful" she
exclaimed. "All this white wilderness
| to play in, to shout in-Listen - And
she helloed at the top of her voice.
Only an echo beating back from the
banks of the gully, answered. See, we
are all alone-alOne in all the world.
Why didn't you bring me out here be-
| forew
Are you glad to be alone with me,
Jean?' / asked, drawing her hand into
mine. "Are you glad to be here, alone,
| with me?"
''Why, yes. You are my friend"
"Only your friend?"
"Oh, see, there's place where per-
haps we can slide right over the pitch
| Let'sr'
She was on the sled in an instant,
and / behind her. l kicked it loose.
With a gentle crunching sound the
runners started scraping through the
snow; then, as the speed Increased, the
sound rose to a whine which mingled
| with the rush of air in our ears and
the spray of snow in our faces. jeans
heels were just above the snow sur
face, and when, as happened once. or
twice, they dropped too low, they
showered us with flying icy crystals
| Then, just at the dip, one heel drove
] in much too deep-too deep to be ac-
/ -,