The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-06-15
SILAS
APPRECIATED
HIS PAL
&c by D. ]. Walsh.l

TlLAS ADOLPHUS PETERK1N,
followed by his faithful, hungry
~ eyed wife, climbed slowly to the
rocky slope leading to the most
picturesque stream in their vicinity
His hand grasped the fishing rod firm
ly as though in preparation of good
days catch. II hate to bother the
frisky little fellers, Belindy," he said
pleasantly. 81 wouldn't ketch 'em If
we didn't get hungry way up here in
these high mountains.
Belinda received his usual outburst
in silence; somehow she didn't feel
like talking today; it seemed so good
to have Silas home again, although
she felt proud when the big pros
pectOrs of the country employed him
as their guide.
When they reached the brow of the
slope Silas halted for a silent ap-
proval of the valley below. He loved
these mountains and he wasn't
ashamed of the sentiment he felt. He
knew them from ridge to ridge, every
snow-capped peak, each PERCEPTIONS
chasm. He was the inspiration of the
tourists. Many an excursion he had
conducted in safety to some perilous
place of wonder in the range, many
more had declined because of Belinda !;
it wasn't fair that she should take all
her pleasures secOnd-handed. He spent
hours telling her stories of the great
world outside. She had never been
away from these mountains, they had
shut her In until she had almost
ceased to think of anyone but Silas
"Some day." Silas constantly told
himself, I'm going to take Belindy
some place; don't know where" AS
they climbed up and again hurried on
he glanced toward her contentedly.
Belinda" he told her, 81 get more out
of Twin than / guess most folks dc"
Belinda held up one foot as though
loath TO take another forward. step
Life is like this rocky road" she
contributed.
"YOu amt seen life,"" he FASTENED
TO console her. 81 can't somehow
ever get enough money TO take you
into 1.-THE cities where there's music
and folks smile because they know
things"
"YOu better rest a while now, hadn't
you, Silas? We can set right here on
this rock"
Silas drew himself up in the strength
of his spirit, his long, 1.-THE body, the
picture of the freedom he felt. "Me
take an old-age tonic? Jerushy's king
dom! No-sir-ee," be cried as he
caught her up in his arms and bur-
ried on down the hill.
There, now, | knew when you put
on that red necktie this mornin' you'd
keep on goin'," she managed to ex-
claim. "Set me down this minute
Silas Peterkin. You're too old to cut
up like that, besides wearin' red ties
like a boy" Instantly her thought
REQUIRED to string of blue beads
(which lay in tempting display in the
window of Andrews store. Mebbe
she'd dress up and feel Eighty if they
ever had the money to spend. She
had to pass the store with her eyes
closed now; the beads were the Keen
est temptation she had ever known.
Silas' arms were flung out to the
highest peak of the range. "Old
Glory" be called that one. He had
his own name for them ALL Presently
his arms crept down to Belinda's
shoulders. He clasped her close for a
moment, her head dropping dumbly
on his breast Grandeur and beauty
surrounded them. He felt the strength
of It. She was accustomed to seem
cry. ALI she wanted was Silas and
the string of blue beads.
you're regular pal" he said,
kindly, as they continued their walk
down the hill. "I've Jeen wantin' to
ask why under the canopy of heaven
did they call you Belindy, mite of
a woman like your"
Belinda caught her breath. Silas
was finding her amisS. He didn't like
her name. She was a woman who
back at him. He wouldn't knowingly
hurt a fly. The name Silas was q poor
substitute for Arthur or Reginald !;
how she wished she could call him
her Reginald. She smiled up into his
face. "Mebbe they thought the name
Belindy was pretty" she finally said,
cor mebbe they didn't care; | bein'
still another girl, when they wanted
a boy so bad. You Light call me
Bee or Indy: there amt no sting in
Indy"
Saint many wives know what 1t
means to be a good pal,'' he praised
her, as he made his way to the bank
of the stream, which sparkled and
danced along In a most inviting fash
ion. "Never mind names, Indy, never
mind names"
81 suppose I'll have to sit on that
big bOwlder while you wade up and
down." she answered. "Just lookin' at
you keeps me contented."
mot many wives would be so en-
tertainin' and sociable, Indy. Then