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THE ARGUS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, iSqt. IN CAMP. Skyward (ini. that ww It all. Vhfciper what tliou never k do west I Many, many thinm l-efall Wbeu the coaxing moon Is tall. Throng)) the tender yhade thon throw, rot. Blame not me. () Pine, too soon! I ye a-1 (.i-cuiled me to HI Had It not Wo uluht and Jane. With the pine tiret!i and the moon, I had ne'er lieen bold to do it. Ah, her forehead wan so white Where that soft ray came and kissed her: Where the happy heaven's light MnKerml with her as of right As of sister with a Mister! All our littlo ramp asleep; Only 1 at midnight waking Wakintc to the moou to creep. Kiss her silent brow and keep Lips aye holier for that slaking. She, O Pine, will never know Never blush amid her laughter. She is nothing poorer so, i ho rich as who Khali go Dreaming it forever after! Charles K. Lummis in Scrihner's. A MOUNTAIN ROMANCE. Tl:;y had left the rest af the party, with the fruides and burros, at the rude little "hallway house" by the tiny lake that lay like an oblong emerald in a setting of bronze, and had wandered away by them selves he, the brown learded young west ern metallurgist, with a successful career opening before him, and she, the white face;), delicate looking sojourner from Bos ton, with her creolc hair and eyes. The benediction of a perfect Indian sum mer afternoon lay upon the scene. The clonditss skv so blue that it reminded iier of the exquisite coloring of an Easter egg at home; the air so still that even the trenioling of the aspen leaves ceased at in tervals, the h.-i.c about the mountain top like a golden fog it Wiis an afternoon that made one forget that there were ever ex trenos of temperature, or that the sun leai::s must soon sink into the west. Even the uaudy little chipmunks, from safe eminences, placidly regarded the intruders with indolent and contemplative eyes, and the bird seemed mesmerized into a drowsy Mat. Tl'ey had sauntered for some time now, nnd Madge was getting very tired, for the way had been rough. She did not realize the tune nor the distance they had wan-den-d she only knew that to her th whole tbinj; was a poem and a painting so exquisite that if she had lieurd an organ suddenly burst forth into otie of Handel's masturpieces it would have seemed quite in keeping with the place, au.l she would insti'intivnly have fallen upon her knees. BjVs thoughts werequitediflererit. He, too, was a lover of ustture and capable of deep feeling, but a perfect Colorado after noon was not Dew to him, while bis love for Madge was; and his pleasure came from seeing her keen but. placid enjoy ment. It was uo accideut on his part tii.it they were separated from the rest, and he realized fully that they had been gone over an hour ami were a long distance from the hike. His happiness lay in being alone with her, in watching the waves of surprise and pleasure rippling over her face us new shapes and new landscapes opened upon her view, in answering the childlike questions that bubbled from the dark eyes and pretty lips, and more than all in the thrilling touch of the slender arms nnd the soft, warm hands as he as sisted her over the rough places. It was : heaven to him and could not last long euough. But when at last she gave a weary little sigh and sat down upon a convenient log as they reached a bit of level, saying, "Oh, dear, I'm so tired:" he responded quickly: "I think, perhaps, we've gone far enough. It's getting alotig in the afternoon and is time to start hack." , "Are we very far from them?" she asked suddenly, seeming to realize for the ttrst time that they migiit le. "About a mile, I should say, but I really haven't kept much track of the distance, and 'his part of the trail is somewhat new to me." After this there was silence for some time. He saw now that she was quite ex hausted, and it occurred to him that t lie altitude was having some effect upon her He blamed himself inwardly for his tuonghllessncMX, ami was about to ask her if she had trouble in breathing, w hen a midden chiil iu the atmosphere, accom panied by a movement of the air that set the nspens to shivering violently, followed by a gradual dimming of the sunshine, caused them to glance simultaneously to ward the sun. What appeared to Madge like a fog was hurrying ncross it, and rapidly growing denser; and as she looked up toward the highest (toint visible in the west she could see the gray, mistlike sub stance stealing in between and around the rocks and pines and sweeping silently down toward them. He answered her look of interrogation by saying somewhat nhsentmindedly: "Clouds! A change of weather! I might have known that the heat this afternoon meant something if I hadn't been thinking He stopped abruptly and colored; bnt site bad turned and was absorbed in the curious transformation that was going ou, and lost hut lust low spoken words. The gray column had completely ob scured the sun and was moving rapidly toward them now, leaving behind a great gray wall. They both shivered, and he prang briskly to his feet. "As soon as you arc rested. Miss Cham berluin, I think we had better start back. It looks as though we might have a squall, nnd perhaps snme snow. This is one of the changes that are common here at this sea son of the year. We foolishly left our wrap behind. It was my fanlt, though, for you know nothing of these changes, of coarse." She had risen now and started to speak. "Don't you breathe easily" he exclaimed with some concern, noticing that she pressed her hand to her chest. She had paled a little, and now gasped two or three times before she answered, with a smile: "It seems as though I couldn't get quite enough air iu my lungs. I have felt it sev eral times this afternoon. It's trifling," he went on reassuringly; "1 will take your arm, though, please, because I am really very tired." "What a very heavy fog," she continued, rbivering, ufter they bad walked a short distance; "and how dump it is." "Yon conld hardly call It fog," he said. "We are in the midst of a cloud, and it is an unusually thick one," he added after a pause, glancing aliout nervously. The great gray mass had caught them now, and had closed in upon them on every side beneath them, above them, around them, pressing against their faces and brushing their hands with its cold, clammy fingers, leaving moisture and cbill with very touch. ' There was no thought of fear in Madge's mind. Why should there lie? They were only a si ort distanco from the hotela mile or so perhaps. One could almost hear a shout ttat far. Then, too, she was lean ing upon a strong arm, nnd she enjoyed the sensa ion of being in the midst of a cloud us s le enjoyed everything that was new. "Why, see!" she exclaimed brightly, "it's so th ck one can almost grasp a hand ful': Why. deur me! I can see it pass be twen me w your hat," she laughed as she threw her head to one side and glanced upward. 'And see the moisture on your coat!" she went on, rubbing her hand along his arm and flipping the water from her fingers. Bob's cy s were fixed in front, and while she was wc ndcring why he did not answer and seemtd so quiet, a sudden gust of wind tore Iier hat from her head and in an instant whirled it out of sight into the, all surrounding gray. With a short "Stand quite still, please," he hurried after it. How odd it was to be there all nlone! There wis something so solemn, so awful in the silen -o, the isolation and the som bemess of t lie place! To be able to see and feel nothing save the rocks at her feet and the noiseless mist floating by; to hear noth ing but the moaning of the wind, to real ize that she might be within a few feet of a precipice mid not know it! It was li-te standing upon impalpable air and grasping at it helplessly with the world slipping away into the distance! Madge shuddered, and there must have been'sometl. ing in the look that she turned upon Bob, M-ho had appeared out of the gloom at h r side so suddenly and noise lessly as to t lmost startle her, that showed the relief sle felt in having him with her again, for li s face, that was set and seri ous, softener into a reassuring smile, and the swift, eaer glance of the eyes that she had noticed once before during the after noon might have warned ner i liac lie, at least, was on dangerous ground. But it only caused a strange little fluttering of her heart as she replaced her hat and took his arm wit! out a word. In utter siliMiee they traversed now what seemed to Madge to be a long distance. It had been but a short time since the change had t iken place, but already the wind had risen to a gale, and the gloom had deepened into a black wall around them, while in the distance could lie heard the roar and rattle and crash of the ap proaching stc rm, that wasalready heralded by a few wondering flakes of snow that were whirled alonf too fast to find a rest ing place. 1 heir pace bad unconsciously slackened. and now they were simply groping their wny over the logs and stumps, around the bowlders and lietweeii the swaying pines that arose on after another through the mist like a s ragglitig column of retreat ing soldiers, v hen suddenly Bob uttered a surprised exrl mint ion and stood still. Not five feet in front of t hem arose a solid wall of perMudicu.ar rock, its boundaries lost iu the mist. Madge's gla ice of interrogation revealed to her the rplexity, anxiety and irrita tion outlined i.-i Bob's face and caused het to ask earnest v: iiy. .Mr. iarker. have you lost your way?' Her ouly snurer was a jagged, quivering glare that seemed to envelop them from every side, bi-iulueiiiug up the scarped cliff in front and showing them upon its surface the odd, dank tufts of dark green moss be tween which t) e moisture was slowlv trick ling t. the iM.se. l he verv earth under them trembled, t he air recoiled in terror, and the mom tain seemed to split to its base with the almost simultaneous crash that followed. The storm hi d overtaken them! Madge tried to smile after she had relin quished her hysterical grasp of Bob's arm, but there was no answering smile from hirn, mid a vag le fear swept over her. "I don't recognize this rock," he niut tered in a low t ine. "I secru to have lost the trail. LetV work our way along the face of this a little." Once more the slow and hesitating march was resumed. The fluttering flukes ef snow had changed to tiny hailstones that were rapidly -vhiten- ing the ground. The first grand rush of the wind was over, and it had quieted down into a sul en moan thatwasmcre.lv an undertone t.o the great orchestra of heaven whose reverberating notes were ringing from pe ik to peak and rolling ma jesticaily down he valleys. Faster and lister lieat the hail, now rapidly changin f back to snow; colder and colder moaned the wind as they wearily and silently picked their way along in the shadow of the d -eary dirt. Madge shivered perceptibly, and Boh, turning nuicklv tore off his coat, and with a peremptory "I'm it on, please," threw it over her should rs and bnttoned it aroand her neck, paying no attention to her mild expostulation. She did not pe -sist iu it, for his manner and voice allow d uo refusal. She felt by this time that they were in some danger, though she con! 1 hardly tell how or why. True, it was growing very cold and wan snowing heavily, but such a combination was not new to her, although she waa rather lightly dr -ssed. And what if they bail temporarily lost their way? The storm would probably f oon be over, even If they didn't tind the trail In-fore then. She might catch a very bad cold. AmI that would have been almut the extent of her anxiety if it hacl not been for her compan ion's actions. She had never before seen him so quiet and preoccupied. Heseemed to avoid look ing at her, whu'h was certainly very tin usual for him. I is almost constant smile was gone and his mouth firmly set. He seemetl to be wat :hiug and listening like all niiiniai t v r u w v j . sums ahead. If he woidd only talk to her reas suringly it would remove this vague un easiness. She could stan 1 it uo longer, and she asked, rather tii iidly for her, who had been used to the t lost childlike frankness and directness wi ,h him: "Mr. Barker, is there much danger, do you thinkf" He did not turn bis head, but answered with :t deliberation which only increased her anxiety: "Not ut present: but we are certainly lost for the moment, and I am afraid we are simply making a circle and returning to the spot we started from. 1 hope to tind the trail again in u moment." "How can you find it when the snow is covering it all up?'' I The question came from her impulsively, and somehow ehe felt sorry the moment she asked it. Poor Bob! He hud not deliberately lied to her, but he hadn't told the -vhole trnth; and she hud given utterance to the very question that was iu his own mind. "I think I could easily find my wny by landmarks if the c oud would lift," he an swered evasively. She suspected no ar that he was conceal- ing the truth from her, and her temper and courage rose with t he crisis. She said en- ertretically: "It U Terr unfair of you, Mr. Barker, to coi2ti any clangor from me. titled to know it. I am not a ba He stopped and turned upon . ruptly. "The storm may last two or three hours, the snow get very deep and the cold in tense. I can stand it, no doubt, because I am' strong, but you you" the deep voice was a little uncertain nere, ami ine iwu hands that had involuntarily grasped hei arms as he had turned tightened convul sively "you are delicate, you know" He did not finish, but before he turned his head away the same look came into his eyes again the same, only a little differ ent this time. There was no mistaking it. He might as well have said in so many words, "I love you!" Madge's heart gave a great bound, and then came a rush of tenderness toward the man who, as she had just discovered, would lay down bis life to save hers. His strange mood was ail clear to her now. And her own feelings were a revelation that almost shocked her. The hours she nad spent with him were the shortest and sweetest she had ever known. She re called the sense of security and of restful- ness that his voice and presence always gave; the trututulness ana earnestness ol his character; his constant and watchful devotion to her. which she had carelessly overlooked as mere gallantry; his exclama tion and strange conduct that moonlit uight upon the veranda when she had dropped her engagement ring mnd he had Iirst guessed t hat she was pledged to an other. And if was inevitable that with the swiftness of thought she should compare him with that other one in the east, with his boyish face, effeminate manner and su percilious air of superiority, to whom, in their college days, she had bound herself. It Btart.led Iier, for she had never before thought him effeminate or supercilious, and she felt guilty. These thoughts hurried through her brain as she stood waiting while Bob was endeav oring to discover through the whirling whiteness some familiar landmark. Some how she could not feel very much alarmed with him by her side after all, notwith standing his word. She realized now. however, that she was very cold and very faint, and that the pressure about her chest was growing heavier. The wind had risen again and the snow was beating an grily against their faces, as though it wished to blind them. Barker was by nature hoiieful, persist ent and pugnacious, with a cool, quick brain in auy physical emergency, and with increasing resistance to increased obsta cles, but he could scarcely see his baud be- fo-o his face. The trail had long since leen obliterated, and he was utterly at a loss what direction to take or what to do except that Miss ChamiM-rlain must be kept moving, if possible, to keep off that deathly chill until help should come or the storm should lift. His own teeth would be chattering us hers were but for his indom itable will. He kuew t hat she relied upon him and did not realize the danger. But would it not lie better to impress the truth upon her? Would she not rise to the emergency anil fi lit to the bitter end? Her action at the moment decided him iiLstantly. She had wearily sunk upon a log and was resting her face" upon her hands. He sprang to her and said with decision: "Miss Chamberlain, you must not give way like that. You must realize that we are in great danger and that if we let the cold benumb us we are lost." Her pleading answer sent a great throb of fear through his heart, for it made plain to him that she was already under the in fluence of that awful spell which, like the charming of the snake, makes the ap proach of death seem like a dream. I am not cold now, but so tired! The storm will soon be over and they will come for us. Please wait here! Action was needed now. He had his vest left. Without a word he wrenched that off, lifted her to her feet, unbuttoned the coat that was around her, took it off, forced the vest upon her, not heeding the feeble motion with which she waved it away f astened it, replaced the coat and hurried her forward through the storm anywhere anywhere, he cared not where. But t hey went only a short distance, when she tot tered, stumbled and almost fell, clasped her hands convulsively to her bosom and uttered an exclamation of pain. He put his arm closeraround her, her head drooped heavily upon his shoulder and her voice came in a whisper: "I can hardly breathe. I am too weak to walk. Ijeave me here, and if you can't get help, save yourself. All restraint was gone now. He pressed her close to him with both arms and kissed her ag'iin and again. "Ix-ave you, Madge, when I brought you here? Ijeave all I care for on earth? 1 love you, I love you, child! God forgive me for saying so, but I can t help it. She drew herself back from him an in stant, the color flamed again into the white face, the big eyes looked full into his, then closed slowly as she put out her arms like a tired child and was taken back into his embrace. He bent down closer to catch the word "And I love you, Robert! Surely there can lie no barm in confessing it now. with death so near. I was not sure until this afternoon. God cannot blame me for tell ing you so. We will both soon be before him, and he will judge. Kiss me good by. dear. I am so tired! He covered her long, dark eyelashes her cold, blue hps her moist hair her marble like cheeks and forehead with passional kisses. Her feeble clasp about his neck strengthened a little, and she smiled gently. the swirling snow and the wailing wind t were nothing to him now. He raised his . head, and underneath the joyous triumph in his eyes ttiere was a desperate glitter as as be glanced about him. Death I Who talked of death? They should not die there like rats in a hole Life was sweet to him now. The future was bright. She loved him and she was his by right. Was there no escape from this biting cold and pitiless snow? He would shout. The wild wind swept it away with a mocking burst of laughter. It was like shouting over the sea. His voice was almost gone. If he only had his revolver with him he might make himself heard. Fool! tool to leave every thing behind that would have been useful! Bobbins always carried a revolver. Surely they would try to signal. Hark! what was that? Only the roll of the distant tbnnder. When the storm came up it was from the west, and the wind whs blowing toward the lake. Yes, he reuiemliered that. The wind hadn't changed, and all he had to do was to follow it. Why hadn't he thought of thin" before? There was hope yet! He would carry her! He lifted her in his arms and staggered forward a few feet. He had to give it up. His legs and arms were icy cold and his joints skiff. He must get his .blood into circulation first. He would scrape away the snow and place Madge against tba: shelving rock. She seemed to be sleeping now. She was protected somewhat from the wind there. Now he would warm up a little and then carry her to the lake. Ail he had to do was to fo'.low the direction of the wind. Ab, how swkwarv of him to stumble liketbatt It must have been a stone that tripped him. What's that? Blood? He must have cut bis forehead, then! How bard it is to get up again! Oh, well! perhaps he had better lie down and take a little nap and then then a-n-d t h e n The snow had ceased falling, and the wind's dreary monotone has died away to a mere whispering nmoflfr the ghostlike pines that stand up cold and stark, like sentinels frozen on duty. The lifted and rapidly shifting clouds are pierced here and there by tiny slanting shafts of trun shine that touch the snow with sparkling diamond points. Wider and longer grow the bine rifts in the rolling, hurrying, and dissolving mass of clouds above, whose color is slowly changing from black to gray. Suddenly, bursting through the ragged fringes of the western cloud cur tain, the sinking sun touches with golden brush the pyramids, towers, minarets and domes outlined in white relief against the hideous blackness of the swiftly departing snow clouds iu the east. A beautiful rain bow poised on two marble peaks, and span ning the valley, bangs in the eastern sky. 1 he snow is not deep and does not ex tend very far. One can easily see where its edge meets the green of the valley be low, and can almost hear the busy hum of the people far down the mountain side, so deathly still is it ou the snow capped peaks. The man sleeps on quite comfortably in his shirt sleeves, and the woman lies as quietly as t hough she had never known any other pillow than one of snow. Vet he cold is intense. The branches snap in the frosty air. The sun has gone and the shadows are settling down upon the valley. It will be msht soon. "Cod iu heaven! Jim, look there!" Bobbins' strong bass voice was only a whisper. "That s her, sir! And here he is! See! In his shirt sleeves too! And there's blood ou the snow at his head!' What was the signal? Five double shots, wasn't it?" "Yes, sir." ( 'All right! Now one! two! three! four! live! There! Have you got plenty of car tridges?" "Plenty, sir."' "All riifht! Now let's tnrn him over. God! How white lie is! Hush! I can't hear anything, but I think I feel a slight lieat! Take off his shoe! Light a match, quick! Ahl he feels that burn! Thank God! Pour the whisky down him while I go to her. First let's give 'em another signal! Hark! They've answered. They're oming! Shout, Jim! Poor little girl. I'm afraid we're too late for vou. She seems very Miff, and 1 can't hear or feel any movement of the heart at all! Yon bad a great be.id, Jim, to think of bring ing those burros. We'd had a hard time carrying them Imck. Bel ter not try to do ! anything here but give them whisky. It won t take long to get them to the house, and then wo can go to work on them in ad earnest. Ah! there's her MSter!" "Is she dead, Mr. Bobbins?' "I hope mt, Miss Grace. It will take some time to tell, though, after we get her In lied. Q:-,n k, bring that burro here. Mike! Nevermind the dress. Miss Grace. We mustn't stand on ceremony now. It's a rase ol liie and death: There! Balance her in that way. That will take the weight off of ns a:d we can rub her limbs as we go along." Mr. Bobbins, manager and principal owner of the great Denver smelter, looked up over his classes, his coffee and his pa per at his wile, who was busily engaged with pencil and paier on the opposite side of the breakfast table. "My dear, you rememlxT the two Cham berlain girls who were here last fall?" Mrs. Ko'.hiiis was making out a list for a very select "tea," and was consequently much preocenpied. l es. dear. Shall I put their names down?" No, no. I didn't mean that. They are not here anyway. By the way, tboueh, I saw them when I was down at the Springs yesterday. But don tyou remember it was the little one that was caught in the snow storm wit h Barker up Ht Green Iake last fall and hail such a hard pull with pneu monia? And you know we couldn't un derstand why they moved down to the Springs iH'fore she was really well, and even liefore Barker got around himself. Yon thought there was something between her nnd him. although I told yon she was engaged to young Colby, son of Chamber lain s partner. ell, here is a fine story from Boston this morning about the boy. Listen: '"A scandal in aristocratic circles that has lieen suppressed for several months through the strenuous exertions of the two families interested came to the surface yesterday, when it was discovered that the son of Millionaire Colby, of the well known firm of Chamberlain & Colby, who had forged his father's name for nearly $100,000, was legally married to the notorious va riety actress, Fanny Ijeslie, with whom he is now said to be traveling in Europe. Of course the forgeries were quietly settled long since by the old gentleman, and the matter would have been kept quiet but for the accidental discovery of the marriage by an inquisitive reporter. A Had feature of the affair is that t he young scapegoat has been for a long time eugaged to a daughter of the senior partner, and the wedding day was actually set some time since, the post ponement being explained on the ground that the young lady's failing health neces sitated a sudden return to Colorado Springs, where she is at present. It is said that Colby will disinherit' " The reading was interrupted at this point by the appearance of a servant with a note for Mr. Kobbins, whose puzzled and surprised look gave way gradually to genial smile as he perused the nervously written missive, laid it down, took off his glasses and answered his wife's look of in terrogation. Barker usks for a week's leave of ab sence on tersonal business. You were right, dear, after all. He has seen the paper this morning, and he'll be at the Springs before sundown." Charles Scates In Komance. Love at First SiCht. Friend So yours was a case of love at first sight? Mrs. Getthere 1 es, indeed. I fell des perately iu love with my dear husbaud the moment I set eyes upon him. I remember it as distinctly as if it were yesterday. was walking with papa on the beach at Long Branch, when suddenly papa stopped and pointing him out, said, "There, my dear, is a man worth ten millions." New York Weekly. A Disagreeable Chap. Winks I don't like Hardhead. Minks He's a fellow who thinks he knows it all, isn't he? Winks Worse, He does know it all, aad proves it. Good News. M c 1 ntirebros Grand Handkerchief Sale. Handkerchiefs for ladies. Handkerchiefs for gents. Handkerchiefs for every body. Embroidered. Scollopped. Plain. Hemstitched. Initial. Novelties. Silk handkerchiefs, 2c. Gents' large white hanker chiefs, Sc. Immense assortment of colored borders 1c, 3c, 4c and 5c. Mufflers. A handsome variety in silk and wool. Attend this handkerchief sale and save money. cINTIRE R-ock THE LARGEST STOCK OF Furniture and Carpets IN THE THREE CITIES, NOS. 1525 and 1527 SECOND AVE. AND 121, 12oandl28 Sixteenth Street. CLEMANN CONRAD SCHNEIDER DEALER IN GROCERIES, PROVISIONS, Flour, Etc. Telephone 1098. B. F. THOMAS & CO , Elm Street Meat Maiket- All kinds of Fresh and Salt Meats always on h.iid. nani. Fish and Oysters Jn the ee.-i mi. Reynolds' Block. Molinb Ave., FOOT OF ELM ST. A. BLACKBALL. Manufacturer of all kind of BOOTS AND SHOES Gente' Floe Shoes scpeelsltr . Repairing done nt t!jr nd proinpUT . A ihare of your patronage respectfully solicited. , . . , i ANDERSON COUNTY SOURMASH $2.50 Per Gallon. KOHN & ADL EH, Removei to 219 erettteeuth Street -MARKET SQUARE. Very Suitable For Holiday Presents: Umbrellas. Ladies' hhiriV mnlviii-d,;.-. ...vimii oMll Ladies black satin skirts. Ladies' wool skirts. Kid gloves. Table sets, linen. Napkins. Table linen. Dress goods. Black silks. Colored silks. Blankets. Bed comforters. Bed spreads. Cloaks. And hundreds of other useful articles. BROS., Island. Illinois. & SALZMAft 1 231 Twen ietb sir . f