Devil's Ford

heated bulk in the long shadows of the descent. Conspicuous among the dusty passengers, the two pretty and youthful faces of the daughters of Philip Carr, mining superintendent and engin

ith its glimpses of sylvan and pastoral glades and canyons, that, as the coach swept down the last incline, and the remorseless monotony of the dead level spread out before them, furrowed by ditches and indented by pits, under cover of shielding their cheeks from the impalpable dust that rose beneath the plunging wheels, they buried their faces in their handkerchiefs, to hide a fe

tie Carr decidedly, with a shake of he

ver other accommodations it contained must have been hidden in the rear, as

hat in a moment. I dare say it's all right. I told

nd the few that were here scampered off like rabbit

fading apparition of a pair of high boots and blue overalls in another; the abrupt withdrawal of a curly blond head from a sashless window over the way. Even t

airfax understood th

's fingers on his arm and a subdued exclamatio

in her sister's ear. "Nigger

roaching in single file. One glance was sufficient to show that they had already availed themselves of

r of high riding boots, in which his too short trousers were tucked, and at the other by a tall white hat, and cravat of aggressive yellow, the effect was depressing. In agreeable contrast, his br

a harmonious change to a shining black alpaca coat and crimson neckerchief. Fairfax, who brought up the rear, had, with characteristic unselfishness, contented himself with a French workman's blue blouse and a pair of white duck trousers. Had

s, and waited until Fairfax advanced and severally presented them. Jessie Carr's half-frightened smile took refu

aid Fairfax, reddening a little as he endeavored to conceal his too ready slang, "

rank laugh of relief, that was, however, as frankly refl

biously regarded the two Saratoga trunks resting hopelessly on the veranda. "I'm afraid it isn't much, for what you're accustomed to.

lighter attendance on Mr. Carr's daughters, nevertheless from time to time cast a paternal glance backwards upon their escorts, who had each seized a handle of the two trunks, and were carrying them in couples at the young ladies' side. The occupation did not offer much freedom for easy gallantry, but no sign of discomfiture or uneasiness was visible in the grateful faces

s to wash up our work and realize-and we'll give you a pair of 2.40 steppers and a skeleton buggy to meet you at the top of the hill and drive you over to the cabin. Perhaps you'd prefer a regular carriage; some ladies do. And a nigger driver. But what's the use of planning anything? Afore that time comes w

ingly's speech, Christie comprehended enough to make her lift her clear eyes to the speaker,

liness of intent that made it impossible for her to resent it. "I felt that way myself at first. Things will look strange and unsociab

ld reply, Maryland Joe had put down the

gly in her ear. "He means all right, but he's picked up so much slang here that he's about

ance with the Kearney brothers seemed to make the reserve wit

many operas

er own, and hesitated. After all, why should she add to her othe

she returned, w

cramento; but I reckon we could get a small one by Thursday. You could

a piano over those mountains," said Christie la

e, "and it had to be brought over in sections on the back of a mule, so I don't see why-" He stopped short again in confusion, at a sign from his bro

d get one for himself, so I re

lay?" aske

himself in his enthusiasm. "He can sna

the point of junction between Kearney's cabin and the newly-transported saloon from the flat-no architectural illusion of the palpable collusion of the two buildings, which seemed to be telescoped into each other. The front room or living roo

of the second room. Neither Christie nor Jessie could for a moment understand the delicacy which kept these young men from accompanying them into the room they had but a

the counter or "bar" of the saloon, gorgeous in white and gold, now sawn in two and divided, was set up on opposite sides of the room as separate d

and blue muslin-one of the surviving Fourth of July decorations of Thompson's saloon. On either side of the door two pathetic-looking, convent-like cots, covered with spotl

he Ford. They have filled some flour sacks with clean dry moss from the woods, and put half a dozen blankets on the to

s marvel. "It's so, Christie," she said laughingly-"three flour-sacks apiec

uneasily watching Ch

d drily. "The accommoda

of masculine weakness in an impending domestic emergency. "I'll go and see what can be done," he said feebly

ily. "Did you know anything of this place

ng of? I knew the geological strata and the-the report of Fairfax and his partners before I consented to take char

oney down?" said Christie, slowly remov

stie," said her father sharply. "You ough

s who ever got anything out of your last experience with Colonel Waters

tie; even if they have forgotten the restrain

ng to live lik

e them what

ring in her father's voice that was unlike his usual h

young men into more regular, disciplined channels that I have to regulate and correct thei

asiness, Jessie, who had been examining the details

t the back, and as there will be no rain for three months we can do the cooking there, and that will give us more room for-f

arkling eyes-a charming picture of youth and trustfu

ey were alone, and Christie had begun to unpack her trunk, a

asked C

hings bought at La Grange, without reference to size or style. And to hear these creatures talk, why, you'd think they were Astors or Rothschilds. Think of that little one with the curls-I don't believe he is over seventeen, for all his baby mousta

said Christie, forcing herself t

he river. Why, what we thought was pure and sim

users, it's so precious," returned Christie drily. "And hav

followed us down the hill all the way here, that cost them-let me see-yes, nearly sixty thousand

stie drew Jessie's attentio

. I dare say we'll be able to get along here in some way, until pap

" said Christie, glancing bitterly round the cabin;

s, even these:" she showed two dice in the palm of her lit

y," said Christ

ce. "I'll give them to the little Kearney. I

ifted Christie out of her sublime resignation. "For Heaven's sake,

obscure corners. In the dining-room, behind the dresser, three or four books were discovered: an odd volume of Thackeray, anoth

se ideas of a general classical impropriety had been gathered

to the corner, and uttered an exclamation. "Oh, Chr

r of refinement and of the pressed flowers that peeped from between t

r she is," said Christie, tossing th

" echoe

re of HIM, for a minute later, when they had reentered their own room, Christie remarked, "The

ily; "that's his FIRST name, his Christian name. I forget

"do you mean to say that we're expected to fall in with this insufferable

o!" said Jessie

ha

nd Kearney, the little one,

at did

do, dear; don't you? . . . There, don't get angry, darling; I couldn't flare up all of

ner, and assuming her household duties in a quiet, tempor

ich he afterwards withdrew, but not until he had delivered himself of a mysterious package entrusted to him by the young men for his daughters. It contained a contribution to their board in

wake, she fell into a dreamy reminiscence of the past, hearing snatches of old melody in the moving pines, fragments of sentences, old words, and familiar epithets in the murmuring wind at her ear, and even the faint breath of long-forgotten kisses on her cheek. She remembered her mother-a pallid creature, who had slowly faded out of one of her father's vague speculations in a vaguer speculation of her own, beyond his ken-whose place she had promised to take at her father's side. The words, "Watch over him, Christie; he needs a woman's care," again echoed in her ears, as if borne on the night wind from the lonely grave in the lonelier cemetery by the distant sea. She had devoted herself to him with some little sacrifices of self, only re

er deceived her mother. Even Jessie knew more

and intolerable than the previous commotion, began to pervade the house and the surrounding woods. She could hear the regular breathing of the sleepers; she even fancied she could detect the faint impulses of the more distant life in the settlement. The far-off barking of a dog, a lost shout, the indistinct murmur of some nearer watercourse-mere phantoms of sound-made th

k, and on up to the very crest of the Devil's Spur-no longer a huge bulk of crushing shadow, but the steady exaltation of plateau, spur, and terrace clothed with replete and unutterable beauty. In this magical light that beauty seemed to be sustained and carried along by the river winding at its base, lifted again to the broad shoulder of the mountain, and lost only in the distant vista of death-like, overcrowning snow. Behind and above where she stood the towering woods seemed to be waiting with opened ranks to absorb her with the little cabin she had quitted, dwarfed into insignificance in

s her. This same slighted, forgotten, uncomprehended, but still foolish and forgiving Nature seemed to be bending over her frightened and listening ear wit

fe

was

t of a drunken song at

it is Johnn

spree or a s

e and indignation as if the view

to bet, and g

it all. Don

ied whispers, a "No" and "Y

view she could distinguish a staggering figure in the trail below who had evidently been s

didn't

tion of the settlement. The two mysterious shadows retreated again to the tree, and were l

e, and I missed you," said Jessie, rub

istie, beginni

't frighte

hristie, with a strange li