The Trail of a Sourdough / Life in Alaska

d had been my happy wife for a number of years

time of meeting sprang suddenly into existence. My love for my wife was my ruling passio

e was of a like natu

xpanded her body became more frail. At last our physician prescribed an entire change of life and scene. As I was not a rich man, and must wherever

could together search for the precious mineral only recently discovered in various places;

ing out so well that we planned to build a good house in town soon which would be a comfortabl

however, a thunder bolt

alone. At night she was to have the company of a woman friend in order that s

g my orders and I was obliged to go. To remain at home now meant a loss of thousands of dollars as the late rains h

brightly, standing in the doorway when

ring a good-size poke full of nuggets with me, too," said I hurryi

or some time, I saw her standing in the doorway looking after me, but whether she had remai

e I saw her

"clean-up" at the sluice boxes, securing as I had said I woul

r perhaps I was working too hard-I tried in these ways to account for my indifference. My mind wandered from the work in hand. I looked often in the direction of home and Olga, but the

oveling into the sluice boxes, I told the foreman I was

nervous!

going home to see how things are the

to himself, "That fellow'll go daffy over his little wife, as he calls her, if he isn't careful. I

light and clear, the grass dewy, and the sun

remembered

me. He was riding rapidly, and when he drew near

ing, Mr. A

uick! Has anything happened a

orry to tell yo

s dead! Don't sa

al is fresh," said he; but I heard nothing, saw nothing. I was simpl

d with sympathetic friends, trying to assist in some way

t they were cold when I kissed them-her heart had ceased to beat, and for the first

be, the awful loneliness of that hour. She had been part of my

o live for. If I could only die! Dare I take my own life? No, for that would then mean everlasting separation, as she was doubtless now in the happiest state to wh

lga, as I fondled her fa

? Surely you did not intend to do it, did you, darling?" Eagerly I watched her face to see her blue eyes open and her lips once more move. Cou

remained. Presently I listened, my arms a

rooted my very soul was gradually subsiding. I must be

and each had faithfully promised the other to return, if possible, with comfort

ooked while speaking, and th

uld

t came-only

let

rture came so suddenly. A burning building close to our cabin, with wind blowing the flames toward her,

it. A sealed packet, directed to me

dbyes, and in truth there was no need of saying them for she would be as constantly with me as ever, even though I could not always see her. She did not want me to forget her a

and word of which comforted me as only Olga knew h

n us to understand in her lifetime, and now that she had been called away for a season I must bear it as patiently as pos

ay pa

t me back to my objective senses. I had b

d supper, and I have brought it to you,"

all night here if you will go t

then asked him if he would go out and secure the use of the adjoini

lf an hour, asking what furt

to the log cabin, leaving Olga here. This wa

had gone home after making me pro

emained only a stove, a couch upon which s

a man was hired to dig a narrow trench about the whole cabin to conduct all surface water away from the lot. During the hours f

g underneath. The ground was frozen. A pick and shovel in my hands found their way

also long and wide enou

suited to her, upon which rested the long braids of her yellow h

When this did not happen, the sense of my awful loss surged back into my brain, seeming almo

nt itself and left me weak and weary. I threw myself,

h a fast-beating heart I watched it from my resting place. It grew in size, and increased in height, gradua

he wedding ring were all there, completed by a

ot a stray beam of light which h

ng out my arms toward her

come again." The voice seemed like

ade, the form of my beloved melted into a haze which d

of the ground, but because the work helped me to forget my sorrow. I did not cease to think hourly of Olga, but I wished to put behind me the shoc

f the hair on her forehead. I had envied the dust of the road as it clung to her feet because it could remain so near to her; and I longed to become the atmosphere she breath

of the adjoining cabin door, and carefully locked it behind me. From the outer place I entered the room which was now a sacred spot. A solitary candle gave all the light required. Lifting the section of floorin

rever the same; I reminded her of her pledges of constancy, reviving instances of our past live

as possible, whispering words of love-always my great lov

n my easy chair much wearied, and b

est yellow light she stood there bending toward

o do this for you will know the better way and find real happiness. I know that this trial has been very hard indeed

y of it al

still love me as well a

er than ever before, because I understand. Try to be

tering itself out in its socket, fitfully darting a thin and feeble flame

resting place, adjusting the cover, locked the

both inside and out with a heavy black paper, well calculated to keep out the wind. Upon the ceiling of the front room hung silvered stars which shone brightly, and with a fitfulness not all unnatural in the flickering candlelight. In one corner of the outer room there still remained the heap of earth and gravel taken from

ng above the sand and gravel in the next room. I fancied I heard a pleased an

sand and gravel? You will be repaid

stonishment, "will

of assent

hers must stand upon ri

gesture o

cured a gold pan from my cabin, and us

my agony of mind at her sudden death it had never occurred to me while digging that the gravel might contain anything of value; but it was plain t

ar freeze-up it was proving to us there was no shortage of water in the clouds which seemed wide open, and it was pouring in torrents. For four hours I had been usin

way through the storm into the next cabin. It was then but a moment's work to lift Olga's casket to the floor from its icy bed beneath. As I did so a small stream of

out of doors to make a search for the obstruction, which, once removed, allowed the water to pass away as before. A small clump of grass and sticks had found lodgment, having been swept there by the unusual amount of falling rain, and in less time than it t

h pick or shovel in my hands. I bought the adjoining cabins with the lots upon which they stood, thereby con

hough I once overheard two belated pedestrians outside my door wondering from what quarter the noise of the picking and shoveling came. No light was allowed to betray my where

d later that the same uncanny sounds seemed further away. Only a few persons had ever heard them, and they assured their friend

t to myself by my neighbors I was not displeased, as it suited

ng upon memories of dear, by-gone days, but allowing the present to slip unimproved away. If I could arouse myself to some good purpose in life, and take a hand at scattering bright bits of happiness to console so

ntment in living henceforth unselfishly, with

the good and happiness of others before accepting luxuries for herself. Now I had come to feel in the same way, and no longer craved riches or that which they would brin

, so terrible in the beginning, was to some extent assuaged. Not that I loved Olga less,

-I would work, work and wait. More, I would learn, I would grow, I would climb. I resolved to reach those heights to which many were traveling, and to which Olga had already surely att

e rhythm and harmony that I dared not breathe for fear of losing some part of the beautiful song. Not only so, but the accompanying orchestra faithfully upheld and completed the symphony which rose and fell with crescendos and dim

not love a

man thy b

like the c

rities