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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1887)
A TALK OF IDAHO. qHERE lived at AtlantA, Idaho, a I few years ago, a plain, unassuming man, named Billy Lovelace, lie was not very tall, but of rather an at tractive appearance; dark hair, dark complexion, and beautiful gray eyes. His countenance showed honesty and mildness, and yet it was not difficult to observe that he was a man of determina tion and firmness of character. Ella Dixon struck his fancy, and their acquaintance was not of long duration, when their evening strolls along the banks of the Boise were quite frequent Ella was rather small of btature, neat in dress, light blonde, easy and intelligent in conversation, and the light hair hung in waves down her waist Bho was not what some might call beautiful, but made handsome by gentle manners and easy grace It would be futilo to at tempt to give the conversations of tho two lovers, as they oft repeated vows of constancy, and painted mind pictures of the future in store for them. Little did they think, or realize, that tho pure, sparkling waters of the mountain stream, while darting from rock to rock, were pausing slowly, but surely, down to min glo with thow) less pure, to beooino raoro and more contaminated, until, at lat, would bo submerged by tho impurities of tho mighty deep; that tho beautiful sunsets would fade away to give room for night There were no thought of tho deceiving appearances of nature, as they gazed at tho shadows of tho tower ing cliffs of granite, growing longer and longer, as if reaching out for them in their silent gloom. None of the things disturbed their oft rejx'aM whirrs of love. That tho beautiful Mowers and laurel, sending their income invisibly through tho pure air, over the moun tains and plateaus, wero only to remain for a short time, and then to return to earth, thero to remain till tho breath of life brought them into exigence the next spring, was not fully rcali.xi Their mind wero only occupied with vision of bcaaty, happinen, and bright antici pations of tho future. It was after one of their pleasant cv cuing walks, that Hilly lisaM hi afll ancod "good-night and plonwud dream ," at tho gate of tho parsonage, and started on his return to tho cozy little cottago whero he exacted to realize tho plea, ures of a home. While pawing a i<xm -one of those mountain grog shupa he was aroused from tho sww t thoughts chasing each other through hi ruedita tivo inind, by loud and loiterou talk ing of a few drinking men insitk Fol lowing a natural instinct of tho human mind, ho approached near to tho door and listened. Such expression as thesu fell upon hi ear: MCloo tho other eye!" "Hifirn gain!" "(Jolly, but don't ho squirm?" " Ou be11 Umu a trick or two!" etc. Amidst tl loud talking, Hilly coulJ hear a roico plead ing to tho men to desist He could stand it no longer. Hi honest heart m si. way beating for justice, and hi ana ready to defend tho right Hushing in, ho realized th situation at a giant Thru or four men wero Uating an old woul-chopjier unmercifully; and ho ws cot slow in bringing hi hwy tatb