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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. S) she lay there, thinking-thinking always, tmt of what she ooald not have toM yoa; only that, as sho thought, the song in her heart grew louder ami stronger, and seemed to thrill her whole being with it melody, ller lips were always silent at the times. To have trilled out one note in expreuHion of the music that lived within her soul, would have d. htroyed her exquisite pleasure in it as surely at the carets hand destroys the bloom of the poppy it has gathered. To lie in the soft grass, to bo all alone and freo ah! that was it, to be free, to see only the bluo iky and the little valley lying in the yellow sunlight, and to hear only the sounds of the forest tho wind itir. ring the pine trees, the faint voices of a million in sects so blended together in the clear air as to form one vast, thrilling ham, that set the whole uuiverso to throbbing, the dull whir of the Hoc bird's wing as they cleft the air, and the clear ring of the woodpeck er's beak beating against a tree-give her theao and the song swelled, sweet and strong, in her heart. Bat as she lay there, suddenly the music stopped so suddenly that it cjnfused her and for a mo ment she could not understand tho causo of it Then she lifted her head and listened. Down the hard road that wound along tho canyon, over the mountain and into the valley below, came a low rumble and the ring of horses' hoof, distant and low at first, but growing nearer and clearer as she lis tend. Presently, around a curve came dashing along a low traveling carriage, such as had never Uvn seen before in those mountains, drawn by four magnificent dappled-gray horses. Inside were two gentlemen and a lady, the latter lying back among soft cuahions, and flecking the dust from her face with a bunch of crim son roses. Like a wild, young animal, Nil bounded to her feet, and stood, trembling violently, with swelling nostril and dilated eye, till tho carriage should paaa. Sho scarcely saw the gentlemen; her gszi was fix! upon the lady. Never, never had sho iwd or dreatnd of anything like her anything that could live and speak like the people about her, and still be so fair, so dainty, so beautiful, so full of gram Suddenly, though carelessly, tho lady liftM her eyes and glancod in Nil's direction, then instantly the forest where the river u so narrow thai the trees mot over it, their branch crowing and inter, lacing in a network to strengthen! by years that it now defied wind and atorms and shot out the aun. Underneath, tho water ran, deep and .lill and Marl, but with such a smooth, ihining surface that Nd al. ways lt(vl to j, ctt) it. it)( l!l0i h eyes mado her think of it now. And her hairl It was like tho gold that tho men dag oat of tho nioun. tains; liko tho yellow marigolds that grew on tho hill, side; liko tho sunlight that lay over tho valley, M Corao here, child" said tho lady, in a sweet, rich voice, and with a gracious smile, Nd approached tho carriage, forgetting tho r apparel, of which sho was always so ashamed, and never removing her eye from tho lady's faro. " What is it, child? Why do you Uk at mo in that way?" " Uecauao I huo never sen anything so Uauti. ful," said Nil, simply, but with terriM trntnnMi Tho Udy laughed and caat a glanco of playful re proach at tho two gentlemen. " Mut I como to tho wilds of Oregon for compliments? Who ever said anything nearly so pretty to mo before?" " Yen tavo forbidden me," tahl the tall, fair man, bending swiftly to kUs tho hand that M-l th n. " U careful," sho crlM, hiking at him with half, veiled eyes. " There is a thorn beneath that kUs," and as sho spko sho gavo a soft glauco at tho dark, sullen man U-aido him. "Child," she said, then turning to Nil, Mwa am hungry and tired, and," laugldag a little, thirsty. Can you entertain us till I'io mono rlaa? I should liko to see that valley by moonlight" " Cao I-what?" said Nil, doubtfully. M What simplicity! What purity! "crUI tho lady, with a bitter, but soft, laugh. "Can you, tln, givo us something to eat, something t" again sho laugh'vl, ati 1, iu truth, it to Nil that sho ujuit bo a happy woman, as sho laugh 1 ao oftrn, wtiU she, T chill, Lever found anything to rij mako her wih to U merry to drink? And is tUrn any cool place whero wo could r-at? " " If you could wait till wo cookl aotao foU," said Nil, looking troubUL M Aa' thVs tho ttkkul cream an' stratUrrie, but - but t Urn's not wuh started up, making a quick, imperative sign to one of rl -only you could real in th 1UI0 o h big v. ft.i, .,! .hrnnil that tho bora Ho they walkM op tho narrow path, tho Uly talk. thrown upou their haunch, the carriag, was s'L bg all tho wtdo to Nd w.tb a httk amuU-orr, The la ly leaned out, and Nd, with her heart dittrr. ful imiU on L;r tw. th, two UM. ing up into br throat with a delight that wm ahn-t painful, stood looking at her in silent eoatacy. Nvr had she seen anything half so lovely. All tho j-try in her nature struggled for exprcMion. L mg t.w those deep, dark eyes, she thought of a pl out in but ever ijrakicg Ui each Ul't. Vilu tl Uly Carmen, they cllI her-dropl tr r-, tUy lth sprang forward but it wm lh Ull. fair vto wU reovere.1 ilea When ttey rUI tU d'-p iUU cf tU M tig rk H tUy spr ei s.,f I ruga a4 cuLLu