Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1912 — OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN’S MIST. [ARTICLE]

OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN’S MIST.

By Elelle Becker.

There was an empty tin pan on the floor of the cabin. John Railsback Alexander, M. A., was washing his dishes. Just then his big St Bernard lifted his head in an attitude of listening. The' scholar listened, too, his dishcloth poised in air. Someone was coming down the solitary mountain road. Needless to say, visitors were Tare —so uie that the young Briton left his homely task and stood in the doorway. “A visitor wouldn't be bad, old fellow, eh?” as he patted the dog’s great shoulders. “This is the kind of night we get lonesome.” The sound of footsteps hushed. “Shall we go look for ’em? This mist really is next thing to English.’’ And they started out, John bareheaded and in his shirt sleeves, which were rolled up about his strong arms. The trail was & careless thing, like a whimsical, hoydenish girl frolicking through the timbered hills; sound had not far to go, from the ravines, but feet were not so fortunate as this Jgjfil; So it was sometime dog, bounding= ahead, stopped under “the yellow tree,” the delight of the secluded critics eye, and where he did' a great deal of his work. The joyful bark that soon followed made the Englishman hasten, wondering. In a moment he came upon them; the dog and a young woman mutually affectionate. “Why, Juliet Hittel —where—how—” “Oh, John! is that you? Why—where —how ' “For heaven’s sake, Juliet how long have you been out here? You are not alone?” “No; I got lost, and " Juliet was so nervous and unstrung she, could scarcely get-the words out, and -fa-her relief clung to Alexander as if he understood without words —he always had. With a gesture of abandon he drew her to hi~; tnen, remembering, his arm dropped and his voice became cold. “I forgot that a trip across the Atlantic is nothing to you—it was my first, you know. I live up here on the side of the mountain. Where did you get lost from him?” ........ . ■ “I didn’t know he was gone, and then, all at once I found I was alone, and it was so bea”tiful where I stood that for a moment I forgot I was lost ” Alexander clenched his hands. It seemed a long time before he and the dog, having taken Juliet to the cabin, got started on the hunt. He hallowed many times. At last he heard an answer 'way over beyond the cluster of pines. "Coming!” he shouted, between his hands. When the dog barked a few rods ahead of him, the man who loved Juliet Hittel so well that he left England bee use he could not bear to see her the wife of another,-set his jaws firmly. What he wanted to say, at first sight of the traitor who had robbed him of Juliet by a trici the explanation of which would have almost ruined her brother, was, “I want to kill you, hut because of Juliet I won’t But a voice said, “Hello,* Alex! by gad, is that you?” And John Railsback Alexander was actually hugged by a strapping young fellow, which left him so astounded he could say nothing in reply. "He&fd—yo& were Brought sis over on purpose. Lost her on purpose. Joke's on her.” •‘Charley’Hittel, are you mad?” “By g: d, now, Alex M. A. you’re a grateful cuss. Oh, Lord, is it possible, man, that you don’t know Juliet didn’t marry Ashburton? Heard of your bal-. ( ly foolishness. Gave him the finest drubbing ever. Nobody’s seen him since.” John Rainsback Alexander, M. actually embraced the boy.