Lady Merton, Colonist

Towards the end of this story the readers of it will find an account of an unknown lake in the northern Rockies, together with a picture of its broad expanse, its glorious mountains, and of a white explorers' tent pitched beside it. Strictly speaking, Lake Elizabeth is a lake of dream. But it has an original on this real earth, which bears another and a real name, and was discovered two years ago by my friend Mrs. Schäffer, of Philadelphia, to whose enchanting narratives of travel and exploration in these untrodden regions I listened with delight at Field, British Columbia, in June, 1908. She has given me leave to use her own photograph of the unknown lake, and some details from her record of it, for my own purposes; and I can only hope that in the summers to come she may unlock yet other secrets, unravel yet other mysteries, in that noble unvisited country which lies north and northeast of the Bow Valley and the Kicking Horse Pass.
MARY A. WARD.
I call this part of the line beastly depressing.
The speaker tossed his cigarette-end away as he spoke. It fell on the railway line, and the tiny smoke from it curled up for a moment against the heavy background of spruce as the train receded.
All the same, this is going to be one of the most exciting parts of Canada before long, said Lady Merton, looking up from her guide-book. I can tell you all about it.
For heaven's sake, don't! said her companion hastily. My dear Elizabeth, I really must warn you. You're losing your head.
I lost it long ago. To-day I am a bore--to-morrow I shall be a nuisance. Make up your mind to it.
I thought you were a reasonable person!--you used to be. Now look at that view, Elizabeth. We've seen the same thing for twelve hours, and if it wasn't soon going to be dark we should see the same thing for twelve hours more. What is there to go mad over in that? Her brother waved his hand indignantly from right to left across the disappearing scene. As for me, I am only sustained by the prospect of the good dinner that I know Yerkes means to give us in a quarter of an hour. I won't be a minute late for it! Go and get ready, Elizabeth--