January 3, 1916 Stir-crazy, I took a walk this morning. The weather was fine, the sky azure, the snow only boot-top deep and my confidence in du Bois’s health soared. He can walk, not well, but with a cane he gets around. His frostbitten, black tinted feet look terrible, but the physician had not found […]
Hope and Trust December 31, 1915 My only hope is to continue. No hope is despair and death in deep snow. Hope is slighter, tougher, less tangible than trust. In good times we trust life and in bad we hope. I hope I have the courage, confidence, and optimism to succeed, to live. I trust […]
December 27, 1915 Gentlemen, I write this letter in haste. Thomas, I regret the dilemma I have caused. Julius and Anthony are somewhere on the Continental Divide in the snowstorm. They planned to go to a train station, and it could be Hot Sulphur. JJ discovered du Bois deserted the war and escaped to Colorado. […]
December 29, 1915 Du Bois had frostbite. The tips of his toes turned dark gray. The pins and needles pain to his feet increased this morning and I did not think he could walk. His boots were still not dry, anyway. By rationing food, I figured, we had enough for a couple days. I wondered […]
December 28, 1915 We awoke to a red sky this morning. “Sailors take warning,” du Bois commended. It was cloudy bright. We could see North Park and the Park Range. I announced, “Today is our travel day.” We hoarded the nuts and ready-to-eat food the last few days. The thought being, we will need quick […]
December 26, 1915 “That’s the third five for a 15 - two, then three in a row for six and the last card for nine big points!” du Bois hollered while picking up his cards. “You’re killing me with your pegging,“ I moaned. “Skill, just plain skill.” “Nonsense, you’re lucky. I’m still winning this game […]
December 25, 1915 “It looks different than the last time we were here,” du Bois commented this morning. I laughed and rolled my eyes. A deep white blanket covered the lake, wildflowers, trees, and rocks. “There aren’t any naked women swimming in Long Lake either,” I added. He smiled, “I’ll remember that scene for as […]
December 24-25, 1915 For two weeks I have window shopped, considered, and discarded gift options. I walked from E.O. Furlong to Chamberlain-Gray and Corner Drug Stores then on to J. W. Hughes Mercantile. I did buy two pounds of candy for twenty-five cents and a pound of mixed nuts for fifteen cents at Steamboat Novelty […]
Mid-January 1916 (Hello reader, it is Corina typing. I should not be transcribing Julius’s written abandoned diary, but I was curious, compelled and felt deserted. He left me and his dog, Charlie. I am even using his typewriter since he also left it behind. It was too heavy to carry in his rucksack as he […]
December 21, 1915 “Julius, welcome to the Oasis! I’ll buy you a beer. It’s on the house. I’ve wanted to talk to you. But first I want to show you the sign I made,” August Durbin exclaimed. “You’re in a jovial mood,” I responded. “Why not? There’s no sense in pouting. I’ll be right back.” […]