The Cup of Trembling, and Other Stories

"The Cup of Trembling, and Other Stories" by Mary Hallock Foote is a compilation that takes place in the challenging, snowy mountains of the Coeur d'Alêne area, emphasizing the intricate struggles surrounding love, deception, and human interactions within a mining society. One such tale starts with a miner trekking through snowy trails, deeply pondering life amidst a severe and detached setting. The story thickens at a cabin stop where chatter exposes rumors concerning a missing woman linked to a rich mine owner and a manager, both absent together. As suspicions arise among the miners, their dialogues construct a sense of impending foreboding regarding the missing pair's fate. The plot is further complicated by the arrival of the missing manager's brother, who is driven by paternal instincts and an anxious purpose, implying underlying, somber stories of passion and shady morals that reveal themselves as the narrative progresses.