Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-14


under the great trees.
Aswe entered they stopped work, AMI each
man, having spoken TO us, put down his axe a
iHghfnl weapon, not unlike the guillOtine aye
an enormous, sharp POINTED blade aud a shor.
handle, admirably adapted to the murder of
oaks, but sinister Of aspect. Louise drew some
What closer TO me en- the little bench where we
had seated ourselves.
q" Don't We interrupt your work?'' asked the
old man.
A." Thank you kindly, no sir; we are Just going
10 supper" e
The two young men pulled down their sleeves
ard they all gathered round a large table of
prlmllye construction, made Of board, and four
legs still in the rough. While they were setting
out little plates OF thick blue stone ware the old
woman brought great pan, and threw into the
FIRE an srmful OF chips.
In this strange, rude interior IOuisa looked 70
fined and delicate, with all her dainty appoint-
ments or long, undressed Kid gloves, iaunty
noos, and iooped-up petticoat. While L talked
TO the woodcutters she shielded her face from the
IRE with her hands, and kepther eve on the but
ter beginning TO sing in the pan.
Suddenly she rose, and taking the panhandle
from the old woman said, &" Let me help YOU
make the omelette, will You ?''
The good woman let go with n smile, and
Louise found herself alone. in the attitude of "A
fisherman who had just had nibble. She stood
in the full light of the FIRE, her eyes fixed on the
melted butter, her aims tense with effort: She
was biting her hrs, probably to increase her
strength.
"Its rather hard on madame's little hands
said the old man. :" bet it's the first tim Won
ever made an omeiette in a woodcutteI' 5 hut
isn't il, my young lady ?''
Louise nodded yes without turning her ewes
from the omelette. "The eggs the eggs =, She
suddenly exclaimed with such look OF uneasi-
ness that we all burst out laughing-'hurry with
the eggs The butter Is all putting MP! Be
quick, or can't answer for the conseauences~
The old woman beat the eggs energetically.
The herbs J" cried the old man. !" The lard
and salt!" cried the young ones. And they all
set to work, chOpping, cutting, pilng up while
Louise, stamping with excitement, called out,
" Make haste make haste -
Then there was q tremendous bubblinr in the
pan, and the great work began. We were ali
round the fire, gazing with an anxious interest
inspired by our all having had finger in the pie
1he Old woman, on her knees besides a large
dish slipped knife under the edged of the
omelette. which was turning a fine brown.
p" Now, madame, you've only got to turn it
just one little quick blow" suggested the
old man.
Mustn't be violent" oounselled the young
one.
can at once: up with it dearn said.
"1 you all talk at once
Make haete, madame 2"
"1f YOU all talk at once never shall MANAGE
10. 1t Is too awful heavy"
" One quick little blow"
But can't; its going over. Oh, gracious!"
Her cheeks were like peach, her eyes shone,
and, though she lamented her fate, she burst
out into peals Of laughter. At last, by a SUI
rolled over, somewhat heavily, confess. into
the large dish which the old woman was HOLDING.
Never did omelette look better.
am sure the young lady's arms must be
tired said the old man as he began cutting a
round loaf into enormous slices.
'Oh, no, not so very, my wife answered with
merry laugh "only am crazy to taste my
We seated ourselves round the table When
we had eaten and drunk with the good souls we
rose and n, made ready 70 go home. The sun had
TO see Us on and say GOODNIGHT
old woman called after US.
1t was growing dark and chilly under the trees
and We gradually quickened our pace.
Those are happy people" said Louise. eve
Eil come some morning and breakfast with
them, sha'n't we9 We can put the baby in one
Of the donkey-panniers, and in the other a large
pAsty and bottle OF wine. You are not afraid
OF losing your way, George?"
NO, dear-nO fear Of that"
"a pasty and bottle of wine-what is that?u
"Nothing-the stump Of tree"
THE stump Of q tree. the stump of a tree!n
NE muttsred. "Dont you hear something be-
cit is only the wind in the leaves, or the
breaking OF a dead branch"
He rs fortunate who, at night In the heart of a
forest, feels Is calm as at his own nreside. Won
DO not uemble, but you feel the silence. Inyol-
unfairly you look for eyes peering out of the
forms appearing and changing every minute,
Something breaks and sounds beneath your
tread II you stop you hear the distant melan-
choly howl OF watch dog, the scream Of an owl,
and other noises, far or near, not 30 easily eI,
planned. A sense OF strangeness surrounds YOU
and weighs you down. IL ysu are alone Won
s,.La - seteI, mere are two Of you, you draw
arm. -
LET rs turn woodcutters. We could build a
pretty little hut, simple, but nice enough. 1
would have curtains 20 nv windows and a car
pet, and put my piano in one corner"
She spoke very low, and occasionally felthe
hand uenble on my arm.
nat - ~
est" '"sA VI 1A~'' uear-
-, IT isnt fair to say So" And in another min
ute she vent OF lyon think don't love you,
Yes, yes, yes The happiness that comes oyery
day can't be oppressed; we live on il, 80 we
f SSnt t M ,s q IL Lae our daily bread-who
But when you are thinking Of yourself, when
you put yIoI head down and really think, the
fUG SAY him. am .angI.teful for am happy and
together and walking arm In arm now at this
very moment-not that L mean only this mo-
mentLI love you, dear love, love you" She
earnestly: "Oh," abe said, "if were to lose
your She spoke very low, az IL afraid. What
had ~, 6risa,ened herathe SaIkness and the for
often and often dreamed that 1 was saving
goodbye 10 yoa. You both cried, and 7
pressed you 50 close to my heart that there was
but don't mind it, for 1t showed me that NV
life was In your lives, dear. What is that creak,
front Of Us? A
! answered her by taking her in nv arms and
folding her To my heart -1
We walked ON, but 1t was impossible to 90 ON
talking. W ~ VII
Every now and then she would stop and saw
ush! bark! No, ii is nothing
AT last We saw ahead OF US little light povv
visible, now hidden by a tree. 1t was the lamp
seIior Us In our parlor window. We crossed the
sue ana were at home. Itwas high time for we
were wet through. w
brought huge log, and when the fire had
Diazed UP we sat down in the great chimney
place. The poor girl was shiverfng took OF
her boots and held her feet to the ire SCREENING
them with nv hands.
Thanks, dear George, thanks.- She sa5d
leaning on my shoulder, and looking at me ~
tendeIly that felt almost ready to cry.
" W hat were you saying TO me in that horrid
better. '"o ""e
"lOu are thinking about that? was FRIGHT
ened, that Is all, and when you are fri ghtened
you see ghosts"
we will be woodcutters, sha'nt we?',
AND kissing me, with laugh, she replied ssIt
Is bedtime, man of the woods"
i well remember that walk, for IL was our
last. often and often since, at sunset on n dark
day, have been over the same ground: often
and often have stopped where she stood and
stopped and pulled the fern, seeking TO find.
poor fool that am the traces of the vanished
footsteps. And have often halted in the clear
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