The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-12-12
SEECF STORY.
MAUD,

| PRODUCTION, no drawingroom acquan-
tancc On one Of the lovciest lakes in
the midst of the Adirondack wilder
ness Maud's beautiful eyes wee irtt
turned upon me.
1t was two years since Tom Wat
kins and |, proud of our four years ex-
perience and our brand-nrw sheep.
skins, had left Amherst with mingled
feelings OF JOY ard regret. Tom went
Immediately into the office of "A famous
New England morning paper, and
made his way steadily up on its edito-
rial corps.
| had gone into partnership with
my father, and worked like a slave,
lest he should be ashamed of me for
l had an immense respect for him, aud
| knew he despised laziness.
Having then worked two years with
out interruption, Tom and | both felt
that we had earned vacation, and, by
a little planning, we managed to get
off together in September of the com
paratively uneventful year eighteen
hundred and eighty.
We both voted for the mountain in
stead of the sea, and for New Hamp-
shire so we started out determined TO
see all that we could of the North
woods.
AS we had both logged on thus far
through life without meeting any
young woman who seemed absolutely
essential to our happiness, we could
look forward to complete rest from
the use of the pen. There would be
no love letters to write every night
when tired and dull; an occasional
postal card, whereon were scribbled a
few words in pencil, would satisfy our
friends at home.
Neither did we set out with any
idea of meeting our fate. We went TO
enjoy the woods apd each other; we
rather stunned than sought society, es.
pecially that of ladies.
After day on Lake George we
took the eastern route to the woods,
spending a night at Eizabethtown.
Thence we tramped to Keene, the
clear mountain streams, deep, cool
woods, and grand towering peaks,
more than making up for the hard
roads and thick dust, so that, though
tired, we were more than satisfied with
our first days experience.
As we had resolved to "do' the
mountains, we climbed the cloud
cleaver, Tahawas we spent shiver-
ing night on Whiteface whence we
watched Lake Placid brighten under
the morning sun; we picked four
leaved clover from John Browns grave
At North Elba; we started deer in
the Indian pass, and saw our guide kill
| it; and, to crown all, we came out of
the woods by way of the lakes.
Our guide was wiry little fellow
too slight TO carry boat we thought,
until we watched him in wrestling
match, when he showed himself tough
as whip-cord, and we had no fears.
Starting from the lower Saranac on
a dull afternoon, gorgeous sunset lit
up the clouds and lakes as we rowed
swiftly along then, as the rich purple
and crimson faded, the crescent moon
broke through the clouds, and we had
our first experience of "carries" in this
uncertain twilight. 1t was only a
short walk, however, and then we
glided across the black waters of
Round Lake in an utter silence, save
for the plash of the oars and the
scream of the loon or nighthawk.
Next day we wound along the Ra-
uuette river, whose waters were low,
and whose shores, even thus early,
glowed with autumn color.
Our nights were spent at hotels,
which we reached late and left early
our days, 10 rowing and carrying.
Almost lost under the inverted boat
our guide led us through the rich veg
citation of the carries, without wander,
ing even when the fire, still raging
had obliterated every trace of trail to
our unaccustomed eyes.
Occasionally we heard the incongru
GUS sound of human voices other than
our own and came upon a similar
boating party. Now and then we
heard the baying of dogs, and knew
that some poor deer was in distress, ol
we saw an uncommon bird, and listen
ed to its wild note, but for the mos
part, there were few signs of life o
any kind, and the silence was complete
the sense of loneliness, intense.
What wonder, then, that MauC
seemed almost fairy-like to eyes long
accustomed to such beauty
As we came ont upon the Raquett'
= lake we felt as if we were approachin!
civilization clearings, with back shan
l ties or more pretentious cottages occu
cupied many of the points; and bark
what sound is that7 No heron
screams, or wild ducks screech, but
veritable steam whistle; and, in IN
distance, we can just distinguish lit
tie tug standing at the dock. Present
", coming nearer, we had view O
the passengers, among whom, with tn
September sun gliding her brown hail
we first saw Maud.
" | say "we," for Toms subdue
i whistle told me that his heart ha
:. been smitten by this nut brown mai
s, as we'll as mine. She was chatterin
Of merrily with her brother and fathe
Sc who stood close by. We could hea
:, their voices, and distinguish the name
in Maud and Jack, by which the brotht
al aud sister addressed each other, bit
g, nothing more Apparently, howeve
ssed they were talking of us; for, the littl
to tug having started just as we can
ns alongside, our plucky little guide d.
II termined on a race, The wind WI
he against him, but he held bis own an,
=, though the steamer passed ahead of |
y. into the narrow Marion river, the chez
s., of the passengers showed that the
" considered him victorious, while Msu
OF beamed upon him in way that mao
= us both wish that we held the oars.
all She stood in the bow of the lit
steamer with the venerable woods b
- hind her; but their green branches al
shadowy spaces were for me only
background to iteusify the picture I
Is her youth and beauty. With Il
sight of her ! felt that he'd ha
enough of loneliness, and longir
came over me, such as | had sometim