Thomas County cat., 1886-10-28


to work your way. At last, he. wait
Ing, gave halloo which sounded ab-
surdly loud, when right on the heels of
it the bushes parted, and a radiant
wood-nymph, to be sure, in !; becoming
costume Of buff lawn, the soft, loose
draperies of which she had caught up
to protect them from the brambles, re-
vealing thereby the stiff embroidered
rutfieS of an immaculate skirt. and
faultlesS feet shOd in neat French
walking boots. But her cheeks were
flushed, her eyes were dazzling, and a
cloud of shining hair rested lightly on
her white forehead. Her wide hat,
pushed far back on her head by some
saucy branch, served as frame to a
bewitching face.
She beheld tall young man in hunt
er's buckskin, leaning on a rifle. HIS
brown eyes were shade softer than
usual. from their WEAKNESS. perhaps.
His face was clearly cut, and dark
mustache adorned his firm lip.
For more than moment they gazed
into each others eyes, then laughed
and bowed. After thanking her en-
Enthusiastically, he said: - had no idea
of compelling a young lady to come to
my rescue. l thought it was a boy
who answered me. and fully expected
to see a barefoot boy, with cheeks Of
"You will see no barefoot boys
around here" she said, hastily.
''There is too great a fear of rattle
| snakes
have not seen any,
May be not, for they are not fear
fully prevalent, or should not be here.
But once in a while you come across an
ugly fellow. l always 60 armed my
self,' she said, saucily, producing a
tiny, silver-mounted flask from the
depths of a capacious pocket. 1t
was but glimpse of the flask he
caught, for she plunged it bacl. impa-
tiently, as if she resented the impulse
of familiarity.
If you willfollow me- she said,
shortly.
With all my heart. love the
woods, but began to feel should never
get out of this. have been wandering
about, seeking path which could
follow anywhere for six morta. hours.
ats easy enough when you know
the way" -
Z. ."Ah, but every one isn't a dryad. ~
| ''No. I'm especially engaged for the
summer in that capacity" she said.
airily acknowledging his meaning.
"When I'm at home,s' she continued,
thinking previous confidence called for
like return, s.I'm Miss Amy Desart,
of = well, every thing in general.
We're nOmadS. ~
I'm most happy, Miss Desart," he
began in the stiff manner some people
adopt when acknowledging an intro
duction, ''to find in you an angel un-
awares," he concluded with regained
ease. "And-and," he went on mis-
chievously, Il think was bitten by a
rattlesnake some time this morning"
She turned in alarm and met his
eyes, in which he could not repress a
twinkle.
why, You said you hadn't seen
any"
Il didn't see one. but I'm sure
must have heard a good many, and
one could easily bite me and not pay
much attention to it. you know, in my
perplexity."
She regarded him carefully, felt sure
that he was a gentleman, and saw be-
sides the mischief in his eyes a great
exhaustion.
Il came off at four this morning,
without any breakfast" and one could
see his WEAKNESS was real. You
know he added, eXcilsing himself.
Il expected to be back 1T the hotel by
six with deer for breakfast
You are staying At F-?' she
asked. F. was village on the
line of the railway, about mile dis
tant
Il have been there for the last
week, but intend to return to the city
to-merrow. suppose you can show
me the way to F--?'
"Oh, yes. You must have been
very faint We are nearly to the path;
and Miss Desart's compliments, and
Will Mr.. John Westwood deiGn to par
take of an informal lunch at Hepsi-
dasa?"
Mr. John Westwood accepts with
due informality, not to say that he
jumps at the chance. But where and
what in the name of the redwoods is
Hepsidam9
Hepsidam-as the name signifies
lis a place in the wilderness rented
during the summer months to campers
for small stipend. We have been
dow n every summer for three years.
Bus acre we are.
He stepped out on the path and
stood beside her. How fragant and
cool the woods Were. The broad.
leafy path made one sigh with pity for
those who were bound to tread the
sitting streets of the city. They soon
| reached the cottage. which was not far
from where they struck the path. 1t
was an idyllic repast that awaited
them. Mrs. Desart was as lovely and
cordial as her daughter, and Mr..
Desar: was full of bonhommie and un-
concealed delight. at meeting any one
SO recently from the city.
IL wish had had the good luck to
lose myself in this vicinity week
age" said Westwood, regretfully. as
he was taking his departure, consider
ably later in the afternoon.
'Well. you can tind your way here
easily now, and we shall be glad to see
you at any time,'' said paterfamilias,
cordially.
Thank you for your kindness, but
my vacation ends tomorrow" be