Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-23
IN THE WOODS.
'Black spirits and white,
Blue spirits and gray
Min gle, mingle, raingle,
While va mingia rnaY~

meg Eepe1teu IL over anu over, ike an
Incarnation. as she leaned forward in her
low camp chair, over the glowing embers
drawn out on the hearth.
As often as she leaned forward, she gave
little shake or stir to the long handled
skillet, which was doing duty as witchs
caldron. A savory steam came up from
it as she did SO; and it greeted a hungry
man who stood in the open door of the
hut, behind her
He had walked across from the lake
bank. his step deadened by the moss
which spread its thick carpet between the
stumps of the felled trees. The light
birch bark canoe in which he had padded
himself across the water was slung, Indian
fashion, on his back, serving for umbrella
and water proof against the drizzle that
was falling. His bronzed face and dark
eyes looked in keeping; startlingly so.
Meg thought. as she glanced over her
shoulder at him.
For at some movement of his the edge
of his canoe struck the tent with q scrap
ing sound, which made her look round
suddenly.
She drew her breath in a quick gasp.
half surprise. half fear:
She had not included any red spirits in
her incantation, and this newcomer looked
uncommonly like a red Indian, as he
paused in the doorway of the hut
She had an idea that it was better to
open conversation at once. by way of
showing she was not at all afraid.
So. How, how?" she said promptly.
having somewhere heard or read that that
monosyllable was an appropriate saluta
ton.
The little word being a not uncommon
New England interrogative, the new
conner responded as promptly:
by the canoe. lost my way, and the
CLEAN of your fire shining out upon the
lake drew me across to you. | did not
know there was lumber camp in the
neighborhood May come to the fre7
am thoroughly damp and chilled"
If he did not add. and hungry. too,
when he stood on the hearth beside her,
and the saucepan sent up its sayory
fumes to greet him. his eyes said it for
him.
And Meg answered, as if he had add
ed it:
Supper viii be ready presently; my
father cannot be much longer"
She rose from her low seat and began
to set the table as she spoke.
The mans glance followed her furtively
in some surprise. She did not look like
rough lumberman's daughter, this slender
young thing. moving 50 deftly about her
homely task. Her dress was of coarse
blue flannel, and her delicate hands were
sunburnt a little, up to where she had
pushed the sleeves back from the wrists.
But she might have been a dainty prin-
cess masquerading In peasant costume;
and the young Englishman had taken OK
his hat, as if to princess of the blood.
He had time to take Ia his surround
ings while she was engaged. There was
tiny lean-to of room behind this,
through the half open doorway into
which he could catch a glimpse OF white
draperies, and which he guessed To be the
girls own chamber In this outer one
there was bunk filled with green spruce
boughs built into the wall. and a shelf
above it, on which pile of books stood
beside tobacco jar. A curiously carved
pipe lay in front Of this; and so narrow
was the whole space that the leaping
flames on the hearth seemed. in their
Pickering to and fro, 20 make a dash at
IL and to pluck at the beard of the gro
tesque face carved upon the bowl
The young mans eyes followed them.
BY Jovei' he said under his breath;
then, as the girl turned: II haven't my
pipe with me. | see your father smokes.
Would you kindly allow me TO borrow
bis? | assure you | would swoke the pipe
Of peace, although | I'm not an Indian
She smiled little, perceTving that he
had observed her first mistake, and her
self put tobacco box and pipe into his
hands. Il don't think papa would refuse
1t you-though he values It, l think
He
Her guest was looking it over closely.
Then he filed it. and lighted it at the fire.
suddenly lifting himself from the hearth
and stretching out his hands TO her, a. ne
pulled away.
The pipe of peace. Miss Winston"
The girl started. too utterly taken by
surprise TO withdraw her hand
lyon know me, them she cried
Il know my pipe" be said calmly. still
putting away.
"Y0ur-pipey
Rather, mine until | gave IL to your
father At the Office. |, was among sundry
other TRIES brought back with me from
abroad. and your father did NE the honor
TO accept it one day when we sst smoking
IA the Office in Montreal"
II do not understand
That | am Geofrcy Morris. junior
member Of the Montreal banking house
where your father WAS cashier
A flush OF pleasure frightened the giri's
face.
oh, papa viii 10 30 delight
Then she stopped short Would pap
be dctivh.ed+ Il these three month
siace they had lest their village lg-9e
strangely here n the forest, be bad
seemed 70 disliSe every reminder OF tee
old hfs- LET u have dooe With every
tGing about IL. +" he bad told hsr abruptly.
lie: Us forget Il while We can We shau
not be troabied With neiStbon. 70 81
ereo who We sTe. but mind. ve are
nobody. We come from nowhere. and we !
mean 70 euioy this quasi camping on. !
nav. a Gentleman frseno Of K.tos VII % |
here for the bali to-sight-nsy l Leave
hin IN youY care
hezi.ate6. dozen thoughts rushing
ln confusion through ny braia
WHO was he1 Birds O. . feather.
tic "w-hs. would Seu think BIZ: ! !
Erno.hered ny consc.ence Into The eonsaa-
ssos. PERHAPS I'll nere1 Sc h1-a Az2.n-
had written Of the dear Old vice pr-s-
d-u. . some. IN The FOUNTAIN House
News. for which BE eoDpat1ens~d ms
with the place next 20 his wife Al tie 10
o~u.ior liz. rixh: ~ore CT this oocs-
siou- ever memorable 20 re = simple COS
tune os v4si:e sa.k Ana UEA sa;A eaA-