The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-03-04
IN THE WOODS.
"Black spirits and white,
Blue spirits and gray
Mingle, nlingle, mingle,
While We mingle may"

W LlAC 70 lulu3lc lllAJ
Meg repeated it over and over like an
incantation, 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
a little shake or stir to the long handled
skillet, which was doing duty as a witch S
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 it's 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.
a. 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 quick gasp,
half surprise, half fear:
She had not included any red spirits in
her incantation, and tliis 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 a lumber camp in the
neighborhood. May | come to the fret
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 it's savory
fumes to greet him, his eyes said it for
him.
:. And Meg answered, as if he had add.
E}d it.:
Supper will 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 8
rough lumbermans daughter, this slender
young thing moving so deftly about hel
homely task. Her dress was of coarse
blue flannel and her delicate hands were
sunburnt little up to where she haC
pushed the sleeves back from the wrists
But she might have been dainty prin
cess masquerading in peasant costume
and the young Englishman had taken OF
his hat, as if to princess of the blood.
He had time to take in his surround
ings while she was engaged. There wa
tiny lean-to of a room behind this
through the half open doorway int,
which he could catch glimpse of whit
draperies, and which he guessed to be tn
girls own chamber. In this outer on
there was bunk filed with green spruc
boughs built into the wall, and shell
above it, on which pile of books stoo
beside tobacco jar A curiously carve,
pipe lay in front of this; and so narroy
was the whole space that the leapini
flames on the hearth seemed, in thei
Pickering to and fro, to make a dash a
it and to pluck at the beard of the gro
tesque face carved upon the bowl.
The young mans eyes followed them.
A by Jove" he SAID under his breath
Xthen, as the girl turned: 81 haven't m
pipe with me. | see your father smokes
Would you kindly allow me to borro'
his2 l assure you | would swoke the pip
of peace, although | am not an Indian.
She smiled a little perceiving that b
had observed her first mistake, and he
self put tobacco box and pipe into HI
hands. Il don't think papa would refus
it you-thoush he values it, l thinl
He
Her guest was looking it over closet.
Then he filed it, and lighted it at the fir
suddenly lifting himself from the heart
and stretching out his hands to her, as
pulled away.
"The pipe of peace. Miss Winston"
Tho girl started, too utterly taken
surprise to withdraw her hand.
.tYou know me, them she cried.
81 know my pipe" he said calmly, ST
putting away.
"Your-plpeY
"Rather, mine until gave IL to yo
father at the office 1t was among sund
other trifes brought back with me fro
abroad, and your father did me the hon
TO accept it one day when we sat smolil
In the Office in Montreal"
81 do not understand" p
y "That l am Godfrey Morris, juni
member of the Montreal banking hou