Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1895-03-16


no, : said Pamela tartlv, II don't
want TO be et,and don't intend to be.
neither; but I'm goin'-I'm sot on it,
SO there's 70 use talkin'.
And Pamela went, the objections 0:
her grandfather and mother bein.
barely heard in her eager haste to be
off. In less than ten minutes after
she had reached her decision, her pink
sunbo- let was glancing through the
trees, as she followed the trail to the
river
A day OF cloudless enjoyment fol-
lowed, and at o'clock sho began to
think Of going home. For, although
the sun was shining on the river with
MONDAY brightness, the forest ways
were already dimming and thick
shadows lay across the trail
Pamela, refusing the proffered com.
partnership Of big, bashful Sam Good
sell and his gun. with al emphasis
that showed she was not assembling.
started homeward As she walked
swiftly along the narrow trail, he1
pink sunbonnet hanging by one string
from her hand, and the evening breeze,
cool from the river, blowing her
tangled curis round the flushed checks,
smile curved her lips, and she said
70 the birds, probably, since they we're
her only companion: Sif l wanted
that gnwk Sam Goole.'l to 60 home
with mel He said my cheeks were
Just the color Of his mother June
roses. | wonder il they be? Guess
III run down to the spring and sec"
A chcery laugh ended her soliloQrv.
\ few rods from the trail Il spring
bubbleI Whitley from the ground,
then sent SILVER thread TO the river.
Bears spring" WAS the suggestive
name it bore. The klndl Y sun lent a ray
to aid Pamela inquiry as, holding back
her curls With both hands, she took a
long look at the rosy, di,npled face
that smiled at hor from bar ayIvnn
mirror.
Well suited with the result ot her
inquiry ehe started to return to the
trail. Startel-thcn stood like
little white etat,c Of fear framed IN
The green black Of tho pine woods.
Between lfcr AMI the trai sat BLACK
bear, his grer. arms extended rs
though to embrace her
For hours it seemed to Pamela they
! faced each other thus Then she turned
and ran away into the deepest woods.
| The low hanging branches prus he'd
! her head her feet sllnrel on toe
smooth pine needles. On. on, ou
4 among the column like trunks over
the bodies Of fallen forest giants
/ armed c,umps of bushes Once she
fell downtown DOWN would she
yer stop falling? But the depth OF
her fall WAS more IN her imagination
than reality, for II was only u deeI
hollow filed with deal leaves an
slippery pine needles, and she was no;
hurt.
Pamela wGs not running hlinilv.
She intended to strike the trail hal
mile above the spring. Ani soon sh'
came through thicket o. hlackberr,
bushes, on. on the familiar trac'-
And ther, snt ths h,ar. with hi
hiack. hllcous tao. an red, lol,:n
tun-3r
Her pink bonnet. t" which she ha'
c,nns through nj, slipped from h"
;in..rs, and again she sought safef,
IN the darhcmnE woods. Once sh
looked over Ier shoulder TO see ii III
uear was following her, ani saw lin
smelling .: her bonnet. Even IN he
mortal terror, ran- pierced be
heart AT til. thought OF lts probab.
destruction Exhausted. She s.; dow
under linden tree,
4 ">creech owls startling cryv SCI
her a~ain ou E,r will .iGht. 4 prC
tru,ltn- root threw hec 10 the cr mn
AMI She rose With q purple hIn'-
Growing darh ~ her forehead.
last, with s.aAiac near; AMI p
mention Of tie horror to come, -
a-ain came ou. on TIE trail, 2 la
nile from Ter homs
AMI there. >.l!l barring hcr pat
s., ,he GRIM 'no.>ie.
Unil now lear hal -AeT: her ~aa.
bu: ,,.,s .,G,e IT desperation 'oa-
vent u shire. Q: az suisA that ec1o'
.Lro.,A those leaty soli,u les w..h
appalling intensity. TIE h>ar VI
a suo-s o. fear. E.o~;e.. :ran !
trail, into tie bu~.es. a. wA> -
4, 10 more.
, Tv, Pa:1e.a l.i ~; hnov Asr !"
l.or rba s..rl =: her o.