The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-07-22

was sadly bored by talkative seat
mate, but there was no chance of re-
lief until we reached Cedar river,
where the stage was exchanged for q
Concord coach.
found that Tom had made great
advances in the acquaintance OF the
little party to which Maud belonged,
and which 1 now joined. We all
climbed on top of the coach, and
though the sun was hotter than ever,
and the dead trees quite as ghastly, i
no longer objected to riding outside.
Maud's father proved n good-na-
tured man, whose hay fever had driven
him to the woods; and on the shore
of Raquette lake, he, with Maud and
Jack, had been camping in bark
shanty, and without guide.
They told us of their experiences in
a frank, jolly way, that made camping
seem the most desirable kind of life
imaginable. Maud looked on us with
evident pity when she found that we
had been less than three weeks in the
woods, and our camping experiences
had been only with guide. But We
retaliated with glowing account Of
our boat trip, which fascinated her,
and she Immediately implored her
father to take her through the lakes
next summer. She had learned to fish,
row and swim, though Jack laughed at
the idea of her swimming where the
water wasn't over hey head. She got
enthusiastic over her rowing, however |;
and said she could cook fish as we'll as
catch them, and make splendid pam
cakesi and we doubted none OF her
accomplishments.
How swiftly our six horses sped
over the rough road! Long before
we wished it we ratified into North
Creek, where the railway station made
us feel that our happy mountain life
was at an end.
We found that our paths would di-
verge ut Saratoga, 80 we made the
most of the few hours left. The car
seemed close after our outdoor life,
and We wondered if civilization were
worth while, after all.
As we rumbled along, talking mer-
rily in spite of the noise, a saucy gust
of wind caught Maud's hat and
whirled it out of the window.
"What shall 1 do?" she appealed to
us for Jack was laughing, and her
father evidently puzzled.
"Thats the only hat had with me,
and l can't go bearheaded.
81 might lend you this" said Jack,
offering his straw, which was very
much the worse for its camping ex-
periences.
81 can do better than that" said /,
Jacks suggestion having reminded
me of something; and 1 soon pulled
ont n skull. cap of the same general
color as her dress. "Wouldn't this
doG l have some pretty wings il
you want to trim it,"
She chose gray one out of my
store, with which her deft fingers
soon transformed the cap; and when
it was on her head she looked prettier
than ever. We four admiring mascu-
lines congratulated her on her sue.
cess, and was in clover. Tom was
dislanced again, for he, too, had a cap,
which he would have only been toe
happy to see on that graceful head, il
he had only thought of it. But there
was little time for regrets. Already
we were nearing Saratoga, and must
part with our friends.
Good-byes are seldom pleasant.
Perhaps it is we'll that they are Otter
hurried. A few words, touch of the
hand, and she was gone.
Did we ever see her again? Which
OF us won herr Was one made happy
the other heart-broken, and oul
friendship thus shattered forever?
No, dear reader. 1t is possible fol
two men, who have fallen in love with
the same girl to be content to hold
equal places in her affection-if she il
only eight years old.