The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-15
WALKED WITH COUGARS.
Trying Experience of Naturalist
in the Oregon Woods.

=
in the Oregon Woods.
Portland Oregonian: A. j. Johnson of
Portland, d wen known forestry collect
or, while on his way back from visit
OF inspection with H. S. Graves, of New
York, one of the United States forestry
commissions experts, to THE Blue
mountains, in eastern Oregon, had an
experience that ne is not likely to forget
for some time. He had stopped over at
Grandma Munras and, in the after
noon, went on a botanical excursion
into the neighboring hills. On his re-
turn he selected the railroad track,
which wound around the bottom of the
gully, as a preferable route.
The track was paralleled by stream
for a good way and Mr.. Johnson was
making his way along this section,
swinging his sack fun of roots anu
thinking OF various things, when he was
startled to notice that he had COM
panions-two big cougars walking d
few feet ahead of him in the bed of the
stream. One of them was lame, prob
ably the. result of some trouble with a
trap, and he and his mate trotted along
slowly. They had noticed Mr. john
son and apparently were aware of the
fact that he had noticed them, for
every little while they would swish
their tails in a playful way over the
surface of the water and throw a
backward glance of the eye at the
lonely pedestrian on the railroad track
that suggested unpleasant things to
him.
II was not exactly a very comfort
able situation for an unarmed man to
be in, with two great tawny cats walk
ing along at his side. He wanted very
muCh to turn around and go and look
for more roots, but he did got exactly
like TO do 80 for fear his acton might
be misunderstood by his companions
and cause them TO take more interest
in his person than they were then do
ing. The fact, too, that they seemed
anything but plump was not very re-
assuring.
During the quarter of. d mile that
the forestry collector and the cougars
We're in such close companionship the
cougars seemed to be enjoying their
walk, and Mr.. Johnson was wishing
that il was the same with ihim. Fin
ally, to his relief, they broke off up the
| hillside at a swinging trot, stopping
every now and then to take a look at
the unsocdable man back on the track,
who was now vigorously shaking his
bag full of roots at them.
BASfnFUa MANS PREDICA MENT.
Chicago Chronicle: A certain young
south side bachelor has made up his
mind that never again will he tell his
friends should he be placed in such an
embarrass position as fell to his lot
one night last week. He attended one
of the theatres. purchasing a seat in
a proscenium box. The box was pretty
well filled up when he got there. Among
/ the occupants were a charming young
woman and her escort. The girl, who
was engrossed in the performance. did
not notice the entrance of the new
conner. nor was she aware that her es-
cort, who had been sitting behind. had
moved over few feet TO make room
for the bashful man. After a While one
of the performers did something funny,
; which aroused the girls mirth. She
/ half turned and laid her hand on his
masculine knee back of her. Isn't
! that funny2" said she. The bashful
I man blushed, said nothing, and as the
, little hand rested on his s.nee, he began
to grow uneasy and then to perspire.
! He didn't know what to do.
I Finally he attempted TO gently re-
move the hand. The taper fingers
closed over his big paw and squeezed
it lovingly. Then she placed the big
hand back upon its owners knee and
patted it playfully The little hand
rested upon the big one for several
minutes that seemed as many hours to
the bashful man.
Suddenly she said: Gracious, you
must be warm: you're perspiring sou
She turned and looked at the man be-
hird her and rearly tainted.
He was as thoroughly confused as
she, however, and moment later he
got up and went out.