The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-08


kindly heat that Tended of the chill Of
the night Even the girl, angry and hu-
| inflated as she seemed to be, felt the
influence of the light and warmth and
edged along the log until she was much
closer and the fire could shine directly
upon her face Old Put was frank in
his appreciation, coming to the full
length Of his tether and wagging his
head in manner which said to me as
plain as day. ''You have done well
Even the stupid brown hack understood
and initiated Old Puts example.
Higher rose the fire and drove back
the shadows, but the darkness was now
rolling up to the circle Of light, and
beyond the sparkle Of the flames began
to rise like a wall The sun was gone,
and a faint, fading pink tint in the
west marked the way his fight had
taken him. Over all the world the twi-
light drooped, and the winter wind
mourned the dead day,
"Are there ghosts in the forest?" sud-
denly asked the girl
None that ever heard or, SAID.
st is so unlike England"
''How?''
$50 much wilder"
had heard Of their forests there, or
rather what they call forests-some acres
of trees, with the undergrowth cut
away and the lawns shaven. every rod
patrolled by keepers or workmen, a mere
plaything Of forest-but here in
America are the real forests, just as
nature made them, the desolate wilder
ness through which the wild animals
howl, while the lone wind plays its
song on the branches or leaves Of the
trees This is the real forest, a place in
which man becomes about as big as
cork on the sea. Never the lone hunter,
though so years his home, fails to feel
its immensity and desolation. The girl
drew the edges Of her cloak little
more tightly and moved as close to the
FIRE as the end Of the log would allow
her
''I4 you will permit me- said, 81
viii give you better seat by the fire
than that
She rose without word. and I rolled
the log well within the warmth Of the
blaze She resumed her seat, and the
freight flckered and played over her
facs. tintlng her cheeks with deep red
and spangling her bronze gold hair
with patches of scarlet and crimson
The little red cap had been pulled Sc
curely down on her head, and, sitting
there in the alternate light and dark
ness, her figure 1.-the and strong, she
looked like some Saxon wood nymph-
But did not cease my good deeds. I
call myself forethoughtful trooper,
and from the saddlebags carried across
my saddle bow took a cold chicken, a
piece of cold boiled ham and some hard
biscuits, dinner fit for prince, or
rather an honest American citizen,
which was better, in these hard times
of war To this royal collection added
a canteen well filed with water, re-
membered the stout little flask in my
breast pocket, and the repast was COM
plete, all but the serving
Her eyes sparkled at the sight Of the
good things Wood nymphs. Saxon or
other, must eat.
''Let me carve the chicken, % she said.
'.You have neither table. plates nor
q knife. said
This log will serve as table, some
of those clean dry leaves as plates. and
you could lend me knife
How could lend yon knife a
weapon. after all the tricks you have
tried to play upon mes You don t forget
this. do you
| took the little toy pistol with
which she had tried TO shoot me out Of
my pocket and held it up before her.
but she laughed Women don seem to
have any conscience, or at least they
forget their crimes which is convenient
for their peace of mind
Give me the knife. she said. land
don't waste time I'm hungry. -
distrusted her as much as ever, even
more, but 1 opened the blade of my
clasp knife and handed it to her.
"A very good knife. " she said, "but
have no doubt it was stolen from an
Englishman. An, here it is-the name
of an English maker on the blade!''
'.It was not stolenl" exclaimed in
dignantly II took it from him fairly
at the battle of Monmouth. where he
fell into nv hands %
''That, l suppose, is a good enough
title for a REBEL she said and began
to carve the chicken
1t was fine fat chicken, beautifully
roasted, and she showed that she knew
how to carve, for she deftly clipped off a
Leg which she held up before me.
THAT looks fat and good to eat, she
said, land it's fine chicken. but I've
no doubt it was stolen from a loyal sub
ject of King George
Its not true!'> exclaimed III some
wrath He was a Tory farmer. admit,
but did not steal the chicken took
it before his eyes. and be never said
word .