The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-04-04

abandoned house which would give us
a roof, but saw no sign Of human
face except our own, and no roof appear
ed either in the fields or amcng the
trees. 1t was solitude bleak and cold,
and the declining sun, now half way
behind the earth, warned me that it
would soon be time to stop, for the
darkness would be upon us, and in a
land of hills, gullies and no roads we
could not travel we'll without light
Despairing of such shelter as had
expected, turned our course toward a
thick grove of trees rising like great
castle on the left. When we entered it,
the shadows already made darkness
there, and the night wind moaned
among the dry branches of the trees. l
saw the girl shiver, and again l felt
pity for her in spite of all that she tried
to do, though lost none of my distrust
and caution.
Almost in the center of the grove was
small open space, sheltered from the
rush of cold air by the great trees which
grew SO thickly around it. 1t seemed to
me to be the likeliest spot we could find
for camp. l hitched the horses to
boughs Of the trees and took from my
pocket small flask of that cheer which
good soldier seldom neglects 1 drew
the stopper and handed it to the girl.
"Take little of this" said. "You
must if you do not expect to catch your
death of cold.
II would if could" she said, "but
l cannot while my hands are tied.'
II had forgotten the handkerchief, +"
I replied, "but don't think we'll need
it any longer You have been warned
sufficiently"
unbound her wrists and replaced the
handkerchief in my pocket.
But don { forget" / said, "that this
handkerchief is an evidence that l have
put my mark upon you and that you be-
long to me-that is, you are my prisoner
until such time as choose to give you
up.
Her face flushed.
II will not endure such talk, y. she
said from q rebel who within six
months may be hanged by his outraged
king for treason.
You can't escape it," said, land
the king can't hang me before he
catches me. It's long way from Lon
don to South Carolina, and l hear the
king is fat and lazy and suffers from
seasickness. y
But she drank the whisky, just lit
tie of it, though enough to put more
sparkle in her eye, and handed the flask
to me without word of thanks Then
she sat down on a fallen tree and looked
idly in front of her as if she had no in
terest whatever III anything.
l gathered up armfuls of the dry
brushwOOd and tossed them into heap.
to which set fire with the flint and
steel always carried. The fire blazed
up rapidly and snapped as it bit through
the wood. Its merry cracking drowned
the desolate moan of the wind, and the
long red ribbons of fame and the fast
forming bed Of live Goals threw out a
kindly heat that Tended off the chill of
the night Even the girl, angry and hui
inflated as she seemed to be, felt the
influence of the light and warmth and
Su6Ou dioh6 tu0 lOS uubll SIG 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 we'll.
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 wall The sun was gone,
and faint, fading pink tint in the
west marked the way his flight had
taken him. Over all the world the twi.
light dropped. and the winter wind
mourned the dead day
Are there ghosts in the forest?' sud
denly asked the girl.
None that ever heard of, - said.
1T is SO unlike England"
"How?"