The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-24


+be warm south wind first blew
+brough the tops of the pines. bearing
fine sweet, spicy fragrance of spring;
waking the birds into song and the
world into happiness. There was not
anyone in the logging camp who did
not see the lifting of the cloud. His
yidened eyes and radiant face had
the look of man suddenly awakened
from the dead. And the news spread
somehow, so that one by one as the
workers swung into camp with long
strides, axes over their shoulders, redo
,fgot If the woods, they paused anxious
" TO glance down at him. But tonight,
instead of passing on with shake of
the head, the men stopped to call a
shv: Hello Havelle," as though he
had Just arrived.
And Havelle answered in strange,
ouivering voice: "Hello-hello."
AS evening wore on and still the
warm south wind sang through the
air and the very earth relented under
the influence of the song, he woke still
more; looking all about him in dazed
way, seeming somehow to remember
and being glad for the remembrance.
But he made no move and no attempt
to speak.
The hours passed on. The men,
heavy with sleep, drifted away to
their hunks. Scarcely had the last one
disappeared for the night when wo-
man, she was barely more than girl,
came slowly forth, seating herself
close beside Havelle, facing him.
Not a word was said. He looked at
her curiously. His forehead wrinkled.
once he put his hands to his eyes try
ing to remember. His heart beat quick
lv-he knew her. Yes, he was sure of
If. Yet the place she held in his
mind was as vague and unreal as a
dream vision.
The belated moon rose red and placid
high in the sky, shedding it's glow upon
the two silent figures. in a warm flush.
And in the stiffness of the night where
there came no sound but the murmur
of the leaves, and the complaints of the
untamed creatures who prowled I'M
easily under the shadow of the forest
growth, something stirred in the mans
mind. Jeanette's reward had come.
Five years before Havelle had been
like giant pine in his strength. Erect,
immense, with shoulders like a wall
and arms like a machine. Handsome,
too, as one would wish to see, with
waving hair and flashing eyes pand a
mouth that laughed with the very joy
of living. And it was just chen. When
existence teemed with happiness, that
old man Toulon came to the woods with
his daughter Leslie.
She walked by his side, dainty, de-
mure, splendid creature to set mems
heart aching, and from that moment
there was no more peace in the log
ging camp. Every man admitted her
fascination; every man fell victim to
her charms. Even the honest spirit OF
good fellowship lost itself behind her
wonderful eyes.
At first Leslie showed no preference
towards any one of them, coquetting
with them all. But one night she
smiled up into Havelle's face, as she
had not smiled before, and from then
on he was good for nothing only to
fight for such another smile. A day
later the two had a long talk and a
long walk together. While they were
gone Jeanette, who, till Leslie's COM
ing. had been Havelle's sweetheart, lay
with her head buried in her hands,
crying her soul out in tears. -
But when the two were in sight of
camp again, Leslie's face all agleam,
Havelle shouting song after song, Jean
cite stilled her sobs and went down
to wish the two happiness. They had
come back plighted lovers.
The next week Havelle went away.
He was mysterious. Not an explana-
ton would hesgive.
Walt" he said, laughing with a
big voice and kissed Leslie before them
all
He staid and staid. After a month
Leslie, very dull with waiting, smiled
up into Selligman's eyes and from
mat moment Selligman was bewitched.
In his madness he defied and chal-
lenged anyone to take her from him.
And, while the wise men shook their
heads, Leslie laughed. 1t pleased her
TO be the pivot on which might turn
a possible tragedy.
Six months later Havelle crept into
camp, silent, pale, his head bowed,
his lips closed. Jeanette, who was
watching for him as she had watched
every day since his leaving, gave
little cry. The man had changed
years in six months.
He beckoned to Jeanette. Bring me
q drink, Jeanette, will your" he asked,
hoarsely.
And something to eat?" she added.
He nodded. then sank in a heap on
the ground.
lie swallowed hungrily what the girl
brought, but his eyes roved contin-
ualy. He was not thinking of the
1000 he ate nor of the girl who brought
IT, out ot-that other. Before he gath
eIed the courage to put the question
mat hoFered on his lips, that question