The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-11-21
A SEQUOIA DRYAD
By ETHEL WATTS MUrtisoRD.

the gnunt dark figure. This time abe
did not wait to br addressed, but
walked with majestic langEor to with
IN carshot.
MEN," she said in her clear. mu-
si,M Castiiiiau, YOU are In danger
go your ways and do not tempt your
hrttcrs To- destroy you. For centuries
they have lived. Do you dare TO
threaten their cxistenccf--if 80, be-
ware! know them. and know
their will"
She waited for no rec puusc, hut
turned with the slow. strong. grace
full motion that characterized her,
and disappeared in the direction Of
her tree. The half.brccds looked aft
er her IN surprise, took fresh drink
all around and returned 10 their talk.
But Dcrrngcr could not. lie had cX'
pCriUuccd for the second time that
ungoycrnSblr fear, that creeping OF
the flesh that unnerycs man. lie
swung himself from the platform to
the ground and followed the retreat
Ing figure. lie saw her enter the
gaping cavern In the heart of the
scguoia, and few moments later
noticed the same thread Of blue
smoke proceeding from an opening
in the bark. where. doubtless. she had
,mprovisrd q chimney. He lonRrd to
cross the narrow barrier Of the
stream and enter this unusual dwell
ing, but a sense Of improperly held
him back After all she was n wom-
an, this forest giant vas her h0udoir,
and the habit OF his youthful training
was t!l strong upon him.
That was the beginning. From
that day forward he knew no peace.
Every day ~ the noon hour the Dry
nd came, calm aud uumoyrd as the
spr1kug statue, to- deliver her warn
ing. and daily the men lost their in
difference and grew more troubled at
her coming, when the dinner hour
approached they scattered instead OF
climbing" on the scaiToldiugs. They
looked over their shoulders hurried
IS 81, they went. and gave the smok.
ing srmuia "a wide berth. In addition
20 the supcrstitious icrrurs 10 which
be- now found himself n victim, there
wa added the more definite nuticipa-
tiou OF Insrrtjon among his wood.
men. lie tried 10 drown their wills.
prrcd councils boy CHEEKY banter, but
his own heart misgave him.
\ week passed and nothing hap.
pcurd save the daily visits Of the
Drlnd. and the completion Of the dis.
sect ON NJ the redwood The wire
rupr- had been stakcd and drawn
taut. the wiudcrs were set up az
safe distance to avoid the possible
spring OF branches. and another day
would see the fall of the first cut
redwood of his claim Derringer
hrruthrd more freely, for the Dryad
did not come ut midday. Perhaps she
had given up the fruitlcsS bluil. But
at twilight when the canyon was al
ready full Of the bue.black mystery
Of night. and the rush of the little
stream sounded loud and uueeasing,
she stood suddenly before him,
framed in the door of his little shack.
"Senor." she said. this is the last
warning -ga'"
She disappeared ns II by magic. and
Derringer's heart lay cold in his
breast. lie shi,cred, rose, looked out
Mt the blackncss of the shadows, lis
tened to the maEnifcd roar Of the
little river. and tried To shake of
the oppression Of impeding eyil--but
anyhow the warnings Of mad won.
an. That night there were strange
crcakingE in the forest and sounds ut
times Of stretched cables and sinister
cracklnEs Hut the lumbcrmen
thought Of the doomed redwood and
turned TO more solid slumbrrs on
their primitive beds.
Suddenly out Of the night came a
scream MS OF ten thousand demons, a
rcnding and tearing rs OF an earth
quake, a blow that shook the hills
aud echoed dissYa :ht stony mountain
walls. Then the silence grew and
swallowed the vain tumul'. Dawn
showed the cleft redwood siill stand
ing IN its cables. ringcd hy its plank
platform. bat the men who planned
It's destruction were not there to
complete the work. They lay crushed
In their frall plank shanties. under
the great sequoia.
Only the Dryad was there to see
how It's heart had been eaten ont by
the drvouring FIRE, until the chamber
~ It's base had become but ring OF
bark. There was no one 60 tell Of the
patient vengeance Of the hatf-witted
priestess OF the trees. hut she,
draped In her tattered Spanish iinery.
damp with the sights dews, only
shook her head wisely az the ruin
about her, aud calmly took her sol.
itary way through the unbroken
silence Of the canFar in search of
new hometown and Country, New
York