The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-06
IN THE SUGAR BUSH
BY GEORGE GRANT

the two farms next morning. he raised his
voice in song SO that Nell TomDkins might
realize that he was not taking her conduct
to heart but his voice sounded like crows.
When he met Farmer Tompkins. he made
great pretense Of being jolly. and he started
a report that he was stuck on Abigail
Spooner and almost in love with Hetty Gable.
He also kept away from the Tompkins farm
house. and if any asked him for news OF
Nell it appeared to take him all OF thirty
seconds to recall her name.
Thus Zeb Taylor had tried to. make himself
believe that he was getting. the best OF 1t.
Down in his heart he knew that he would
have been only too glad of the chance to make
another call.
Night had come in the sugar bush. Zeb had
eaten cold supper while the sap IN the pan
boiled and foamed and later on nao cut up
the wood to be used through the hours OF
darkness. Then he sat down on log 10
smoke and figure out how many pals or
syrup would be the result of that run OF
sap. He intended to follow the syrup to the
Sugar off, process and count up the pounds
of sugar, but his thoughts insensibly drifted
away to Nell Tompklns, and for long ten
minutes he was oblivious Of his surround
ings. Then he was suddenly called to life
by the boot OF an owl, He could have sup
pressed the cold shivers inside Of two min
utes had not the boot Of the bird been fol-
lowed by the scream of woman. The sugar
bush was mile Away from any house, and
the voice Of woman in the dark woods
weakened Zeb's knees and brought his heart
into his throat. He was shaking with alarm
when the owl hooted again, boot full CT
the direst peril, and again it was followed
by the scream Of a woman whose life was
menaced. Zeb stopped only to grab up
club, and then he made rush into the dark
ness. He had only fifty feet to go before
discovering Nell Tompkins leaning up against
the trunk OF a tree
r'You-you here!" gasped Zeb as he came
to halt.
Eyes and o. Zeb the bear-the bear"
she exclaimed as she held out her arms TO
him.
What bear? Where? When?'
Hes just roared out twice, and you
you"
Yes, I heard him roar, but don't you be
afraid said Zeb as he put his arm around
her and gently walked her to the fire. The
arm still encircled her as they sat down on
the log together and he:asked
Nell, did you start for anywhere and get
lost?"
II don't know she half sobbed. II
heard you were making sugar down here all
alone"
Yes ---.-
And that you were going to sugar off to-
night"
| Not quite so soon" .
! And 1 hought-thought-"
What did you think, Nell?"
Il thought if I came down you'd give me
| some maple on white chip and that I
would say that l was sorry If I hurt your
| feelings the other night"
! And you got lost in the woods?" Queriei
| Zeb as his heart began to melt
| ''l-l-guess SO. lt1was awfully dark
| And a bear growled at you?'
| Such awful groWls! 0, Zeb, was so glad
to see you. l might have been eaten alive"
| Yes. Say, Nell, you are sorry, I'm sorry,
and what9' =
| Why, you'll go home with me, won't you?"
| Yes; and what then?n
why, if pa and ma haven't gone to bed
| and don't think they have-you might want
10 talk to 'em, you know.
/ Yes, l know whispered Zeb as he lifted
| her face and kissed her. And then the sap
| in the pan boiled and foamed again, the fire
cracked and snapped, and the owl above their
heads chuckled in his throat and few away
! TO other fields of romance.