Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29

anything to the others. and they pushed on
IN the direction that 1t seemed to Carroll
they ought to take. There vas no fence
between Mr. Mason's part q thu woods and
| mat Whi,h did not belong to him, and so
| carroll could not tell on whose land they
| were. lie had no idea how far they were
from nome. He was beginning 10 feel as
| ~ Iunch would not be undesirable, and he
| imagined the others shared the same feel
ing. so ne wa.Hed quickly. on the lookout
an the time for familiar object. But
none appeared, and the bushes seemed TO
get thicker and thicker. Suddenly they
came lace to face with a swamp which they
| could not possibly pass
| never saw this swamp before" said
oop WI mere are We, Carroll?
| m aVfully tired" sighed Peggy yaIniy
trying to hold her torn skirt together
| come along, len: Wen get home all the
quicker" answered Carroll bri.kly. turning
| 10 the right to go around the swamp. They
| would come out somewhere some time soon
they must. The piece OF woods they were
| IN was not so very large. The only trouble
| was-where were they going to come out9
| SarroIi piodded anxiously along. Tho
others followed in single file, tired and stilI
| trembling from their fright. starting at
| every rustling in the dead caves
| Where are We Carroll?" asked Bob
a s at length, hopping his forehead with
MS handkerchief.
| Carroll was forced to acknowledge tho, n.
| did not know. "
Then We are LOST exclaimed Peggy in
y la
| stump. upon
No. We aren't" said Carroll no, liking
| .le souhu OF the word. Were bound to
come out somewhere: only / don't know
| this part of the woods
| Then We are lost" repeated pep,v die
maiiy- And well have to stay out here ali
night. and all tomorrow and we won't hava
AWNING to eat. just like the Babes in the
| Wood. and" 'A0
oh, hush up. Peggy" interrupted Billy.
| ruueiy- mat all nonsense. We aren't
| Iost at alive can easily find our way out"
| Peggys picture of their being obliged to
| stay out in the woods all night and ma ,,,,a
never to get back home again at all made
MIN feei a little uncomfortable At an
| other time. perhaps the adventure would
| nave seemed like grand lark but now his
| nerves had been all worked I'M NV the eY
| cLement they had just gone through Be
SUES ne was tired and hungry, and when
one IS urea and hungry it does not take
| nuch to upset ones state of mind II made
| Billy cross o
Peggy sat on the stump. and would not
| Dudse. Even Billys suggestion that the
crazy man might find her failed to excite
much interest. She had made up her mind
| that they were lost SO she resigned herself
| to her fate
Bob was resting his tired limbs on the
| ground at her feet. and for a few minutes
carroll and Billy sat on log. Then Car
| roll said:
Come on. now: we've got to get home
mother Will wonder where we are
| We can't get home" said Peggy agra
vatingly
I'm going, anyhow You can STAY if YOU
| want. answered Carroll. shortly. He turn
| ed his back and began to push his wav on
ward; Billy jumped up at once and fol-
lowed. Bob looked at Peggy, and seeing
that she did not move. waited patiently
for her, very much divided in his mind as
to whether he ought to stick to her or 90
On with the others
When Carroll and Billy were almost out
OF sight. he could bear 1t no longer He
| sprang to his feet, saying:
| Come on, Peggy. Hurry up, or we'll
| lose sight of them"
"Oh. I'm too tired to go any further"
answered Peggy. YEARLY.
But you must" replied Bob anxiously.
| Il can't"
oh, please. Peggy; do come on" cried
BOB. In an agony. By this time the boys
had entirely disappeared.
| mo. L won't. I'm too tired" answered
| Peggy, obstinately.
We'll. but We will get lost really IL you
don't come pleaded Bob
On leave me alone. Go on yourself IL
I'm not afraid" denied Bob, Indignantly.
| but l don't know where we are and il we
don't follow Carroll Well be late to lunch,
| and"
Il don't care if we are. I'm not going to
stir an inch till I'm ready: so there now."
| Bob took her by the arm and tried to force
| her.
Come on. Peggy; I'm awfully hungry
and it must be way after lunch time Do
| come"
mo, won't!" cried Peggy. shaking his
| hand Off
Then I'll go without you," said Bob. in
| despair.
"Ali right: you cam Peggy answered de-
| family. and Bob turned away with wrath in
| his heart.
But he had not gone many steps before
| his conscience smote him for leaving her
| alone. After all. she was a girl and his
guest. He went back
| tn CT
YOU. he said. gently, sitting down again
| on the ground.
"oh, well. If you want to go home I'll
| rested now"
Bob looked up in surprise. The fact was
| that when Peggy actually saw that Bob
| was going to take her at her word and
| leave her alone she felt little frightened.
| Not for worlds would she have told him
| so. but she felt decidedly relieved when he
came back.
''All right; come along. then" cried Bob.
gladly. Wen have to hurry to catch up
| to them"
Hand in hand they hurried through the
| woods. but did not catch up with Carroll
| and Billy. They both called loudly over
| and over again, but there was no response.
Bob was too generous to hint to Peggy that
| 1t was her fault. but she felt that it was,
| and was very patient and gentle. Bob gave
| up trying to find the others at last and
| became interested only in getting out of the
woods as soon as possible. no matter at
| what point.
| After walking for what seemed miles and
| miles there were signs of the trees thin
| ming out. and in few minutes they came
| into little clearing.
| 1t was quite near the road. and there was
small. dilapidated frame house. with an
| old man chopping wood near the back door.
| An old carriage stood near with a detected
| looking horse hitched to it. Something
| familiar about that horse and carriage
| made Bob hold Peggy back in the shelter
of the bushes and look quickly at the old
man.
Sure enough. it was Dave Rivers trying
| rather unsuccessfully to chop himself few
| sticks of wood to keep the fire going in his
stovei
(To be continued next Saturday,