The San Francisco call., 1904-07-24
= HER HERO Il
By Lillian G. Paschal


she wants a real man, Ell? Wen.
sweet Mistress Nell has always had
what she wanted. and she mustn't be
disappointed in a little matter Of hus-
bands"
He called a servant to put out the
fire, tucked the guitar under his arm
and strobe off to his tent, where he
slept the dreamless slumber Of a gem
eral whose maneuvers are all planned.
The next evening they were all
grouped about the campfire, which had
been replenished. mountain-fashion.
with whole logs drawn and stacked
across its first kindling flame by a
team of horses. The little party.
chaperoned by Neu's mother, who
drowsed on a folding easy chair,
sprawled about the fire, recounting the
days adventures and the wonders OF
the park
Two or three kodak enthusiasts soon
rose to go TO the dark tent 10 develop
their snapshots.
Give US a song, NeIl,' begged Jack
Stanley, handing her the guitar. Sing
that old one-Old songs are best suited
TO things primeval," teasingly. so
let's have In Days OF Old. a Warrior
Bold and all the rest Of IT,"
That's a mans song" retorted the
girl But since" the rest of the
sentence was left 70 his Imagination,
and Nell bent her bright head over the
beloved instrument and fingered
daintily the stirring accompaniment to
the old ballad. But her eyes were lifted
challengingly to his when she reached
the ringing refrain:
''I'lI live for love, III live for love-
and die"
Suddenly a deep growI thundered out
Of the dense darkness behind them All
eyes turned startled toward a creat
black mass slowly emerging into the
glare Of the campfire. Jones and Trent
beat a hasty retreat toward their tent
to get their rifles, they explained
eagerly afterward-and every one was
too busy then to remember that all
their weapons had been sealed by the
officials on entering the park.
Mrs. Carter and the other women
shrieked, scattered and fed screaming
to the tents, all but Nell. who was too
paralyzed to move. One white hand
still clEng to the vibrant guitar strings.
Her red lips, now paled with fear. were
stin parted, forming frozenly the last
words OF her song. Here was Jacks
chance.
He seized it instantly. also a red,
burning brand from the IRE. With this
weapon he bravely charged the shaggy
animal towering above poor, terror
stricken Nell.
Just as the huge forepaws reached
out TO clasp her in a crushing en-
brace-one rasping claw did scratch
her tender arm. the mark OF which
she shows proudly to this day-Jack's
cleaning hrebrand fell resoundingIy
again and again upon the grizzly.
With a roar Of pain and snarl at his
antagonist the great bear released
trembling Nell from his deadly clutch,
and, amid a terrific odor Of singelng
hair. made for the cooling river a few
yards below.
Nell. darling, are you hurt?" Jacks
voice was tender with real concern
as he remorsefully wiped the single
red drop which oozed from the dear
arm. She was clasped in real mans
hug this time and she crept close like
a fiuttering. frightened bird into its
nest. Her stubborn little heart melted
into gratitude. admiration and love
and soon stilled its tumultuous fear
throbs into a rapturous answer to the
manly one that beat against it
Her trembling arms stole about his
neck and her ripe lips met his. drink
ing in the blessed draught Of mutual
love and joy.
You are a real hero. dear, after
ALL she whispered.
Then you will marry me, sweet
hearth" the grace1ess youth asked un-
blushingly. The answer went so in
toxicatingly to his head that it was
no wonder Francois thought NJ. Stan
ley had been inbibing too freely.
when an hour later, in the strict
privacy OF the cooks tent. he thrust
thousand-dollar bill into that
worthy's hand with the remark:
"Oh. hang the exDense-its worth
it," To his conscience he said: 'AlPs
fair in love and war'-a primitive
motto"
The Frenchman looked juyfully at
the lavish gratuity. then at the wreck
ed bearskin at his feet.
'Eet ees burn tres mauvaise," he
chuckled. But. as M'sieu say-eet
ees worth eet!''
Copyright. 1904. by Lillian C. PaschaL)