The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-04-14


man nearer at hand.
what are they doing? Are they cut
ting lumbery' asked lIilda.
mo" answered Thorpe; I'VE do not
cut saw logs at this time of year. They
are clearing out a road
where does il 20 tor
"Well, nowhere in particular-that
IL, it Is logging road that starts at
the river and wandcrs up through the
woods where the pine is
"How clear the axes sound. would
like TO know more about IT," she sigh
ed, a quaint little air of childish petu-
lance craving two lines between her
eyebrows. DO you know. Harry, you
are singularly uncommunicative sort
of being. have TO guess that your
life is interesting and picturesque.
Sometimes think you are not nearly
poet enough for the life you are liv.
ing. WY. you are wonderful, you
men of the north. aud you let us ordi-
nary mortals who have not the gift Of
divination imagine you entirely occu.
pied with how many pounds of iron
chain you are going to need during the
winter" She said these things lightly.
as one who speaks things not for seri-
Gus belief.
''It is something that way" he
agreed. with a laugh.
''Sit there" she brcathed very soft
ly. pointing TO the dried needles on
which her feet rested.
He obeyed.
"Now tell me-" she brcathed, still in
the fascinated monotone.
"What?' he inquired
"Your life; what you do: all about II.
You must tell lnc n story"
Thorpe settled himself more lazily
and laughed with quiet enjoyment.
'"rhe story of the woods" he began,
"the story of the saw log. 1t would take
a bigger man than TO tell II. | doubt
IL any one man ever would be big
enough. 1t Is dream. "A struggle.
battle. Those men you hear there are
only the skirmiShcrs extending the
firing line. I'll have to hurry now TO
get those roads done and certain
creek cleared before the snow. Then
well have to keep on the keen move TO
finish our cutting before the deep snow.
TO haul our logs before the spring
thaws, to float them down the river
while the freshet water lasts. When
we gain n day we have scored VIC
tory when the wilderness puts us back
an hour we have suffered defeat"
The girl placed her hand on his shoul.
der. He covered il with his own.
But we win lie cried. 1--WE win."
THAT is what / like" she said softly,
'the strong spirit that wins" She hes
tated, then went on gently: II went
walking yesterday morning before you
came over, and after awhile | found
myself in the most awful place-the
stumps of trees. thcScad branches. the
trunks lying all about and the glaring
hot sun over everything. Harry. there
was not single bird in all that waste,
single green thing" She seized his
fingers in her other hand. Harry" she
said earnestly, 81 don't believe / can
ever forget that experience any more
than I could have forgotten battle
feld were | TO see one"
The man twisted his shoulder uncas-
lily and withdrew his hand
Harry" she said again after
pause, you must promise to leave this
woods until the very last. | suppose 1t
must all be cut down some day. but |
do not want 10 be here TO see after il is
all over. Men do not care much for
keepsakes do they Harry? But even
man can feel the value Of a great beau
tiful Keepsake such as this. can't he,
dear? Our meeting place-do you re-
member how found you down there
by the old pole trail staring as though
you had seen n ghostI 1t must always
be our most sacred memory. Promise
me you will save it until the very, very
last"
Thorpe remained silent.
In selecting the districts for the sea
sons cut he had included in his esti-
mates this very grove. Other bodies of
timber promising Il return of $4,000
were not 10 be found near the river,
and time now lacked for the cutting Of
roads TO more distant fortes.
"IIilda," he broke in abruptly at last,
"the men you hear are clearing road
10 lHIs very IlWDef,
what do you mean?' she asked.
"Thls timber is marked for cutting
this very winter"
She had not a suspicion of the true
state Of affairs. Isn't it lucky spoke
of Il" she exclaimed. "You must see
TO il today, now"
She sprang up impulslvely and stood
waiting for him. He arose more slow
ly.
'Eiilda / cannot" he said.
She stood very still for some seconds.
'Why noti" she asked quietly.
Because | have not time to cut
road through TO another bunch of pine.
II is this or nothing"
why not nothing, thenT'
Il want the money this will bring"
His choice Of verb was unfortu-
nate
''Will you tell me for what you want
the money!" she asked.
The young man caught the note of
distrust. At once, instinctively, his
own confidence vanished. He drew
within himself again the power of
justifying himself with the needed
word.
'"Tbe firm needs IL In the business"
said he.
Her next question countered instan-
.taneOusly.
docs the firm need the money more
than you do meT