Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-09-02

NT III vas
over and two children stood on
the hotel veranda gazing visit
fully at the glorious bow that spanned
the sky.
Il wish we could touch it," the girl
said longingly; 1T is the most beauti-
full thing in all the world
We'll" the boy returned practical
ly, Il don't care much about touching
it. but I'd be mighty glad to find the
end of that rainbow"
"Why?"
Don't you know, goosie? There's a
great pot of gold at the end, and it
will belong to the person who can find
1t. Jiminey, but l wish l had it here
this very minute"
Lets go and get it."
The boy stared at his tiny compan-
ion in surprise. The femenine mind
was much more daring than his own,
1t appeared. Did the girl really mean
that they should go off, alone into that
limitless forest when they were never
even trusted near it unless accompa-
MED by some older person? Still, he
took another look at the brilliant bow.
This was certainly the chance of a life
time, and, of course, he would not re-
fuse to go any place that a girl was
willing to go.
Besides, it was her suggestion any
way, not his, and if there were future
reprimands and seedlings in store he
could just say that it was she who pro-
posed going.
Come on" he said briefly, holding
out his hand, and off the two trudged
toward the alluring, treacherous bow,
giving no heed to the awful terror
which their absence would surely in
spire.
1t was nearly t~wenty-four hours la
ter that they were found. The boys
father, heading one Of the many
search parties that were securing the
woods, stumbled over them, and his
pale lips sent forth a triumphant shout
for the children were safe, and in
view of that fact all minor matters
sank into insignifcance.
Death had lowered too heal to leave
room for any feeling save that of deep
est thankfulness. There were no scold-
ings in store for the culprits, though
both were questioned closely regard
Ing the escapade.
The girl always remembered with
fervent gratitude tina, the boy never
told any one that it was she who had
proposed seeking the pot of gold.
The boy rather wondered at his own
reticence, but after all it seemed rath-
er a mean sort of trick to palm the
responsibilities of his misdeeds on a
girl! He kept a discreet silence on that
point, and by doing so exhibited con-
siderable more manliness than q GER
tain ancestor of us all once displayed.
Two weeks later the hotel closed for
the season, and the girl and the boy
went their different ways. Off in her
eastern home the girl did not quite for
get the boy who had done his best to
comfort her in the terrible forest, and
who had protected her by his silence
when they were found.
Off in the West the boy remembered
with a feeling Of pride that the girl
had never cried during that awful ex-
perience, and that she had never re-
preached him for allowing her to 20
into such peril. OF course, he should
have known better, for was not he a
boy, and the elder, too?
The girl had been q casual summer
acquaintance and the two were effect
ually separated when the brief sum-
mer season ended. For several years
the boy begged his mother each June
to go back to that place, but she had a
shuddering horror Of the valley and
the mountains, and nothing would in
duce her to return.
So at last the boy gave up asking,
and the experience was crowded into
the background by a hundred new in
tsrests and aims.