The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-07-21

lVTNOh Il moment they sat listening
to the clear staccato knocking
OF the distant blows and the
~ more forceful thuds of the
man nearer at hand
what are they doing? Are they cut
ting lumber?" asked Hilda.
"No,' answered Thorpe; 1--WE do not
cut saw logs at this time of year. They
are clearing out road'
'Where does it go top
"Well, nowhere in particular-that
is, it is a logging road that starts at
the river and wanders up through the
woods where the pine isl
"HoW clear the axes sound. 1 would
| like to know more about it, she sigh
ed, quaint little air of childish petu-
lance craving two lines between her
eyebrows. do you know, Harry, you
are singularly uncommunicative sort
of a being. I have to guess that your
life is interesting and picturesque.
Sometimes I think you are not nearly
poet enough for the life you are liv-
ing. Why, you are wonderful, you
men of the north, and you let US ordi-
nary mortals who have not the gift of
d1vination 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
1T is something that way" he
agreed, with a laugh.
"Sit there" she breathed very soft
~, pointing to the dried needles on
which her feet rested.
He obeyed.
"Now tell me-" she breathed, still in
the fascinated monotone.
"What?" he inquired
"Your life; what you do; all about it,
You must tell me a story
Thorpe settled himself more lazily
and laughed with quiet enjoyment.
'"The story of the woods he began,
1.-THE story of the saw log. It would take
bigger man than I to tell it, I doubt
if any one man ever would be big
enough. 1t is a dream, a struggle, a
battle. Those men you hear there are
only the skirmishers extending the
firing line. I'll have to hurry now to
get those roads done and a certain
creek cleared before the snow. Then
We'll 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 a day we have scored a vic
tory, when the wilderness puts us back
an hour we have suffered defeat"
TIL girl placed her hand on his shou:
der. He covered it with his own.
"But we winv' he cried 1--WE winy'
THAT is what like she said softly
1.-The strong spirit that wins" She hest
tated, then went on gently: II went
walking yesterday morning before you
came over, and after awhile l found
myself in the most awful place-the
stumps of trees, the dead 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, II don't believe l can
ever forget that experience any more
than l could have forgotten a battle
field were to see one.''
The man twisted his shoulder uneas-
lily and withdrew his hand
Harry" she said again after a
pause, ''you must promise to leave this
| woods until the very last. l suppose it
must all be cut down some day, but
do not want to be here to see after it is
all over. Men do not care much for
keepsakes, do they, Harry? But even a
man can feel the value of a great beau
tful keepsake such as this. can't he.
dear? Our meeting place-do you re-
member how l found you down there
by the old pole trail staring as though
you had seen ghost? 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 return of $4,000
were not to be found near the river,
and time now lacked for the cutting of
roads to more distant forties.
"Hilda," he broke in abruptly at last.
the men you hear are clearing a road
to this very timber"
"What do you mean?" she asked
''This 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 it!'' she exclaimed. "You must see
to it today, noW"
She sprang up impulsively and stood
| waiting for him. He arose more slow
".
"Hilda, cannot" he said.
She stood very still for some seconds.
"Why not?" she asked quietly.
Because have not time to cut n
road through to another bunch of pine
It is this or nothing"
''Why not nothing, then?"