The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-04-07

1
ened old woodsman like you"
Thorpe went 10 the group Of pines b
the pole trail the following afternoo
because he had said he would. but wit
a new attitude of mind. He had com
Into contact with the artifciality o
conventional relations, and II stiffene,
him.
They sat down OH log. Hida turn
ed to him with her graceful air of con
fidence.
Now talk to me-" said she.
Certainly replied Thorpe In [
practical tone of voice. What do yo,
want me to talk a5out?'
She shot swift. troubled glance n
him, concluded herself mistaken ant
said:
Tell me about what you do up here
your lfe-all about It,"
Well" replied Thorpe formally. I'VE
haven't much to interest girl like
you. II is II question of saw logs WITH
u.s. And he went on in his dryest
most technical manner to detail the
process of manufacture. 1t might as
well have been bricks.
The girl did not understand. She
was hurt. As surely as the sun tan
gled in the distant pine frond. she had
seen In bis eyes n great passion. Now
it was colby withdrawn.
What has happened to you?" she
asked finally oft Of her great sincerity.
Me? Nothing" replied Thorpe.
A forced silence fell upon him. Hlda
seemed gradually to lose herself in rev.
erie. After time she said softly:
Don't you love this woods?'
Its an excellent bunch of pine" re-
piled Thorpe bluntly. "It'll cut 3,O0O.-
900 at least"
oh" she cried. drawing back. her
hands pressed against the log either
side of her. her eyes wide.
After Il moment she caught her breath
convulsively, and Thorpe became con
scious that she was studying him fur.
u"ely with quickening doubt.
After that. by the mercy of God.
there was no more talk between them.
Cnconsciously the first strain of oppo-
sition ana of hurt surprise relaxed.
Each thought vaguely his thoughts.
Then In the depths of the forest. per-
haps near at hand. perhaps far away. Il
single hermit thrush began TO sing. His
song was of three solemn. deep. LIQUID
notes. followed by slight rhetorical
pause as of contemplation. and then de.
three notes more on Il differ
cnt key. II is the most dignfed, the
most spiritual. the holiCst of woods ut
teranccs. Combined with the evening
shadows ana the warm soft air II of.
fcred TO the heart an almost irresistible
appeal The mans artificial antaeo.
nlsm modified. the womans disen-
began to seem unreal.
Then subtly over and through the
bird song another sound became audi.
bic. At first ii merely repeated the
three notes family like an echo. but
with a rich. sad undertone that brought
Iears. Then tlmidly and still softly It
the theme, weaving in and
,ut through the original three the gilt
err ana simmer Of u splendid web of
ound. spreading before the awakened
broad river of woods i'm.
lginary that reflected on It's surface all |
he subtler moods of the forest.
With the first sigh of the wonder mu.
lie the girl had started and caught her
'reath ai the exquisite pleasure of it.
rs 1t went on they both forgot every |
hing but the ha"WJny ana each other
All, beautiful. she murmured.
What is it, Lc whispered. marvel
ne.
"a violin played by master"
The bird suG%"n,y hushcd. and at
nee the strain abandoned the woods
ote and took another motif. At first
played softly IN the higher notes, a
lnkling. liehtsomc little melody that
TIRED kindly surface smile over a
ull heart. Then suddenly. without
IL dropped TO the lower reg
'ter and began 10 sob and wall in the
ull vibrating power of great pas
ion.
And the theme il treated was love.
At last the poignant ecstasy seemed
lowly, slowly TO die. Fainter and
ainter ebbed the music. Through 1t as
trough mist the solemn aloOf forest
cyan to show TO the consciousness of
ne two. They sought each others eyes,
emily smiling. The music was very
oft and dim and sad. They leaned to
lch other with sob; their lips met;
le music ceased.
And over behind the trees. out of the
ght and the love and the beauty, lit
e Phil huddled. his great shaggy head
owed in his arms. Beside him lay his
lolin and beside that his bow. broken.
le had snapped II across his knee.
hat day he had heard at last the