Mower County transcript., 1904-05-25
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XIII.
~1OR several days this impression
satisfied him completely. He
did not attempt to analyze it;
" he did not even make an effort
to- contemplate it. Curiosity. specula-
tion, longing-all the more active emo
tons remained in allegiance, while out
wardly for three days Harry Thorpe
occupied himself only with the needs
Of the Fighting Forty at Camp One
He was vaguely conscious of great
peace within him, a great stiffness of
the spirit 49, &, IT.
Little by little the condition changed.
The man felt vague STRINGS Of curios-
ity. He speculated aimlessly as to
whether or not the glade, the Moon
light, the girl, had been real or merely
the Pigments of imagination. Almost
Immediately the answer leaped at him
from his heart. Since she was 50 Ger
tainly flesh and blood, whence did ishe
come? What was she doing there in
the wilderness? His mind pushed the
query aside as unimportant, rushing
eagerly to the essential point. When
could he see her again? His placidity
had gone. That morning he made some
vague excuse to Shearer and set out
hlindly down the river. And so, with.
out thought, without clear intentions
even. he saw her again. 1t was near
the ''pole trail,' which was less like
trail than rail fence. ~
When the SHOWS are deep and SHOWS
shoes not the property OF every man
who cares to journey, the old Fashioned
pole traiP' comes into use. 1t is mere
~ a series Of horses built OF timber,
across which thick Norway logs ware
laid about four feet FROM tho ground
to form continuous pathway. In
summer it resembles nothing so much
as thick one rail fence of consitlera-
bic height, around which Il fringe, OF
light brush has grown. :=ar
Thorpe reached the fringe of bushes
and was about to dodge under the
fence when he saw her. So he stopped
short, concealed by the leaves and the
timber horse. sx
She stood on knoll in the middkSOf
a grove of monster pines. There WAS
something of the cathedral in the spot.
The girl stood tall and straight among
the tall, straight pines like a tigul*. GIL
an ancient tapestry. She was ( ~.
nothing-just standing there ., =
awe OF the forest was in her = =,
clear eyes. i"
In a moment she stirred slightly ,;;::.!
turned. Drawing herself to her 5fu:i
height, she extended her hands over
her head, palm outward, and with an
indescribakly graceful gesture bowed !,
ceremonious adieu to the solemn trees.
Then, with a little laugh, she moved
away in the direction of the river
At once Thorpe proved great need
of seeing her again. In his present
mood there was nothing of the awe
stricken peace he had experienced aft
er the moonlight adventure. He want
ed the sight of her as he had never
wanted anything before. The strong
man desired it. And finding it impos-
sible he ragged inwardly and tore the
tranquillities of his heart.
"a So it happened that he ate hardly at
all that day and slept i'll and discov:
cred the greatest difficulty in preserv-
ing the outward semblance of ease
which the presence of Tim Shearer
and the Fighting Forty demanded. .,,*.'
And next day he saw her again, and
the next, because the need; Of his heart
demanded it and because, simply
enough. she came every afternoon to:
the clunap Of pines by the cd pole
trail. But now curiosity :twoke aud 4
desire for something more. He must
speak to her, touch her hand, look in
to her eyes. He resolved to Osapploacb
her, and the mere thought chokedfhim
and sent him weak. ~ ;sss1
When he saw her: again from the
shelter OF the pole trail he dared not,
and SO stood there prey to q novel
sensation, that of being baf1eds ia an
Intention. AS he hesitated he saw that
she was walking slowly in his ilirec-
ton. Perhaps q hundred PAGES sep
arated the two. .$ She took them de
liberately. Her progression was Is se-
rtes Of poses, the one which melted
imperceptibly into the other without
appreciable pause 81. transition.
In q moment she had reached the
fringe Of brush about the pole strail.
They stood face to face. as.s.s
& She. gave a little start Of SURPRISE,
and her hand leaned to her breast.