The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-04-09

/ y
! "A ior knowledge of wood
9SoaH craft we'd be eating lun-
cheon by this time. We're lost and l
am miserable"
| Nonsense said Polly Mason, cheer
fully, don't apologize and spoil the
whole adventure. I'm no pickme-up-
and-carry or-Ill-die. and few
hours tramping won't hurt me. Give
| me- match"
He gave her handful from the poe
ket Of his shooting coat.
After this he remarked. emrhat-
ically. when Bob Markham dubs Il
girl Diana I'll follow her directions out
hunting"
DO you think any normal man ever
Willingly admitted that woman had q
bump of locality:" she questioned. set
| ting fire to a pile of twigs and bark.
AS the blaze increased. Ashley added
logs and underbruSh The warmth and
crackle Of the fire were encouraging.
1.-TWO weeks ought to have taught me
your skill. What 4 pleasant time it has
been.'
Yes, indeed" said Polly. lightly
"Try stripping some Of the birds.
Perhaps we could cook them. Be-
hind the trees. please. don't want
to see"
Ashley was understood to be en-
gagged to an Eastern girl. and Polly
objected even to an approach to sen
| timent
Il hope the Marhhams won't worry"
she continued. He was miserable this
morning. Too bad they couldn't come"
mo wonder you are angry" growled
Ashley from behind the tree. you
wouldn't be here if they had come.
Don't rub it in. I've done my best"
Polly laughed and the woods echoed
pleasantly.
"Oh, it isn't so bad. You might have
been Abe" she said. HE has only
three stories and runs a continuous
vaudeville with them"
But if I'd been Abe you wouldn't
been here" he protested. "There it is
again. I'm glad I'm not-at least.
am glad Abe is, not enjoying what l
am" He put the stripped birds near
the fire and went to forage for fuel.
you've all been so good about lug
ging me along,'' she said when he re-
turned; ''girls are nuisances."
"Some girls are" he Disseminated,
'but Diana is the stuff for a hunter"
She bowed mockingly.
Recognition always comes to a
genius a little late. Who'll take the
first bite of the birds. It's like the man
with the first oyster"
Zone. two, three counted Ashley.
They bit and laughed Would you
rather have starved:' he asked.
Haven't yet decided"
''Try this he said. handing her a
Icup Of spring water Here's toast, -
| he continued, after she had taken a
drink. sNIiss Diana, worthy success,
lor to the goddess Of hunting. in wit. in
beauty. and in spirit
"Thank you.' Polly reached uncer'
emoniously FOR the cup.
'Mr. Ashley. the great woodsman, OF
the Northwest! He loves not man the
less. but natnre more F"
/ A fash Of lightning and a clap OF
thunder startled the cup from her hand
In the thick of the woods the storm
had come upon them suddenly.
"You see," said Ashley. "the gods
are angry at your abuse of one of. theii
| favorite mortals.'
II never liked Jupiter, anyway" re
torted Polly.
A huge boulder tilted sharply to one
side furnished them with slight shel
ter from the big drops. Despite he'
protests Ashley wrapped her in hi:
coat
when the storm lessons we'll breal
| for somewhere. The belt of woods Il
narrow, so we ought to find either th'
lake. or the cottage" Then he add
ed, abruptly: "Do you remember whel
we first metz"
She did remember. but objected t
personalities.
"Why. let me see.''' she hesitated.
"At dinner at the Arthur's las
i May, he supplied eagerly. 1--WE dis
cusscd the ethics Of; love. Every on
/ had a different story and differen
t'opinion." :.
+ eyes. it was very amusing sh
;sgrecd.
"That was five months ago. l suppos
VIC might have lived in town for year
and never got beyond the 'how-do-yor
do-I'm.very-well.thank-you stage.
has seemed different here. These tw
weeks have meant much to me-
] tsThat's the fate Of city life,' Poll