The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-22

smile to her pleased little image in /
the mirror and stepped, thru the door
into the presence Of her aunt. The
aunt was appropriately astonished:
This was the first time Barbara had
spread her dainty chiffon wings in the
air Ct the great north n,a wo9ds coas amt
had admired and exclaimed over the
butterfly SO unexpectedly developed
from the brown tailor-nade chrysalis,
Barbara determined to take. a walk.
She knew that thru that cool, fascin-
ating forest. only half 1E NILE away y,
% aws o the Of ad ehe woods peope but
they were human, and chiffon is chiffon,
in the wilderness as in the towns. So
Barbara announced her intention and
stepped into the, open sunlight.
Ss cool and fo ssea Ra abd
one arm, while with the same hand she
swept her skirt clear of the ground,
"Phew!' came a most terrible,
dreadful sound from the thicket close
at hand.
Barbara. dropped her parasol, and
s serepp@ed aer From From the thicEet two slen
der ears pointed inquiringly toward
her, two wide brown eyes stared fright;
with terror. TPhewlO snorted the
deer again, and vanished in a series OF
elastic st' craga Ba sRrangs vou horrd
thing! How you frightened me!'
She picked up her parasol and re-
sumed her journey in some perturbation
Of mind, rejecting on the utter rude:
ness Of the deer. Gradually the trail
seemed to become more difficult. After
a time it was obstructed 6y the to TOP POI Of
about her. She was not on the trail
At first she proceeded circumspectly,
with an eye to the chiffon. It was torn
in dozen places. Then she thrust one
dear little, slipper thru. the moss int il! g,
straight rods Of the tamarack whipped
her smartly across the face. When
finally she emerged on the other side
Of the hundred feet of that miserable
cedar swamp she had ceased to hold up
the chiffon skirt, and was most .vexed.
IT think, you re- just, mean!n she
then caught her breath in the silence
The forest had become suddenly un-
friendly; its kindness had somehow
vanished. In. all directions it looked
the same straight towering trunks, sap
linngs, underrgroWth: It had shut her IN IN
49,
whatever direction she would, Barbara
was always inclosed in apparently the
same little cell of leaves.
frightened, but with determination,
she commenced to- walk rapidly in the
direction she believed would! lead her
unfi She eA tore thru brierss, popple,
sadly marred, the picture hat stained
and awry,. the brave Little shoes, with
their silver buckles and their, pointed
high heels, were dull with wet.
She dropped to the ground and gave
way to her wild terror, weeping weeping o With
| but even in extremity dabbing her
eyes from time to time with an absurd
tiny handkerchief Of drawn-work Dor
Poor little Barbara; she was lost.
| II. %+ m.
After while: sgRtly she felt ell that hat
looked up : = a -: ...,...
: The somebody was a, man: He vas
young. Barbarasysalw three. things that
he had kindly gray eyes, which Just nov HNv
were twinkling at her amusedly;@ that
the handkerchief about his neck was
! clean; and that the Zine Of his Jaw was
servant person would have noticed, fur
ther, that the Syoung man carried rifle
and pack; that hewore heavily lad
en- belt about his waist, and moccasins
on his feet; that his blue flannel shirt
| tho clean, was. faded; that his skin was
brown as pine bark. Barbara had nc
{. ly; the jaw was strong; neatness lndl
Gated the gentleman. And a strong
kindly gentleman was just what poor
little lost Barbara needed the most
.Unconsciously she tilted her pointed
chin forward adoralb9ly, and smiled i !.
"Oh! now it IS all right; isn't lt9'
II am glad,',< he replied, the look Of
amusement deepening in his gray eyes
uand a moment ago It was all wrong
What was the matter9"
~ am lost, "3answered Barbara, con
tentedlly, as one would say my shoes
are q little dusty
or. .VWhere are You lost from9"
"The Adams or the Maxwells.
Fdon't know which. Il started to q
from one to the other: Then there wa
a deer, and so I got. LOST
4 ssI see,' he agreed; with entire assur
a ar ~, "And now o !. what u are you COINS
II am not going: to do anything. 70,
: 10 ths Adams the Ma y
The young man seemed to be debat
ing. Barbara glanced at his thought
full, strong face from under the edge o
her picture hat, which slyly she had re
: arranged. She liked his face. It wa
so good humored. Z ::
lit is almost sunset, = replied tn
youth at length. 8 Yol can see tn
Shadows are low. How do you hope t
push thru the woods after. dark Their
are wild animals--wolyes!" he added
maliciously.', =. !. Z -,
S Barbara looked up again with sudde
! a H b what shall We dos, she CRIED
l less composedly. "You must take m
: III can try" said he, with the resis
! nation Of a man who can but die.
l The tone had it's effect.
g "What do you advise2' she asked.
d "That we camp. here,' he proposed
: calmly, with an air Of fnal1ty.
9 COMP dissented. Barbara in alarm
"Never!'' I am afraid Of the woods
s It will be wet and cold. ! am hungr,
r MY feet are Just s el} niggbt 1ui+h !
k riAe.,' he told her. q I will fix you
t tent, and will cook you supper. an
I your feet shall not be wet and cold on
IS moment longer than you will.
9 "Isn't your home nearerso sh
d "My home is where night finds me,
s Barbara meditated. It was going
II be dreadful. She knew she would cate
. her death Of cold. But what could 81
K iYou may do the wet feet part" 81