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

trict with wagons and tents and Indi
ans and things, and asked him to com,
and see u.s."
The girl looked at him for momen
steadily, then smiled. The change OF
countcnance brought Thorpe to himself
But | never received the letter. In
so sorry" said he. ut must be at the
mill. You see, I've been up in the
woods for nearly month"
"Then we'll have to forgive you"
But should think they would have
done something for you at the mill'-
"Oh. we didn't come by way of your
mill. We drove from Marquette"
81 sce.' cried Thorpe. enlightened
But I'm sorry didn't know. I'm sor.
~ YOU didn't let me know. | suppose
YOU thought was still at the mill.
How did you get along? Is Wallace
with you?"
NO" she replied, dropping her hands
and STRENGTHENING her erect figure.
Its horrid. He was coming. and then
some business came up. and he couldn't
get away. We are having the loveliest
time. though. ! do adore the woods.
Come" she cried lmpatiently. sweep.
Ing aside to leave a way clear. "You
shall meet my friends"
Thorpe imagined she referred 10 the
rest of the tenting party lie hesitat-
cd
Il am hardly in fit condition." he OBJ.
jected
She laughed. parting her red lips
You are eNtrcucly picturesque Just
as you are She said. with rather en-
barrassing directness II wouldn't
nave you any different for the world.
But my friends don't mind They are
used TO it," She laughed again.
Thorpe crossed the pole trail and for
the first time found himself by her
side. The warm summer odOrs were
in the air; dozen lively little birds
sang in the brush along the rail: the
sunlight danced and hickcred through
the openings.
Then suddenly they were among the
pines. and the air was COOL the vista
dim and the birds songs inconceivably
far away.
He said little. and that lamey. for
he dreaded TO say too much. To her
playful sallies he had no reposte. and
in consequence he fell more silent with
another bOding that he was losing his
cause outright for lack of ready
word.
And so the last spoken exchange be-
tween them meant nothing, but If each |
could have read the unsaid words that |
quivered Oh the others heart Thorpe |
would have returned to the Fighting |
Forty more TRANQUILITY, while she would |
probably not have returned to the |
camping party at all for number Of
hours.
Il do not think you had better come
with me-" she said. Make your call |
and be forgiven on your own account.
| don't want TO drag you in at my
chariot wheels"
"All right I'll come this afternoon"
Thorpe had replied.
Il love her; must have her. must
goat once" his soul cried. quick
kiss herr
How strong he is" she said TO her.
self, how brave looking. how honest!
He is different from the other men. He
is magnificent"
That afternoon Thorpe met the other
members of the party, offered his apol-
Ogies and explanations and was gra.
riously forgiven. He found the person
mel to consist Of first of all Mrs. Cary,
the chaperon, Il very young married
woman of twenty-five or thereabout;
her husband youth Of three years
older. clean shaven, light haired, quiet
Miss Elizabeth Carpenter,
who resembled her brother in the char
icteristics of good looks, vivacious dis I
position and curly hair; an attendant
satellite Of the masculine persuasion I
'alled Morton, and last OF all the girl
whom Thorpe had already so variously
and whom he now met as
Miss Hilda Farrand. Besides these |
he galley Of u yacht, and three Indian |
guides. They inhabited tents, which
made quite little encampment 4
Thorpe was received with enthusi-
sm. Wallace Carpenters stories Of his {
woods partner, while never doing more
han justice TO the truth, had been I
warm. One and all owned lively curl s
sity TO see what real woodsman ]
night be like. When he proved to be l
and well hammered as well
S picturesque his reception was no lon
er In doubt. (
Nothing could exceed his solicitude as
0 their comfort and amusement lie
Inspected personally the arrangement
I the tents and suggested one or two \
hanges conducive to the littler com.
Drts. Simple things enough they were I
1T was as though city man were to Z
irect newcomer to Central park-yet G
horpe's new friends were profoundly
IMPRESSED with his knowledge of occult a
lings. The forest was to them, as to I
l0st. more or less OF a mystery unfath- d
mable except TO the favored of genius. 4
man who could interpret 1t even a $
tile into the speech of everyday com I
1T and eXpediency possessed strong G
aim to their imaginations When lie n
I'D finished these practical affairs they v
anted him to sit down and tell them Il
ore things-tO dine with them, to L
noke about their camp fire I'm the a
'ening But here they encountered 4
'clded check. Thorpe became silent I,
most morose. He talked In mOnosyl- |,
bles and soon went away. They did %
It know what to make of him and SO !,