The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-23

less, innocent little Barbara who had so
confdingly trusted in his goodness.
Come, little girl" he said softly. at
last. Fl j
He arose and held out his hand. Awak-
ened from her abstraction, she looked
Mt him with q faint smile, and eyes from
which the coquetry had gone. leaving only
tho child. M +
Come" he repeated. '""rlme to turn
in.v5f y
She arose dutifully. The little tent
really looked inviting. The balsam bed
proved luxurious, soft as feathers.
when you are ready he told her,
''let me know. ! want to open the tent
flap for the sake OF warmth.
The soft wooden blanket was very CRATE
full When the flap was opened Barbara
found that a second fire had been built,
with a backing OF green logs so arranged
as to reflect the heat directly into her
shelter.
Hours later. as 1t seemed, some trih!ng
sound awakened her. The heat still
strcamed gratefully into the tiny shelter;
/ the solemn shadows still danced across
the forest: the embers, strongly silhouet-
ted by the freight. A tender compunc-
ton stole nto Barbaras tender little
heart. .''..t.,- q I
1.-THE poor dear" said she, "he has
no place to sleep. lie Is guarding me
from the dangers Of the forest" which
was quite ridiculous, as any Woodman
will know. ia,
Her drowsy eyes watched him wlstful-
ly-her mystery, her hero OF romance.
Again the fire blurred. again the solemn
shadows paused. a. last thought shaped
itself In Barbara's consciousness.
why he must be very old she said
to herself, He must be 26."
So she fell asleep.
III.
Barbara awokc to the sun and the crisp
morning air, and q delightful feeling thai
she had slept we'll, and had not been un-
comfortable at all. The flap OF her tent
was dlscreetly closed. Al When ready she
peeped through the crack and saw STAN
ton bending over the fire.
In moment he Strengthened and APP
preached tho tent, When within q few
feet he paused. Through the hollow OF
his hands he cried out the long musical
morning call Of the woodsmal'.
"Ro-o-oll out!" he cried. The forest
took up the sound In dying modulations
For answer Barbara threw aside the
tent flap and stepped into the sun. NJ
t'Good morning., said she. 5e3 Il
"Saluto!" he replied. Come, and ]
will show you the spring. ".
" am sorry cannot offer you better
variety Tor your pFeAkld6L'S4 ~ ~ OILY
the supper over again. he explained
after she had returned and had pcrched
like fluffy bird Of paradise on the log
Her cheeks were very pink from the
cold water and her eyea were very beau
| tiful from the dregs OF dreams, and her
hair very gllttering from the Kissing OF
the early sun. And; wonderful to say
sho forgot to thrust out her pointed chin
In tho fashion so entirely adorable.
She ate with relish, for the woods hun
ger was hers. Stanton said nothing. The
time was pregnant with,unspoken things
| All tho charming elements Of lne little
| episode We're crystallizing for them, and
| instlnctlvely Barbara felt that In q few
moments she would be compelled to read
| their meaning.
Atilast tho man said without stirring
| We'll. ! suppose we'd better be going I?
II suppose sc" she replied. rex
| They sat there some time longer
staring. abstractedly ut the kindly greer
forest; then Stanton abruptly rose ant
beg began a to construct bis pack The girl af
Come" he said at last. t''s&
She arose obedlently III M E{