Mower County transcript., 1904-06-01

The young man opposite was occupied
in many other more important direc-
lions.
1--WE wrote Mr.. Harry Thorpe that
we were about to descend on his dis
trict with wagons and tents and Indi-
ans and things, and asked him to come
and see u.s.
The girl looked at him for moment
steadily, then smiled. The change of
countenance brought Thorpe to himself.
"But never received the letter. I'm
so sorry" said he. ut must be at the
mill. You see, I've been up in the
woods for nearly a 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."
II see," cried Thorpe. enlightened.
"But I'm sorry didn't know. Pm 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.
''1t's 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.
Came" she cried impatiently, sweep.
ing aside to leave way clear. "You
shall meet my friends"
Thorpe imagined she referred to the
rest Of the tenting party. He hesitat-
ed.
II am hardly in fit condition." he OBJ
jected.
She laughed, parting her red lips
''You are extremely picturesque just
as you are," she said, with rather en-
barrassing directness. X wouldn't
have you any different for the world.
But my friends don't mind. They are
Rsed 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 tlickered through
the openings.
Then suddenly they were among the
pines, and the air was cool, the vista
dim and the BIRDS songs inconceiyably
far away.
He said little, and th:A Namely, for
be 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 a ready
word.
And so the last spoken exchange be-
tween them meant nothing, but it each
could have read the unsaid words that
quivered on 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.
II 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.
II love her; must have her. I must
goat once," his soul cried, "quick-
now-before + kiss herv'
"How strong he isl she said to her.
self, chow 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-
ciously forgiven. He found the person
mel to consist of first of all Mrs. Cary,
the chaperon, very young married
woman Of twenty-five or thereabout;
her husband, youth Of three years
older, clean shaven, light haired, quiet
hammered: Miss Elizabeth Carpenter,
who resembled her brother in the char
acteristics of good looks, vivacious dis
position and curly hair; an attendant
satellite Of the masculine persuasion
called Morton, and last of all the girl
whom Thorpe had already so variously
encountered and whom he now met as
Miss Hilda Farrand. Besides these
were Ginger, squat negro built to fit
the galley of yacht, and three Indian
guides. They inhabited tents, which
made quite Il little encampmcnt
Thorpe was received with enthusi-
asm. Wallace Carpenters stories Of his
woods partner, while never doing more
than justice to the truth, had been
warm. One and all owned a lively curl
osity to see what real woodsman
might be like. When he proved to be
handsome and we'll hammered as well
as picturesque his reception was no lon
ger in doubt. 81 #f WI
Nothing could exceed his solicitude as
to their comfort and amusement. He
inspected personally the arrangement
of the tents and suggested one or two
changes conducive to the littler com.
forts. Simple things enough they were
1T was as though a city man were to
direct a newcomer to Central parK-yef
Thorpes new friends We're profoundly
impressed with his knowledge Of occult