The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-23
"roliow close behind me-. he advised.

''Foliow close behind me- he advised.
I8&S"Yes," said she. 6 {&
they set off through the greenery. II
| opened silently before them. Barbara
| looked back. It had already closed silent-
| " behind them, shutting out tho episode
forever. Tho little camp had ceased to
exist; tho great ruthless, calm forest mad
reclaimed It's own. Nothing was left
Then she noticed that he had stopped
and was looking at her In depreciation
and was holding aside the screen OF
| moose naples. Beyond she could see the
! familiar clearing and the smoke from
| the Maxwell cabin. 81 +
she had slept almost within sight Of
her own doorstep.
S"Pleaso forgive me-" he was saying.
| II meant II only as an interesting little
adventure. It has been harmless enough,
surely-to yo,t." 55
His eyes wero hungry. Barbara could
not find words.
|&"Good- bye" he concluded. "Good-bye.
You will forgive mo In time-or forget,
which Is much the same. Believe inc,
|5ifiI have offended you, my punishment
| IS going to be severe. Good bye. =
""t1ood-bye," said Barbara little
breathlessy. She had already forgotten
the trick She could think only that
the forest the unfricndly forest, was
about to recall her soon. Goodbye" he
repeated again. He should have gone.
but he did not The situation became
strained.
when are you coming to see Nor
shc inquired at length. II shalt be here
two weeks yet
Never" he replied
what do you mean" she asked, after
moment.
s"After Painted Rock, the wilderness"
he explained almost bitterly, "the wilder
hess and solitude for many years-for-
everv'
Don't 50 until tomorrow she urged.
IT must"
"Why2''
Because I must be at Painted Rock
by Friday, and to reach It / must travel
fast and long"
"And If you do not?"
''Ny mission falls" he replied. Az
They stood there silent. Barbara dug
tiny holes with the tip OF her pnrasol.
And that Is ruin 2" she asked softly,
without looking UP.
II have struggled hard for many years.
The result is this chance.
IT see" she replied bending her head
lower. 1T would be a very foolish thing
for you to stay. thcn wouldn't 1T?
He did not reply. II
'But you are going to-, aren't you? 2" sho
went on in q voice almost inaudiblo.
You must not 60 like that. ask you
to stay
Again the pause. 4. II ts
II cannot he rcpliod. y
Y She looked up. He was standing erect
and tall, his face set In the bronze lines
OF a ton, his gray eyes levclod,
straight and steady. beyond her head.
Instantly her own spirit flashed
II think now you'd better co. she said
superb1y. s5
They faced each other for a moment.
Then Barbara dropped her head again,
extending her hand.
you DO not know she whispered.
IT have much to forgive. @
Flo hesitated, then touched the tips OF
her fingers with his lips. She did not
look up With q gesture which she did
not see, he stopped to his pack and swung
into the woods &
Barbara stood mottonlcss. Not a line
OF her figure stirred. Only the chiffon.
parasol dropped suddenly to the ground.
w.
After a time she lifted her head and
blinked bravcly at the sky. She raised
the parasol and slanted 1t over her shoul-
der and drew ono Of IT'S tiny bead-l'ke
elabora tely to saunter through the clear
Ing. playing out to herself and to the SOL
enmn stumps & brave little tragedy that
she was happy.
she might have stayed she parted the
ouestI ut would only have been noilte.
after tricking me So DO not thlnA y
was very nice OF him."
a oorcrpine trundled out from the eggs
Of the forest and paused to reconno'tr1.S
ahe 1jd,fl not notice him. She was trying
to see.
him 10 ruin his chances Barbara con-.
ceded thoughtfully. But he might nave
emedl a little sorrer bout y:
~ wonder If he really cared to see ms
again. pursued Barbara oU ~ H nne
nose he thought much about y. s. MIS-
men " ould have But he is different from
most men,, She threw up her neads
nroudly at the comparison HE has ols
thinrs 10 think Of; big things TO DO. he
q strong and brave" Eler eyes snone
with the sp!endor .of her idea she was
seeing far into the land OF mystery t a,'a
died (" No" she confessed humbly.5ih 2,
would notathink OF mo. am NOT Wort,'
his thoughts. am silly and a l!ttle too.:
!, az + am a. little fool. ! am asnaIIleu o.
The summer day had already begun 70
law its silence on the morning a Wv ~ :,
bee ,,ummed muslngy over q 1'o|er' 10 - a. a.
in the woods, clear as cameo, IVY ana,,
Of a. breaking limb sounded. The porcu--
nine. who had just turned over the para PARE
sol SOL with his nose cooked his head nqu lns
ingly. From time to time ne !, g srrnved
uneasily back. other so '''1 ensr raN'u
'' Barbara i a1 gazcd at nothing With :, SAG 9
eyes. Il wish had died In ne on Wooa u.s.
size said slowly. II wouldn't desp'se my
self So" 8. z. /. n !, .,, orr,d
II must have looked perteetly nv, 80
with nv gown all torn" contemplateu
barbara ar, The round tears trembled on
her lashes and finally splalshed to 2, !, ne :,
ground. u shall never see him aga aa D.,
sho ended, brokenly Never! OH cam
help it, i want to see him again! ! want Int
to! want to! 5B 5 -, - ~, :,
poor dear little child, Barbara, win
~ tender heart and her quaint. tau