The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-02-26

1CF% craft we'd be eating lun-
cheon by this time. We're lost and |
am miserable"
Nonsense" said Polly Mason, cheer
fully, don't apologize and spoil the
Whole adventure. I'm no pick-me-up-
and-carry-me-or-I'll-die, and a few
hours tramping won't hurt me, Give
me a match"
lie gave her handful from the poe
ket of his shooting coat.
After this he remarked. emphat-
ically, when Bob Markham dubs a
girl Diana I'll follow her directions out
hunting"
DO you think any normal man ever
willingly admitted that a woman had a
bump of locality?" she questioned. set
ung IRE to a pile of twigs and bark
AS the blaze increased, Ashley added
logs and underbrush. Tho warmth and
crackle Of the fire were encouraging.
Two weeks ought to have taught me
your skill. What pleasant time it has
beenw
Yes, indeed" said Polly, lightly.
Try stripping some of the birds.
Perhaps we could cook them. Be
hind the trees, please. 1 don't want
1tQ see"
Ashley was understood to be en-
gagged to an Eastern girl, and Polly
objected even to an approach to SEN
timent.
Il hope the Markhams won't worry"
she continued HE was miserable this
morning. Too bad they couldn't come"
mo wonder you are angry" growled
Ashley from behind the tree, ''you
wouldn't be here if they had come.
Don't rub it in. I've done my best"
Polly laughed and the woods echoed
pleasantly.
ooh, it isn't SO bad. You might have
been Abe" she said "He has only
three stories and runs a continuous
vaudeville with them"
"But if I'd been Abe you wouldn't
been here" he protested. There it is
again. I'm glad I'm not-at least, I
am glad Abe is not enjoying what l
am" He put the stripped birds near
the fire and went to forage for fuel.
you've all been so good about lug
ging me along" she said when he re-
turned; girls are nuisances."
Some girls are" he Disseminated,
''but Diana is the stuff for a hunter"
She bowed mockingly.
Recognition always comes to a
genius a little late. Who'll take the
first bite of the birds. It's like the man
with the first oyster"
Zone, two, three" counted Ashley.
They bit and laughed. would you
rather have starved?" he asked
Haven't yet decided"
"Try this" he said, handing her
cup of spring water Here's toast"
he continued after she had taken
drink. Miss Diana, worthy success
or to the goddess of hunting, in wit, in
beauty, and in spirit"
THANK you" Polly reached uncer-
enormously for the cup.
"Mr. Ashley, the great woodsman of
the Northwest! lie loves not man the
less, but nature more
A fash of lightning and q clap Of
thunder startled the cup from her hand.
In the thick of the woods the storm
had c%!e upon them suddenly.
"You see," said Ashley "the gods
are angry at your abuse of one Of their
favorite mortals."
IT never liked Jupiter, anyway" re-
torted Polly.
A. huge boulder tilted sharply to one
eli oh oh al
ter from the big drops. Despite her
protests Ashley wrapped her in his
coat.
when the storm lessons We'll break
for somewhere The belt of woods is
narrow, so we ought to find either the
lake or the cottage" Then he add
ed. abruptly: do you remember when
we first metz"
She did remember, but objected to
personalities.
"Why, let me see," she hesitated.
"At dinner at the Arthur's last
May" he supplied eagerly. 1--WE dis
cussed the ethics of love. Every one
had a different story and different
opinion"
Eyes. it was very amusing" she
agreed.
"That was five months ago. l suppose
we might have lived in town for years
and never got beyond the 'how-do-you-
do-rm- very-well- thank-you' stage. 1t
has seemed different here. These two
weeks have meant much to me-"
"rhat's the fate of city life Polly