Courier Democrat., 1904-06-30
CHAPTER xX111.

bled eyes.
CHAPTER NXIII.
@HHORPE returned to Camp One
shortly after dark He found
there number of letters.
among which was one from
Wallace Carpenter.
After commencing the camping par
u TO his companion's care the young
fellow went on to say that affairs were
going badly ON the board.
"Some interest that I haven't been
able to make out yet has been ham,
n1erfng our stocks down day after
day" he wrote. IT don't understand
Il, for the stocks ase good and tntrin-
Ideally are worth more than is bid for
them right now. Some powerful con-
eern IS beating them down for pur-
pose Of its own. Sooner or later they
will let up. and then we'll get things
back in good shape. am amply pro-
tected now, thanks to you, and am not
at all afraid Of losing my holdings.
The only difficulty is that ! am unable
10 predict exactly when the other fel.
lows will decide that they have accom-
plished whatever they are about and
let up. 1t may not be before next year.
In that case couldn't help you out on
those notes when they come due. So
put in your best hcks Old man You
may have to pony up for little while,
though Of course sooner or later can
put it all back. Then, you bet your
life, l keep out of it. Lumbering's
good enough for yours truly.
"By the way, you might shine up to
Hiha Farrand and Join the rest Of the
fortune hunters. She's got it to throw
10 the birds and in her own right. Sc
riously, old fellow, don't put yourself
into false position through ignorance;
not that there is any danger to a hard
ened old woodsman like you"
Thorpe went to the group Of pines by
the pole trail the following afternoon
because he had said be would, but with
a new attitude Of mind. He had come
into contact with the arti6ciality Of
conventional relations, and it stifened
him.
They sat down on log. Hilda turn
ed to him with her graceful air of con.
adence.
'.Now talk to me-" said she.
Certainly" replied Thorpe in a
practical tone Of voice. what do you
want me to talk about?''
She shot a swift, troubled glance at
him, concluded herself mistaken and
said:
"Tell me about what you do up here
your life-all about it,
"Well," replied Thorpe formally, I'VE
haven't much to interest a girl like
you. 1t is a question of saw logs with
u.s." And he went on in his dryest,
most technical manner to detail the
process of manufacture. 1t might as
well have been bricks.
The girl did not understand She
was hurt AS surely as the sun tam
gled in the distant pine frond, she had
seen in his eyes great passion. Now
It was coldly withdrawn.
"What has happened to you! she
asked finally out of her great sincerity.
"Me? Nothing" replied Thorpe
A forced silence fell upon him. Hilda
seemed gradually to lose herself in rev.
erie. After time she said softly:
'Don't you love this woods!'
''1t's an excellent bunch Of pine," re-
Piled Thorpe blunt1y. "It'll cut 3,OOO.-
600 at least"
"Oh!" she cried, drawing back, her
hands pressed against the log either
side of her, her eyes wide.
After moment she caught her breath
convulsively, and Thorpe became con-
scious that she was studying him fur
lively with quickening doubt
After that. by the mercy of God.
there was no more talk between them.
Cnconsciously the first strain Of oppo-
Sition and Of hurt surprise relaxed.
Each thought vaguely his thoughts.
Then in the depths Of the forest, per-
haps near at hand, perhaps far away, a
dngle hermit thrush began to sing. His
song was Of three solemn, deep, liquid
notes, followed by slight rhetorical
pause as Of contemplation, and then de-
Hberately three notes more on a differ
ent key. It is the most dignifed, the
most spiritual, the hottest of woods ut
tefances. Combined with the evening
shadows and the warm soft air It Of
fered to the heart an almost irresistible
appeal. The mans artificial antago-
nfsm modified, the woman's disen-
ehantment began to seem unreal.
Then subtly over and through the
hlrd song another sound became audi
be. At first it merely repeated the
three notes family like an echo, but
with q rich, rad undertone that brought
tsars. Then timidly and still softly it
1laborated the theme. weaving in and
0ut through the original three the gilt
~ and simmer Of splendid web Of
sound. spreading before the awakened