Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1905-01-20
The BIazed Trail"
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"Wc wrote Mr.. Harry Thorpe that
We were about to descend on his dis
trict with wagons and tents and lndi-
ans and things. ana asked him to come
and see us"
The girl looked at him for q moment
steadily. then smiled. Tho change of
countcnance brought Thorpe to himself,
But never received the letter. I'm
so sorry" said he. III must be at the
mill, You see. I've been up In the
woods for nearly a month"
Then we'll have 10 forgive you,"
But | should think they would have
done something for you nj the milf
"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. I'm 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.
ITS 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.
Come" 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.
Il 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. Il wouldn't
have you any different for the world.
But my friends don't mind. They are
used to it, She laughed again.
Thorpe crossed the pole trail and for
the first tine found himself by her
side. The warm summer odors We're
in the air: a dozen lively little birds
sang in the brush along the rail; the
sunlight danced and tiickered through
the openings.
Then suddenly they were among the
pines. and the air was cool, the vista
dim and the birds songs inconceivably
far away.
lie said little and that lamely. for
he dreaded To say too much. TO her
playful sallicS he had no repOste. and
in consequence lie fell more silent with
another boding-that he was losing his
cause outright for lack of ready
word.
And so the last spoken exchange be-
tween them meant nothing, but if each
could have read the unsaid words that
guivered 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 ut all for II number of
hours.
II do MOI think you had better come
with me-" she said. Make your call
and be forgiven on your own account.
l don't want TO drag you in ut my
chariot wheels"
"All right. I'll come this afternoon"
Thorpe had replied.
Il love her: must have her. ] must
goat once" his soul cried. quick
now-before l kiss herr
'How strong he is" she said to her
self, chow brave looking. how hOuestl
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, a very young married
woman of twenty-five or tlereabout: |
her husband. a youth Of three years
older, clean shaver. 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 varioisly
encountered and whom he now met as
Miss Hilda Farrand. Besides these
were Ginger. squat negro built TO tit
the galley OF yacht. and three Indian
guides. They inhabited tents. which
made quite a little encampment.
Thorpe was received with enthusi-
asm Wallace Carpenters stories of his
woods partner. willie never doing more
than justice to the truth. had been
warm. One and all owned lively curl
Osity to see what real woodsman
might be like. When he proved to be
handsome and well hammered as well
as picturesque his reception was no ion
ger in doubt.
Nothing could exceed his sollcitude as
10 their comfort and amusement He
Inspected personally the arrangement
)f the tents and suggested one or two
changes conducive 10 the hitler com.
orts. Simple things enough they were
1t was as though city man were to
llrect q newcomer to Central park-yet
Thorpe's new friends were profoundly
with his knowledge OF occult
hings The forest was To them. as to
most more or less of q mystery unfath-
unable except TO the favored Of genius.
\ man who could interpret IL even