St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-03-25
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BY X. C. PITZER.

BY X. C. PITZER.
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THE red sun had disappeared behint
the range, and the narrow gulc
was filled with shadows before Everett
gave up. Then he sat down on
bowlder and wiped the sweat fror
his face. &
Its on me-" he said, ruefully, as b
threw his sketch-book aside. 'The
told me not to get among the pines
Oh, yes, I knew it all, of course.
couldn't possibly get lost with tn
town right below me all the time. Q
course not. Here am, though-heavel
knows where-a good many mile
from nowhere, and night is falling
It will be pleasant; 1t will be decided.
pleasant"
He leaned back and made vim
dictive kick at the sketch-book. 4
breeze ran through the wooded hills
and the murmuring pines lifted thei1
voices into a solemn evensong. Fal
away, an owl hooted, and the scream
Of night-hawk answered from neal
at hand. Everett shivered and stood
up.
81 must go on" he said doggedly.
''This creek runs somewhere, and it's
up to me to follow it"
He started with bowed head, but
he had not gone far before he stopped,
and his fact lighted up.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "a path!
I'm all right, after all. Some one lives
up there in the woods"
The path was old and worn, and
rains had washed it down into the
earth, while here and there grass and
weeds obstructed it, but it did not look
entirely deserted. Beneath the trees,
dusk had already settled, and the tall,
straight trunks, unobstructed by
brushwood, stretched away on all sides
into the shadows.
For a time Everett went along
cheerfully enough, but soon the melan-
choly of twilight began to take possess
sion of him, and he felt the sombre
influences Of the forest, the murmur
Of the wind in the needles overhead,
and the distant cries of the night
birds. He stopped a moment and drew
q long breath.
1T feels eerie in here" he muttered,
land lonesome. BY George! didn't
know that 1 was so tired!" In fact,
he suddenly discovered that his body
ached, and that his brain was ex-
hausted; SO exhausted that, for an
instant, film gathered before his
eyes, and he heard loud buzzing in
his ears. He sat down and leaned
against pine. eaf5j.s asssss.ssss.
II wonder where they live" he solil-
oquized. Seems funny that anybody
would want to live in this place, but
there's no accounting for tastes"
AS he thought this he heard a low
whistle ahead of him, and listened.
Yes, there it was again; some one was
climbing the path above him. Everett
started up, and soon caught sight of a
shadowy form fitting before him
through the dusk. The whistle
stopped, and girls voice began to
sing-a melodious Groom, OF which the
words were barely distinguishable.
"O-hoo-ho!" Everett called, in the
long-drawn-out cry of the hills. Wont
you wait fol, me, please? I'm lost"
The girls voice did not falter; she
seemed wrapped in some pleasing
dream, and her low song foated gent
ly to the tourists ear. @
''voice of the night-wind. mournfully
stealing,
OFT have listened for thee
"O-ho!" Everett called again. "I'm
lost! Won't you wait for me?"
Say hast thou been where blossoms Of
Eden
Kiss the bright fountains-' |
''Wait! Wait! Can't you hear me?
Are you deaf?"
The singers voice died away into ST.
lence, but she went straight on.
Don't be frightened" Everett con-
tinued, encouragingly. I'm tourist. |
came out from the springs this after |
noon, and lost myself"
The girls voice rose again in low
chant:
I'm the heart Of the forest primaeval-
primaeval-
Where the moon never hallows the
night,
By the black-dowing river
Everett's patience was exhausted.
He shut his teeth together and ran up
The hill It was hard work, and when
ne came suddenly into a narrow glade,
he was gasping for breath. 1t vas
lighter in the opening, and he could
zee young girl not far ahead of him.
She wore a short, ill-ftting gown; her
head was uncovered, and her white
ankles twinkled through the grass.
When he saw that the girl was bare
ooted, Everett smiled, and fancied
hat he knew the reason for her 81
ence and haste; she was ashamed to
'e seen by . stranger. =