Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-17

and one of Mr.. Van Dykes legal adj
vsors. a commodious cottage. and here
he and his accomplished wife forget
legal cases and exacting social duties. A
steam launch. built for Mr.. Van Dykes
use on the Connecticut river during his
annual log drive. has been taken to the
lake. 1t will safely carry n dozen or more
people and has speed of ten miles an
hour Himself at the wheel, MIR. Van
Dyke is supremacy happy when his
launch is loaded with friends or guests,
as he steers its swift course around and
through the sparkling waters of the
lake.
A YOUNG AMAZON.
| A feature of the camp Is q young ANA.
ION, of about sixteen years. daughter of
the man who runs Mr.. Van Dykes
launch. Modest in appearance, comedy
of face. with perfect physique and a
stride that tells of well developed fexors
and extcnsors, she reminds one of the
heroine in "The Daughter Of the Regi-
mcnt." She has been brought up on the
lake and is perfectly at homo on or in
its waters. Last winter she passed with
| i''I ldtutT III lHS AuIIlUeE CdIIQS sur
rounding the lake, making the journey
from one to tho other on snow shoes.
Clad in boys garments. not one In ten
of the rough campers knew all the winter
| long that they had one OF the gentler
sex among them She is q dead shot with
the rife demonstrating this on Sunday
| by the three times out of five cutting
the string from which a bottle was sus-
pended five rods or more away. She
also is an expert swimmer and diver.
and gave Mr.. Van Dykes guests an ex-
hibition Of her ability in this line. Her
first plunge in those cold waters sent
creeping chills up the spinal cords of
those who witnessed her graceful move
mcnts in the water. She fears neither
man nor the bears that are often seen.
She can. If necessary, strike a sledge
hammer blow with her facile fist, and
woe he to the object against which it
would he aimed. She is. however. treat
ed with the greatest respect by all whom
she comes in contact The men employed
at the lake arc proud of her and her ac-
complishments, and would fight or die
for her If necessary.
DUNNE1T EXPLORES A CAVE.
Near Mr.. Van Dykes summc- camp is
a huge stone cave, through the roof of
! which the snow Sits in winter. and
patches of last winters supply are there
yet. With lantern. Alexander Dun
nett of st. Johrsbury explored it's deep
accesses on Sunday. and his tales OF what
| he saw were hair raisers. Deer are very
plentiful in the deep woods surrounding
Maidstone lake. A handsome buck and
two doc crossed the path of two OF the
| mi tn lnk They
utterly devoid of fear, and walked into
the underbrush as lcisurely as would
calves or sheep.
The dinner on Sunday was the crown
ing event Of the day. The woman in
charge of Mr.. Van Dykes camp was not
prepared to wait on SO large a company,
but every one was promptly served. A
lamb that dressed about 60 pounds had
been killed the night before and was
roasted to n turn. Chowder made from
newly caught fish was drst served. Will
lam Buckley welded the carving knife on
the two roasted hind quarters OF lamb.
while Mr. Van Dyke and W. b. c. Stick
ney let their appetites wait while they
deftly served the viands. Sharp legal
minds FLASHED In witty attacks. and the
rude dining room rang with laughter. No
ono in watching Alexander Dunnctt at
this dinner would imagine that he ever
| had an aspiration to be district attorney,
or even had a thought but to cAjOy a
| day in the woods. The piece dc resistance
of the dinner was supplemented by fresh
lettuce. string beans and cucumbers
raspberry shortcake, made from berries
picked that day. tea and coffee. 1t was
a dinner that would have done credit
to a modern hOstelry. cooked and served
as 1t was twelve miles from civilization
"HRUN" SrICI.NEY's EXPERIENCE.
No mention will be made in this story
of the mishap that befel w. b. c. Stick
noy of Bethel. With Unborn gallantry he
was attempting to assist some of the Ia.
dies in alghting from tho steam launch,
when his foot slipped and he tested the
temperature of the lake. Flo appeared
socn after in n borrowed suit Of high
water" style. while his laundry sus-
pended from the limb Of q neighboring
tree was the text for many bright re-
mark. When the sun and wind had done
their work "Brun' again disappeared for
a brief time and when he again Joined
the circle Richard was himself again."
Tho drive of the mountain and up
the valley by moonlight was fitting
close OF day spent close to the heart
of nature. for which Mr.. Van Dyke re-
ceived composite vote Of thanks