The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-07-03

xhe woodland home of RoSalind. as she
had imagined it to be. Soon there
came to her ears the swish of waters,
az of some turbulent river hurryin@
by. Instinctively size drew back, and
her ewes were set with alarm upon the
black wall of night ahead. 1etive had
spoken more than once of this wilder
ness. Many an unlncky Traveller had
been lost forever in its Businesses.
1T is the river, your h!ghnoss. There
is no danger. will not lead You into
it," be said. tritie roughly. I'VE are
low in the valley. and there are
marshes yonder when the river is i'll
its natural bed. The floods have cover
ed the low grounds, and there is tor
rent coming down frori the hills. Here
we are. your highness. This is the Inn
Of the Hawk and Raven"
He bowed and pointed with his hat
to the smoldering fire Il short distance
ahead. They had turned Il bend in the
oyerhaneing cliff and We're very close
to the retreat before she saw the glow,
The fire was in the open air and di-
rectly in front of a deep cleft IN the
rocky background. Judging by the
sound the river could not be more than
POO feet away. Men came Up with
lanterns and others piled brush upon
the fire In very short time the glen
was weirdly Illuminated by the dane
ing flames. From her seat on the huge
log Beverly was thus enabled to survey
a portion of her surroundings. The
overhanging ledge of rock formed a
wide. deep canopy. underneath which
was perfect shelter. The floor seemed
TO be rich, CRASHES loan. and here ami
there were pallets of long grass. evil
IDENTIFY the touches of these homeless
men. All about We're huge trees. ana
in the direction of the river the grass
grew higher and then gaze place to
reeds. The foliage above WAS so dense
that tile moon and stars We're Invisible.
There was a deathly stiffness in the air.
The very loneliness was SO appalling
that Reverly's poor little heart was in
a culver Of dread. Aunt Fanny, who
sat near by. had not spoken since leav-
ing the coach. but her eyes We're eX-
pressively active.
The tall header stood near the fire
conversing with half dozen Of his fol
lowers. Miss CaIhOun's eyes finally
rested upon this central figure in the
strange picture. He was attired ia a
dark gray uniform that reminded her
oddly of the dragoOn choruseS III the
comic operas at home. The garments.
while torn aud sOiled. were well fitting.
His shoulders We're broad and square.
his hips narrow, his legs long and
straigh There WAS an air of lmpu-
dent grace about him that went well
with his life and profession.
Surely here was a careless free lance
upon whom life weighed lightly, while
death stood afar off, and despaired.
The light of the fire brought his gieam-
ing face into bold relief. for his hat
was off. Black and thick WAS his hair.
rumpled and apparently uncared for.
The face WAS lean, smooth and strong.
with n deyil-Inay-ca curve at fhe cor
ners of the mouth. Beverly found her
self Iamrniing the fact that such an III
terestiny face should be Iparred by an
ugly black patch, covering she knew
not what manner Of defect. As for the
rest of them, they We're grim com
pany Some were young and beardleSs,
others were old and grizzly, but all
were active alert and strong. The
leader appeared to he the only one in
the party who could speak and under
stand the English language. As Bev-
erly sat and watched his ririle. mock
ing face and studied his graceful move
ments she found herself wondering
how an ignorant. homeless wanderer
in the hills could be so poetic and SO
cultured "a this fellow seemed to be.
Three or four men. who were unmis-
takably of lower order than their
mpanionS. set about preparing sup
Der. Others unhtched the tired horses
and led them off toward the river. Two
,iasliing young fellows carried the seat
cushions under the rocky canopy and
constructed an elaborate couch for the
princess" The chief. with his own
hands. soon began the construction or
Il small chamber In This particular cor
ner OF the cave near the opening. The
wallis of the chamber were formed Of
carriage robes and blankets, clOakS and
oak branches.
"The guest chamber. your highness.
he said, approaching her with Il smile
at the conclusion of his work
1T has been most interesting to
watch you," she said, rising.
"And it has been n delight to inter-
est you" he responded. You will find
secluson there, and you need see none