Charlevoix county herald., 1906-11-10

prime of the Paleolithic age
Jewels appeal wonderfully to some
women OF the present and the same
instinct for adornment was possessed
by the charming Little Toes, belle
undisputed of the clan of Cave Men
who lived among the rocks by the
White Earn.
Tarns are not usually white, it is
true; in fact we commonly think of
a tarn as some dismal body of water,
lonesome and fearful, but this one,
though really a tarn, isolated and
alone, was light because it had a
sandy bottom, and it's waters were
clear because it was doubtless con-
nected by some underground channel
with the not very distant sea.
A happy lot of cave people, as cave
people went, were those making up
the clan which lived beside the tarn,
fishing in its depths and hunting in
the Green Forest, and the society was
really very fine. So delectable a
\ creature as Little Toes must, neces-
sarily, have rival admirers, and among
bhCiii, Clllu uilOSSlBtI ICdullSS Tic VII
ers, were Big Bow and Cross Eyes.
Big Bow was easily the most success
full fisherman and hunter in the tribe,
and somewhat goodly man to look
upon. Cross Eyes was but moderate
ly successful in the pursuit of food,
either on land or wate,- and he
squinted prodigiously.
Somewhat unfortunately for Cross
Eyes had thus far progressed this ar
dent wooing. Big Bow, mighty fish
erman and hunter brought daily spoil
to the feet Of Little Toes; spoil some
thing more than appreciated, not only
by the young lady, who had healthy
appetite, but by her father and moth
er, who CHANGED TO be people not
overstrenuous to grapple with the
problem of existence. Cross Eyes did
the best he could. but he brought less
suStenance TO his inamorata, and, as
has been intimated, Big Bow was the
more presentable man Of the two.
But the case OF Cross Eyes was not
altogether hopeless. He could talk far
better than Big Bow in the odd, chuck
Ilu6 way I'll Luc cave lhtll, iuu ndo
never sullen. Little Toes had become
used TO him and did not object to hav-
ing him around. Yet, the star Of Big
Bow was decidedly in the ascendant.
The rules oc dress of the cave men
and women OF the time were becom-
ing rather severe. For instance, it
was considered desirable that both
gentlemen and ladies always
wear something in public. This, as
rule, consisted of single skin gar
ment worn over one shoulder and I'M
der the other, and, in case of the more
rigidly conventional, belted at the
waist. This admirable garb, of course.
left the neck bare. 1t afforded a mag
nificent opportunity for the display Of
jewelry, but the only jewelry ever
worn by cave belle up to this par
ticular me had consisted of a neck
lace of red berries strung upon some
grassy fiber. Such necklace could
last for but the passing hour. 1t was
a transient thing. Such as it was.
though, it was much affected by the
lhirtatious Little Toes, as she did love
lp adorn herself
Il fell upon a day that Cross Eyes
WIS wandering, ill-mooded, far from
the madding crowd. along the banks
of turbulent creek which came tum-
bling down from the hills to enter the
enticing depths of the White Tarn.
This was his meditativc afternoon
with vengeance. He recognized the
fact that Big Bow was far ahead Of
him in the race for permanent posses
sion of Little Toes. He realized that
the other man was decidedly the bet
ter hunter and better fisherman, and
the additional fact that the qualities
of purveyor and provider were then
considered in a wooer OF the first inn
portance. He strobe up and down the
little beach where the creek hurled
itself laughingly over a wonderful bed
of shells and pebbles into the broad
waters IL was seeking, and. finally.
sat himself down upon rock and
thought most dismally. He thought of
Little Toes as he had seen her that
Imori.ing, graceful as the slim wood
gliding merrily about, the
lcHt DTdTy NcCkldCe Oh icu berries
shoSing a line of contrasting color
abotzt her smooth, brown neck. lie
would like, he thought, to see a neck
lace always thers, though what did
it rc1tter! 1t seeIAed that Little Toes
couil never be for him.
MS eyes rested, at first unseeing,
upof the creeks margin. where was
blaze of coloring. a glittering rides
ccnCe, rs the suns rays struck upon
the 'ossedup shells of brightly pink
hucE mOllusk. and the many pebbles
OF Gear white, brought down from the
oh; ~ heights above. He thought
vagl-ely of the resemblance, save in
gilt; az, of the bright objects in the
water and the red berries about the
throat OF Little Toes. Then. dimly
at first, and then more )1finitely.
there came TO him suggestion which
grew into an inspiration. His face
frightened; he leaned from his rock
and into the water. Up and down the
shore he ran, gathering pink shells