Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-12-20

bits Of broken fleece. scurrying like the
yachts below. Across the river was a
hign-towering bank Of green inviting
him over its summit to the languorous
freshness beyond.
He walked OF the boat on the far
ther side and climbed series of steep
wooden stairways, past a tiny cataract
that foamed its way down to the river.
When he reached the top he walked
through a stretch of woods and turned
off to the right, down a cool shaded
road that wound away to the north
through the fresh green's of oak and
chestnut.
When he came to village with an
electric car changing through it, he
skirted it's borders. and struck CT
through a woodland toward the river
Even the village was too human, toe
modern, for his early-pagan mood.
In the woods he felt that curious
thrill of stealth, that impulse to eau
tious concealment, which survives In
man from the remote days when enc
mics beset his forest ways. On 9
southern hillside he found dogwood
tree with its blossomed armament OF
white stars. In low, moist places the
violets had sprung through the thatct
of leaves and were singing their pur'
pie beauties all unhearu. Birds Were
nesting and squirrels chartered and
scolded.
Under these more obvious signs and
sounds went the steady undertone Of
life in root and branch and urfurline
leaf-provoking, melting. making law.
less whomsoever it thrilled.
He came out of the wood on to an
other road that ran not far from the
river, and set off again to the north
along the beaten track.
When he came to "wheelman':
rest" he ate many sandwiches ant
drank m-ch milk.
The face of the maid that served
him had been no heaven for the souls
of dead flowers. Still she was girl
and no girl could be wholly withou
importance on such day. So hi
thought the things he would have sale
to her IL matters had been different.
When he had eaten, he loafe1 cf
again down the road. Through the
long afternoon he walked and lazel
turning into strange lanes and by
roads, resting on grassy banks. ant
looking far up.
When the shadows stretched in tht
dusky languor of the spring evenir 6
he began to take his bearings for tbs
return. He heard the hum and Gang
of an electric car off through a chest
nut grove.
The sound disturbed him, bringing
premonitions of the city's unrest. Hi
determined to stay out for the night
1t was restful-his car would rot ar
rive until late the next afternoon
there was no reason why he should
not. He found a little waysids hote
whose weather-beaten sign was ancient
enough to promise entertainment fol
man and beast"
Gust what / want" he d-cIareu
'I'm both of them-man and beast"
Together they ate tirelessly CT youne
chickens broiled, and green salad
and wonderful pie, with a bottle c!
claret that had stood back of the dingy
little bar so long that it had attained
at least as to its label, 3 very fair an
tiquity.
When the man and the beast haC
been appeased they sat out under {
blossomed apple tree and smoked to
gether in fine spirit of amity.
At ten o'clock he went in from un
der the peering little stars and fel
asleep in an ancient four-poster. HI
dreamed that he had the world, foot
ball, clasped to his breast, and was
running down the field for a gain o.
100 yards. Then, suddenly, in place
of the world, it was Avice Milbrey II
his grasp, struggling frantically to b.
free; and instead of behaving like 6
gentleman he flung both arms around
her and kissed her despite her strug
giles; kissed her time after time, unit
she ceased to strive against him, ant
lay painting and helpless in his arms