Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-05-18
THE WOODMAN.

II
quantance when we get back. It's bad
enough to hear the girls rave over him
and his good looks, and to be asked silly
questions about his life abroad, and if
he really is engaged to Lady Westbrook
in London How do / know? | told
Laura the other day / didn't know him,
had never seen him, and have a great
mind to disown him as relative. For
heavens sake, don't mention Rogers
name again!"
Myrtle's mother, who was reading a
novel in a comfortable chair while her
maid brushed her handsome gray hair,
looked up and laughed easily.
You can't help meeting him, child,
and knowing him this fall. He's the
lion of the house since his book on the
Central American explorations came
out. He is very nice, good looking
young man; | really don't see why you
would disclaim him for a cousin. / am
sure he wrote you quite pleasant note
when he got back. If you had accepted
his invitation and gone on his touring
car, you would have enjoyed it immense
| ly. lis auto"
'Oh, yes, know" said Myrtle
| laughing. at is the finest motor car
ever seen III these parts. Laura told me
all about it, and how delightful Roger
made himself If he wants to preserve
his self-respect and retain proper under
standing of himself and his merits, he
had better 90 back among his Aztec
ruins and the tombs of dead kings, and
get away from all these women who fiat
| ter him and from our sensational social
whirl. / believe it is more his millions
than his book that makes him so dread
fully popular. Please don't mention him
again"
Mrs. Carston smiled at her handsome
daughter, who was putting on her
gloves to go out, and agreed.
"Very we'll Well taboo Roger and,
keep him at a distance. | daresay he
found the ancient civilization as good as
ours. The Aztecs lived in Mexico, you
know. Remember, we leave at the end
of the week. Do drive to"
Then followed list of commissions, to
which Myrtle listened dutifully. But
when in her coupe, driving down the ave-
nue., Myrtle thought of Roger more than
of her shopping.
1t was relief the week following to
get away from friends and intimates $50
dreadfully prone to gossip and scandal),
the noise and dust of the city and its
manifold and sometimes wearing social
exactions, of which Myrtle had had rath-
er surfeit all through the winter and
the equally gay spring. She and her
mother agreed that two months of
quiet life on the very top of the noun
tains where they would see no one and
would spend the cool summer days driv-
ing long distances or rambling idly
through the great primeval forest,
would be pleasurable by way of con-
trast besides being extremely recuper-
ative.
One special June day Myrtle. coming
down a path. saw a young fellow in
rough garb, flannel shirt, leather belt
rough trousers, boots and a felt hat
pulled well down over his face, cutting
down towering hemlock, which had
been partly killed by lightning.
Best looking mountaineer I've seen
yet" thought Myrtle, sitting down on a
fallen and decayed log to watch hin. and
see lie fall of the tree.
The tall hemlock quivered and shook
under the sharp strokes of the cleverly
welded AK. and it was evident its fall
was approaching.
Pausing and looking up to shape the
direction of its crash, the woodman for
the first time sa~~Myrtle sitting on the
log and watching him.
Selling her by the arm, he dragged her
rapidly to one side, and none too soon.
Quivering in its great length and bend
ing first slowly and majestically, then
1 -
tremendous crash, the forest giant ac-
cepted its doom and fell to the earth.
Its sparse branches spread around. cover
ing the very spot where Myrtle had sat
Il suppose my hat and sketch book are
gone forever. I'll never get them out
from under those branches ! don't mind
the hat, but | would hate to lose nv
sketches" Myrtle said ruefullv.
You came near losing something much
more valuable" the mountaineer said.
smiling down at the purple blue eyes and
long black lashes. What made YOU sit
50 near? Did you not see the tree was
going to fan in your direction? You
would have been crushed if l hadn't
pulled You to place of safety. | hone
was NOT too rough. Did l hurt vour
arm? ?"
You certainly did. But as / owe YOU
my life TwoR't quarrel with You over
that Indeed | am most grateful. If
you hadn't been SO quick I would he
where my hat is now under that huge
trunk How frightfully big tree looks
when it Is down; Just see how it has
crushed the smaller Ones
sit ON the stump while | try to I'M
earth your book. You look quite palc.s
he said, brushing off some chips with his
hat to make n more presentable seat.
a remarkable looking man" MYRTLE
thought, as ne sprang over the fallen
trunk and, pulling aside the branches
tried 10 discover the sketch book.
Returning presently with some torn
leaves he presented them to Myrtle
! That is all could rescue. I am sorry
to say. Did you draw those sketches.