Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-07-15
The Woodfnan

NOW, little mother II you say
Roger to me again I'll refuse to make.
his Acquaintance 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 II he really is engnged to
Lady Westbrook in London How do
known / told Laura the other day
didn't know him. had never seen him.
and have great mind to disown him
as relative. For heavens sake, don't
mention Rogers name again 2,
Myrt'e's mother. who was reading a
novel In 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 IL very nice. good-looking
young man really don't see why yon
would disclaiIn him for cousin. am
sure he wrote you quite a pleasant note
when he got back. II you had accepted
his invitation and gone on his touring
, car. you would have enjoyed 1t Inn
mensely. His auto
"Oh, yes, know said Myrtle,
laughing. ut is the finest motor car
ever seen In these parts. Laura told
me all about 1t, and how delightful
Roger made himself II he wants to
preserve his self-respect and retain
proper understanding Of himself and
his merits, he had better 60 back
among Ills Aztec ruins and the tombs OF
dead Kings, and get away from all
these women who fiatter him and from
our sensational social whirl i be-
lieve 1t is more his millions than his
book that makes him 30 dreadfully
popular. Please don't mention him
again"
Mrs. Carlson smiled at her handsome
daughter, who was putting on her
gloves to 60 out, and agreed.
Every well. Well taboo Roger and
keep him at distance. daresay he:
found the ancient civilization as good
40 ours. The Aztecs lived In Mexico,
You know. : Remember, we leave Mt
the end Of the week. Do drive to- to- 8 y
Then followed a list Of commissions,
to which Myrtle listened dutifully But
when in her coupe, driving down the
avenue, Myrtle thought Of Roger more
than of her shopping.
1t was a relief the week following to
get away from friends and intimatesi
(so dreadfully prone to gossip and
scandal), the noise and dust Of the city
and its manifold and sometimes wear
Ing social exactions, OF which Myrtle
had had rather surfeit all through
the winter and the equally guy spring
She and her mother agreed that two
months Of quiet life on the very top
OF the mountains, where they would
3 see no one and would spend the cool
summer days driving long distances or
rambling idly through the great prim-
eval forest, would be pleasurable by
) way of contrast, besides being extreme
" recuperatlye.
One special June day Myrtle, coming
down pathy saw a young fellow in
rough garb, flannel shirt, leather belt.
rough trousers, boots and a felt hat,
pulled down over his face, cutting
down a 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 him
and see the fall Of the tree.
The tall hemiock quivered and shook
under the sharp strokes Of the cleverly
welded ak, and 1t was evident Its fall
was approaching.
Pausing and looking up to shape the
direction Of Its crash, the woodman for
the first time saw Myrtle sitting on the
log and watching him.
Selling her by the arm, he dragged
her rapidly to one side, and none too
soon.
Quiyering in its great length and
bending, first slowly and ma3estically,
then coming down with lightning speed
and tremendous crash. the forest
giant accepted It's doom and fell to the
earth. Its sparse branches spread
around. covering 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
my sketches" Myrtle said ruefully.
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 80 near? Did you not see
the tree was going to fall In your
direction? You would have been
crushed II hadn't pulled you to
place Of safety. hope was not too
rough. Did hurt your arm?"
you certainly did. But as owe
you my life won't quarrel with you
over that Indeed, am most grateful
II you hadn't been SO quick would be
where my hat Is now, under that huge
trunk. How frightfully big tree
looks when 1t is down; just see how 1t
has crushed the smaller ones"
''Sit on the stump while l try to I'M
earth your book. You look quite pale"
he said. brushing of some chips with
his hat to make more presentabla
seat.
"A remarkable looking man. Myrtle
thought, as he sprang over the fallen
trunk and pulling aside the branches,
tried to discover the sketch book.
Returning presently with some torn
leaves he presented them to Myrtle.
THAT is all could rescue, am
sorry to say. Did you draw those
sketches? The View Of the valley and
hill is certainly excellent
The woodman and Myrtle met again,
this time at the weir above the mill.