The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-07-29

1t was Il tiny little island. The year
before Dick Staley had threatened to
come back some day and carry II off In
shoe box. But such as 1t was It was
Barton Bradley's own, and he was I'm
mensely proud of his possession.
-Four years earlier his physician had
ordered him to spend the summer In
the woods TO escape an impending at
tack of nerves. He had rented this
little Island from its woodsman owner
and had spent delightful summer
chopping his own wood, frying his own
bacon and In the intervals planning the
play that had brought him recognition.
His first royalties had gone to pay
for the little island, and now, when
Bradley pitched his tent early In May,
he went TO work to build log hut that
should form II more permanent camp.
Since success had come he was In a
position to build Il camp MS elaborate
rs any of the electrically lighted.
steam heated structures which mas.
queraded ms camps In the fashionable
colony Mt the upper end of the lake,
but Bradley would have none of these.
Az far as possible the camp should
be his own handiwork. He even re-
belled ut the necessity for assistance In
raising the logs when the walls reach
ell n height above his ability To handle
the heavy logs.
He made the island his sanctuary and
IA hS ..p
the winter season. No one save Staley
had ever been Invited TO the place and
only the guide who sometimes came to
see that all was we'll or leave mail
when Bradley lacked the time to row
down to the little village ever braved
the mo 1'respass" signs with which
the shore bristled.
SO 1t happened that Bradley, tramp
Ing over his five acre domain, was
astonlshed to see u canoe on the shore
and girl calmly eating late lunch
under the very sign forbidding II land
Ing.
She was undeniably pretty girl,
With crisp brown curls escaping from
tam o'shantef and straying over IL
cheek on which the red showed brave
ly through the tan
Bradley approved her costume of
brown. II was so unlike the froeks
of the fashionables, who dressed not
for the woods, but for the men In
camp and with an eye for spectacular
effect.
But Notwithstanding the fact that
Bradley approved of the slender, well
built figure he resented the Intrusion
on his island
He hated the fashionable crowd, and
here was one at his very door, per
haps the advance guard of II horde OF
Hon hunters who would overrun tn,
place and gushingly assure him that
they dotted on his plays even while
their conversation showed that they
had been more intent upon the chatter
In the box than upon the dialogue on
the stage 1t was this habit of using
the boxes for social visits that had
first given Bradley his dlstaste for
society.
ut IN too bad that you cannot read"
he said. with what was intended to
he cutting sarcasm. though insensi-
bly, his voice softened AS he looked
into two glorious brown eyes.
Il know what you mean," declared
the girl, with Il laugh and meaning
glance ut the forbidding sign, "but /
was tired padding, and when l saw
you at work on the hut knew that
the owner was not here, and | sup
posed that the sign was enforced only
when the owner was here. Can you
be bribed2"
She held toward him the well filled
lunch box with It's appetizlng sand
wlches and dainty cake.
I'm human enough 10 be hungry"
she explained, with n little laugh, "but
| always carry more than | need"
Bradley looked into the brown eyes
aud was lost. He accepted II sandwich
aud sank down on rock opposite the
one on which she was sitting.
'Who IL the horrible man who won't
let us land on this little Edeni" de-
manded the girl.
Hes II New York chap" explained
Bradley noncommittally. Gle doesn't
like the people at the upper end Of
the lake, aud he stuck those signs up"
Thereby preventing me from find
Ing refuge from the play campers, 7"
said the girl severely. ''Iie should
change the sign to read, No Trespass-
ing by People who DO Not Under
stand There are people even up
there who love the woods and hate
the poor Imitation of Newport. New
port" she added In explanation, SIS II
fashionable colony down on the Rhode
Island shore"
ave heard OF It," assented Bradley,
the scene Of whose latest comedy had
been laid In that very resort He was
glad that this girl mistook him for a
guide II would he a pity to unde-
ceive her and place their impromptu
acquaintance upon coldly formal
basis
woods, and Bradley more than ever
admired her when she grew eloquent
regarding the beauties of his beloved
lake. II formed common bond OF
sympathy.
The girl forgot that she was talking
to guide and Bradley In turn forgot
that she was member of the hated
colony OF fashionable folk who were
doing their best TO make the lake as
artificial rs themselves.
1t was u good two hours before his
visitor sprang up with an exclamation
Of surprise that she should have lin
gered so long, and with Il little sigh Of
regret Bradley watched her paddle
away, handling the frail canoe as clev.
erly as though to the manner born.
After that she came frequently and
became much interested In the build
Ing of the house. The heavy logs were
all In place now, and only the lighter
work remained.
The girl bradley soon knew her TO
be Miss Nannette Cowdrey) found the
completion of the cabin matter Of
absorbing interest 1t was no better
than the huts of the natives save that
1t was more carefully finished, and of