The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19

NlllnSly from the shores or the
mountain lake as Wainwright leisurely
piled his paddle. Now and then he
stopped 10 nh his lungs with the fra
grant air and rest his eyes on the
wooded ridges looming blue on the
horizon. His heart was glad. for he
was back in the woods-his woods
that he had loved from childhood.
The magic of a northland June was
upon him, and stretching his length ne
left the canoe to the caprice Of the
breeze. As he lay idly putting his
brian the canoe gently grounded on the
shore. Lost in the beauty of the scene
he remained for some time with eyes
half closed. when suddenly faint rus
tie in the brush behind him reused him
from his reverie Wainwright casually
turned, expecting to meet a pair of
bright eyes peering from the small be-
whiskered face of some marauding
mink or interloping squirrel but moth
ing so bloodcurdling met his gaze and
he resumed his dream.
In moment, however, the noise was
repeated, and realizing the cause was
something more pretentious than
mink and attributing it possibly to a
curious mild eyed doe or stupid year
ling moose. he again glanced at the
shore TO rest his eyes momentarily-
10 his amazement-on a small head Of
tumbling chestnut hair framing two
laughing brown eyes; but only for a
moment as the head Immediately dis
appeared behind A friendly white birch.
Wainwright sat up. all attention. and
waited for the dryad to show herself
again, for dryad or fairy she certainly
was. He was not disappointed. for
presently out peeped the head from
behind the birch. and at the same time
he gave the warning cluck of the hen
partridge calling her chicks, which so
conYulsed the diminutive dryad that
she burst into peals Of fairy laughter.
and stepping from her hiding place re-
Tealed lady OF some seven summers To
MS amused and astonished gaze. AS
she shyly stood brushing with two
small brown hands the thick locks
rom her eyes she seemed a veritable
iairy denizen Of the woods. Then with
the utmost gravity he said: You will
pardon me, but / was not aware that
lle fairies We're out so early vet
sm sure that I am addressing their
queen and doffed his felt hat with
sweeping bow. The dryad received his
remarks and low obeisance with a look
of JOY mingled with wonder in her
round little face. Or he continued
y you are not queen Of the fairies
you must be little shadow girl, for
am sure you are not real little girl
at all"
"oh. then you believe in fairies?" she
cried eNcitedly, as she moved nearer the
canoe.
Why. Of course believe in fairies"
rejoined Wainwright. In fact, 1 have
some intimate friends among them, and
2 have kno~Tn the Little Red Gods. who
are uncles Of the fairies. for years"
"oh, tell me about the Little Red
Gods. please, Are they really red? Do
they live near here, and will they talk
10 little girls2"
BY this time the dryad had lost all
shEness and stood on the shore, where
~ wainwright leaned on his paddle. You
know, she continued, now thoroughly
az ease, i ran away from nurse this
morning 10 hunt for fairies sShe
doesn't believe in fairies, and if you
don't believe in them you will never
see them, viii you?"
No" he answered, seating himself
beside her, now deep in the spell
cast by the elfsh beauty and frank
friendliness Of this wonder child. I'VE
must believe in them or they will not
trust or believe in US. You and I be-
Ieve in them and some day we shall
20 and ind them and perhaps be in
vited 10 tea I thought 1 heard one
this morning, but I found that it was
only a dear little shadow girl"
The big brown eyes grew wide at
the suggestion Of taking tea with the
fairies. Then she took one Of his mus
cular fists in both Of hers and. look
inE frankly into his gray eyes. said.
"Oh, I like you so much and / am
sure you are the incest man in the
world except papa, but papa doesn't
believe in fairies And will you really
take me to see them?"
Yes, dearie," he replied as he put
his arm around his diminutive oues
toner Some day we shall sail awav
on wonderful quest for the Little
Red Gods and the fairies. know
where there are dozen little, round
oucklings, each like a yellow ball. and
every morning their mother takes them
out for a swimming lesson And not
far from here lives a family of part
ridges, and, oh, such small, brown.
rOly poly chicks, who hide under the
leaves when they hear any one COM
ing. Then, too. there is a nest OF very.
very hungry minklets, who dearly love
fish, so their poor mothers feet are
kept wet all day catching them, which
makes the poor thing cough dread
fully" This was more than Shadow
Girl could be expected to endure. and.
with hair tumbling about, eyes dane
ing with delight. she begged to be
allowed to behold such ravishing sights.
Wainwright. endowed with a rare
sympathy and imagination, was so
charmed by the sweetness and appeal
ing personality OF the child that, gath
erIng hei up in his arms, he kissed her
smiling little face and, tucking her in
the bow OF his canoe. turned down the
lake in search of the camp so fortunate
in the possession Of a veritable daugh-
ter Of elfland.
oh. mamma cried wainwright's
diminutive passenger as he landed the
<.2oe and placed her in the possession
Of her adoring mother, Il wasn't lost
at all; I was found"
Then he described to her amused par
ents, the Ranfords. his meeting with
the Shadow Girl. and announced his in
tention OF paying most serious court to
the daughter of the house, for he had
oofr7r7 7afafU Lost d