Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-11-13

FOUND IN
THE WOODS.
By GRANT PACKARD.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

Literary Press
Overnight the street corner had bios
somed out with implanted pine chest
nut stands, topped by the rooster,
which sent out the fragrance Of ~<-ie
mealy nuts.
A crisp tang In the air sent the end
less procession of workers along at
smarter pace. Only an occasional dere-
lict sauntered along at laggard's
gait. Overhead thin haze yelled the
sky, changing the blue OF the cloud
less armament to a softer tint, az
through thls yellow sun bSfned
duly.
Paul Westford as be hurried toward
the office shifted the odor OF the roast
tug chestnuts and smiled reminiscent
Nv. OF course chestnuts roasted
pan over a charcoal Are could NJ
as good as when they were gath1ts
In. the wood and roasted In tr
SHOVEL
1t took two to roast chestnuts prop.
erly, two in coy parlor, with an
open fire for the only illustration.
He knew all about roasting chest
nuts. 1t was while they were roasting
chestnuts that Carol Ryder had prom
ised to be his wife. Ever since that
night the perfume of the chestnut
stands had reminded him Of the girl
he had loved and lost,
The course of true love had run with
It's customry irregularity, 10 1t befel
that during one of their misunderstand-
ings John Ryder, Carols father, had
fallen upon evil times. His invest
ments were threatened for lack OF
ready money. Another man had come
to Ryder's aid and had claimed Caro-
as his reward.
The girl had married him In the mis-
taken belief that she owed 1t to heI
father to obey his wishes, and when
Paul sought reconciliation he had
found that 1t was too late.
He had come to the city that he
might not be reminded daily Of his
loss and had prospered greatly. He
had found engrossment II not forget
fulness In business.
Yet always the smell Of roasting
ches nuts Brought back to him that
nlgi m tbe Ryder pnrlor. and he coult
feel again That thrill Of Joy when hi
heafd he whispered Yves"
To-Day It came back to him more
strongly thun ever, and on the ~ sci
OF the letters he opened he cotilo je'
the picture Of the woods about Canrls
vile, riotlng with color under the au
tumn sun.
He had never gone back to the tOwi
since his first departure. He had neve
wanted to see the place. But today h
heard the country call him. and tn
| call was not to be denied. He arrang
ed with his chief clerk to look afte
affairs for few days, and that nigh
he left on the sleeper for Carrisville.
He found the town was sad.
changed Paul arrived In the earl.
hours, when few were stirring, and a
n sleepy hickman drove sleepie
horse through the silent street Pau
| felt lump rise In his throat AZ whel
one greets an old friend and finds hin
that friend no longer, but even NOR
| foreign than an actual stranger.
The old brick schoolhouse had grow
into stone structure several storie
In height. There was new Methods
church, and many OF the old house
had been replaced by more imposing
structures, while In the business sec
ton the store fronts had been altere'
to present metropolitan aspect.
It was not until after lunch and Pau
had started out into the country tina
he began to feel at home. He ha'
looked up none Of his old friends, fear
ing to find them as sadly changed a
the village itself.
There was trolley now to take hiI
10 the oiysskirts Of the town, but b
dropped of when the canal bridg
came In sight and the trolley turne'
on the road to the river. The bridg
was not changed.
1t was the same low, white structur
from which he had dropped many
time to the deck of some passing cana
boat to ride down to the lock and be
| a ride back.
Beyond the bridge, too, the roa
looked the same. The trend Of prog
ress had been along the line Of tn
| trolley, and on this side OF the cana
| the farmhouses we're unchanged.
They had not even mended the brea
| in the fence where he formerly slippe
through for the short cut to the marsh
Here the largest frogs were always I
be caught, and Paul was tempted I
| push through Just to see II he still wa
slender enough.
1t was d sharp climb up the hill, an
Paul was glad to pause and rest for
moment when he gained the crest. b
low, the canal wound It's way betwee
grassy banks, the towpath dotted wit
toiling mules, showing white agains
the green.
Farther yet the river flowed placidl
on to the churning foam OF the rapid
below, and between lay the level acre
now yellow with stubble. In the va
ley, the autumn tints were not yet pre-
nounced, but at his back, on tn
heights. the woods were glorious wit
red and gold.
Paul started out at brisk pace 10
the chestnut grove where the nut
were always biggest and best. On th
Saturday holiday the woods would b
dotted with the nutpickers, but toda
he had the place to himself. He wa
ON familiar ground now, and he head
ed straight for the grove.
There were few nuts on the grount
but Paul was not content with thes'
| oil nfP nd Uadf d