The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-26
IN THE HONEST WOODS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2o.)

EIkOM FACE 2D.1
 
 do. Sometimes a man isn't responsible for what he thinks or does, is he? I took him down the lake. and there wasn't any thing said. His back was toward me. He shivered all the time There are crust hunters that can snowshoe up to a slump ing deer and cut it's throat while the crea- ture looks up and bleats and rolls those great eyes. Did you ever hear of Tom Ballard doing that?"
 He threw up his arms and stood before them strengthening his pack-bowed shoul- ders. His paddle-calloused hands vi- brated. He was evidently about to burst into passionate speech, but once more the iron self-restraint of the woods closed his square jaws resolutely. To the as tonishment of both men, who were hang ing breathlessly on his words, he ab- ruptly changed the subject and said with a half smile
 MT Ballou, I reckon I can't send those fresh water pearls out by you to your friend. the ieweler."
 why, Tom" cried Ballou. his mind for the moment jared off the trageds, you can clean up nigh S1000 if ] take them" ef
 Maybe so, MT. Ballou, but t2aey re gone on ahead. He said she'd never got done sorrowing over the way she'd used me. I'd hate to have to stay here alone, as I do, thinking of woman grieving all the time over whets past and done for So I told .irI hom many years and how many bushels of clans those pearls stood fe. and I've been pondering that she'll know that such present to her means forgiveness and good will for what little of life that's left to us"
 The New Workers were on their feet gasping at him.
 You mean" they began in unison.
 "I mean I took him across the carry to the Pamedumcook shore, waited till the first streak O light lent him my rowboat and started him across to his own camp. That seemed to be the only way l looked at him and he looked at me there when we could see each other, and it came to me that twas a bigger thing than l had thought-this meeting of the man l had been hankering to meet, even though had him face to face just as l wanted him. after all the years have been alone and pondering on it. Twas too big for me-the problem. And l said so to him when I pushed the boat off the shore, and I said, too, I ain't one of those that hold Gods commission to meddle.' But "a forgot then that he is a minister, and I'm afraid he'll think I meant to tWit him. For he bowed his head and roWed orr. But I didn't mean it that way. And US all between us right here ain't it, MT. Ballou and MT Manning? Ministers are an eX- ample to them that sit under them ana look to them, and women have tender feelings I should feel bad to nave you speak of it outside"
 Tears ran down Ballou's sunssreddened nose. "Tom'' he. said with futile attempt to make his voice bluff, you don't look it outside, but inside you've developed symptoms of being a saint
 .No." returned the guide humbly, "a saint would not have kneeled there In the alders when he rowed away jacked q shell into the chamber and taken ann the whilst he growled Damn ye, l can let ve gor No, that wasn't saint-like. Why, gentlemen, if I hadn't had the sense to ram that rife-butt down into the lake and hold it there, I'd have bored him as l would a buck deer.'
 q insist, old Tom Ballard, that you're one of Gods elect" choked Manning, blinking back his tears
 q wish you wouldn't say such things and I knowing what's inside me all the time" pleaded the guide ingenuously. eff anything I did was square, it's only that the old woods the great, wide honest, open woods, have been talking to me all these years Mr. Manning and MT. Ballou. I've been alone with them a long time, and it's done me a mighty heap of good And today I'm hot and bitter and swear ing and cursing inside-wishing now that I'd put a forty-four between those whisker tufts-sorry let him go. I'm an awful man. gentlemen inside me. l figure twas only accident I let him go, after all. But if you'll hunt alone today, reckon I'll go out and let the woods talk to me-the big, generous soothing, croon- ing, honest woods. And then I'll come back all right tonight, gentlepen-all tnniohtNv