The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-09-04
The WOOdman

Now, little mother, If you sa!
Roger to me again I'll refuse to mak'
his acquaintance when we get back
It's bad enough to hear the girls rave
over him and his good looks, and to b.
asked silly questions about his lifC
abroad, and If he really is engaged t.
Lady Westbrook In London. How do
know? | told Laura the other day
didn't know him, had never seen him
and have great mind to dlsown hin
as a relative. For heavens sake, dom
mention Rogers name againw
Myrtle's mother whe was reading s
novel In comfortable chair while hel
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 eXplora tions came
out He is very nice, good-looking
young man; | really don't see why you
would disclalm him for cousin. | am
sure he wrote you quite pleasant note
when he got back. If you had accepted
his invitation and gone on his touring
car, you would have enjoyed it i'm
mensely. His auto"
"Oh, yes, know" said Myrtle,
laughing. at Is the finest motor car
ever seen In these parts. Laura told
me all about 1t, and how delightful
Roger made himself. If he wants to
preserve his self-respect and retain
proper understanding Of himself and
his merits, he had better go back
among his Aztec ruins and the tombs of
dead kings, and get away from all
these women who latter him and from
our sensational social whirl. | be-
lleve 1t is more his millions than his
book that makes him so dreadfully
popular Please don't mention him
again"
Mrs Carlson smiled at her handsome
daughter, who was putting on her
gloves to go out, and agreed.
"Very well. Wen taboo Roger and
keep him at distance. l daresay he
found the ancient civilization as good
as ours. The Aztecs lived In Mexico,
you know. Remember, we leave at
the end of the week. Do drive To-
Then followed list of commissions,
to which Myrtle listened dutlfully But
when In her coupe, driving down the
avenue, Myrtle thought Of Roger more
than of her shopping.
1t was relief the week following to
get away from friends and intlmates
ESQ dreadfully prone to gossip and
scandaD, the noise and dust of the city
and Its manifold and sometimes wear
ing social exactlons, of which Myrtle
had had rather surfelt all through
the winter and the equally gay spring.
She and her mother agreed that two
months Of Il quiet life on the very top
Of the mountains, where they would
see no one and would spend the cool
summer days driving long distances or
rambling idly through the great prlm-
eval forest, would be pleasurabe by
way OF contrast, besides being extreme
" recuperatlve.
One special June day Myrtle, coming
down path, saw young fellow IN
rough garb flannel shirt, leather belt,
rough trousers, boots and felt hat,
pulled down over his face, cutting
down towering hemlock, which had
been partly killed by lightning.
"Best looking mountaineer I've seen
yet." thought Myrtle, sitting down on
fallen and decayed log to watch him
and see the fall of the tree.
The tall hemlock 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.
SEEKING her by the arm, he dragged
her rapidly to one side, and none too
soon.
Quivering In its great length and
bending, first slowly and majestlcally,
then coming down with lightning speed
and tremendous crash, the forest
giant accepted Its doom and fell to the
earth. Its sparse branches spread
a rnund covering tho vary ennt y,haro
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