Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-05-21
CHAPTER VI.

VI that mafcn Win Necla through
the untrodden valley, and yet
its incidents were never clear cut nor
distinct when he looked back upon
them, but blended into one dreamike
procession, as if he wandered through
some calenture where every image was
delightfully."- distorted and each act de-
liciously unreal yet all the sweeter
from its feeting unreality They talk
ed and laughed and sang with a rush
Of spirits as untamed as the waters IL
the course they followed They wan
dered hand in hand into land of illu
sions. where there was nothing rea,
but love and nothing tangible but joy.
They held to the bed of the stream,
for it's volume was low and enabled
them TO ford it from bar to bar
They had become so intimate by
now as to fall into whimsical mode
of speech. and Necia reverted to .
childish habit in her talk that brought
many smile to the youths face. Ii
had been her fancy as little girl &c
speak in adjectives, ignoring many OF
her nouns. ard its quaintness had sc
amused her father that on rare Occa-
sions, when the hunor was on him, he
also took it up. She now addressed
herself to Rurrpll in the same manner
81 think we are very smarts TO come
so far" she said.
You travel like a deer" he declared
admiringly why, you have tired me
down" Renewing his pack, he stretch
ed his arms and shook out the ache In
his shoulders
He built a fire, then fetched bucket
of water from rill that trickled down
among the rocks near by. He made az
if to prepare their meal. but she would
have none Of 1t.
Digs should never cook" she de-
clared. That work belongs to Titles"
then forced him to vacate her domain
and turn himself 10 the manller duties
of chopping wood ard boughs.
First, however, she showed him how
to place two green foot logs upon
which the teapot and the frying pan
would sit without upsetting ard how
long she wished the sticks Of cooking
wood. Then she banished him, as it
were, and be built wickiup OF spruce
tons. under the shelter of which he
PILED thick. fragrant pillows Of Yukon
feathers"
He filed his chest deeply and leaned
on his Ak. for he found himself shak-
ing as if under The spell of some great
expectancy.
your supper is getting cold" she
called to him.
He took a seat beside her Oh a pile
of boughs where the smoke was least
troublesome He had chosen a spot
that was sheltered by Il licben coverei
ledge. and this low wall behind, with
the wickiup joining it. formed an In
closure thai lent them a certain air OF
privacy. They ate rayenously ana
drank deep cupfuls Of the unflavored
tea. BY the time they were finished
the night had fallen, and the air was
lust cool enough to make the hre
agreeable. Burrell heaped on more
wood and stretched out beside her.
This day has been so wonderful"
said the girl, that shall never go to
sleep. can't bear to end it."
But you must be weary. little
maid" he said gently. 81 am"
"Wait. Let me see" She stretched
her limbs and moved slightly to try
her muscles. Eyes, am very tired,
but not the kind of tired that makes
YOU want to 60 to bed want to talk,
;alk. talk. and not about ourselves eli
Their but about sensibles. Tell me
about your people-your sister"
He had expected her to ask this. fol
the subject seemed to have an mex
haustible charm for her. She woulC
sit rapt ard motionless as long as hi
cared to talk of his sister, in her wide
meditative eyes the shadow Of great
unvoced longing. He told her of his
father, the crotchety old soldier whose
absurd sense of duty and whose elab
crate southern courtesy had become a
byword in the south, He told her
household tales that were priced like
pieces of the Burrell plate. beautiful
heirlooms of sentiment that mark the
honor of high blooded houses, follow
ing which there was much to recount
of the Meades, from the admiral who
fought as boy in the bay of Tripoli
down to the cousin who was at An
napolis, lie while his listener hung