The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-02
Copyright, 19O9 by Albert Payson Terhune
 
(Contjnued.l


 7ISIIIiIIIIIIlllIItIIIIlIIItlIIiIIII | (continuedA
 | Moo York must be somewheres in l a line with that biggest mountain over | there to the south.'' he hazarded; glad l to learn that the present was. for some reason, not one of those mysterious | spechless occasions.
 In the evening, as rule, they went | to the "open camp" There in the big l three sided lot shed with its evergreen lined walls and it's deep. blanket-cov- | cred floor of soft balsam boughs, a dozen or more people were wont to congregate by night In front Of the shed blazed a Homeric camp fire that tempered the mountain chilliness and made the whole place light as day. The young people,-Desiree and Jack among then,-usually spent the short evenings in singing and story telling Caleb felt less at his ease here than anywhere else. For the young folk talked a language of Youth, that he did not understand. The stories he found somewhat mild. and the point Of several of them he failed to catch. A sense of StrangenesS prevented him from joining in the songs. He had had no youth; save that which Desiree had imparted to him. And he knew himself out of place among the care free, jolly crowd. It made him feel ponderous, aged, taciturn. The easy
  His sole joy during these open camp evenings was to lie in a shadowed corner of the "lean-to'' and watch the firelight play on Desiree's bright face; to hear her infectious laugh: to see how popular she was among the youngsters of her own age So long as she did seek to ease his boredom by dragging him into the talk. he was well content to lie thus and drink the delight of her fresh loveliness. When she made him talk, he straightway be- came prompously shy; and managed to convey his sense of acute discom- fort to everyone about him.
 Altogether, the Adirondacks, for per haps the first time since that wonder lands discovery, had found a visitor who did not speedily become a wor- shipper.
 Receive news." announced Desiree, one evening as she met Caleb on her return from a conference with Mrs. Hawarden. ''To-morrow's my birth day.
 ed in reproach,- two dates I always manage to remember. Ones your birthday. The others the day you're comin' back to Granite"
 "But that isn't the news.' she went on. '-Its only a running start to get you ready for it. Mrs Hawarden's go- ing to celebrate by the gorgeousest picnic you ever heard of"
 Last one we went on,'' began Caleb, 'I burnt two of my fingers: an there was sand in the len'nade. But" he broke off just in time. it'll be great to go on another. Where's it to be?"
 ITO Browns Tract pond. Way up at the head of Browns Tract Inlet. You remember? The inlet that twists around like a snake that's swallowed a corkscrew? We're going to spend the night Just think of that! All four of us.i The guide is going up early in the morning to pitch the two tents and get everything ready. And we're to stramble along at our leisure and get there about noon- Think! We're ac tually to camp overnight. I wish there were bears or catamounts or some thing. to come not too near and growl dreadfully. I'm going to take Rex along if MT. Bennett will let me. And isn't it a nice way to wind up your vacation? You'll have plenty of time We'll be back here. by noon next day,
 Lets not talk about my going away" he replied. "I thought I'd be tickled to death to get back to the fight. But for the past two days I've been tryin' to frame up an excuse to myself that'd let me stay longer"
 '-Oh, why don't you? Why don't you?" she cried. all eagerness. q stump you to! Please stay!"
 Don't little girlY' he urged. eff I could stay with you an extra hour d'you s'pose I'd need to be begged to? It's a case of must. I got to be on deck day after tomorrow. That spec ial session of the Legislature I was tellin' you about meets week after next. An I've got to work like a dog till then to lick my crowd into line an frame up a. stiff enough defence against your friend. Blacarda- I'll be as busy as a one-armed paper-hanger that's got hives."
 But why?'' she persisted. You've been working away with both hands all your life. You're rich. Whats the use of all that money if YOU can't
 .I get my fun in the winnin'. Not in the holdin'.''
 "But you don't even know how to- rest And now, just as I'm teaching perfectly well, three weeks longer. and then go back to Granite with us. Just think what a sumrtuous time we'd have hereI I'm very wise," she coax ed. Wont you take my advice and stay?"
 .'Fd take t in a minute if I could, girl" he answered
 ''Oh, deari That means you won't. Advice is something everybody asks. everybody gives-and nobody takes I wish you'dg stay. This has been the beautifullest. .hapriest two weeks I ever spcnt''
 Has it. honest. Dey?' he asked. his heavy face of a sudden alight. Hon
 
 stretch of happy time I c'n remem- ber."
 .'Then why don't you stay?" she de- manded. Can't you see?-''
 He hesitated.
 sI've a good mind to-" he said at last.
 She clapped her hands. then squeezed his arm as they swung down the hill together.
 "Yes." he went on- 'I b'lieve I'll do it. It'd be fun to see what'd happen if I was to cut loose from work for once. An you an me could be to- gether-"
 would you lose so very much?'' she asked doubtfully, in belated concern
 "No more'n I could afford. Nowhere near so much as it's worth to have that extry time with you. My own Steeloid holdin's are pretty we'll cover | ed. It won't be me that goes broke. I own my stock outright; an before the winters over I'll get the. bill de- clared unconstitootional. That'll bring the price up again. I c'n afford to let