The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-04

~ burreH lose the memory n,
| that march with Necia thropoh
the untrodden valley, and vo,
i it's incidents were never clear cut no.
distinct when he looked back unon
them, but blended into one dreamliLo
procession, as if he wandered thropch
some calenture where every image was
delightfully."- distorted and each act do
| liciOuSly unreal. yet all the sweeto,
from its fleeting unreality They tall.
ed and laughed and sang with rush
| of spirits as untamed as the waters in
the course they followed. They wan.
dered hand in hand into land of lin
sions, where there was nothing roo,
but love and nothing tangible but iov
They held to the bed Of the stream
for its volume was low and enabled
them to ford it from bar to bar.
They had become so intimate br
now as to fall into whimsical mode
of speech, and Necia reverted TO a
childish habit in her talk that brought
many smile to the youths face. II
had been her fancy as a little girl 70
speak in adjectives, ignoring many Of
her nouns, and its quaintness had So
amused her father that on rare occa.
SiOns, when the humor was on him, he
also took it up. She now addressed
herself to Burrell in the same manner
II think we are very smarts to come
so far" she said.
you travel like deer" he declared
admiringly. why. you have tired me
down. Removing his pack. he stretch,
ed his arms and shook out the ache In
his shoulders.
He built fire. then fetched bucket
of water from a rill that trickled down
among the rocks near by. He made as
if to prepare their meal, but she would
have none of it.
"Bigs should never cook" she de-
clared. THAT work belongs to Titles"
then forced him to vacate Der domain
and turn himself to the manlier duties.
of chOpping wood and boughs.
First, however, she showed him how
to place two green foot logs upon
which the teapot and the fryin:, pan
would sit without upSetting and how
long she wished the sticks of cooking
wood Then she banished him. as it
were, and he built a wickiup Of spruce
tops, under the shelter of which he
piled thick. fragrant pillows Of Yukon
feathers"
He filled 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 seat beside her on pile
of boughs where the smoke was least
troublesome. He had chosen a spot
that was sheltered by a lichen covered
ledge. and this low wall behind. with
the wickiup joining it. formed an in
closure that lent them a certain air Of
privacy They ate ravenously and
drank deep cupfuls Of the unflavored
tea BY the time they were finished
the night had fallen, and the air was
just cool enough to make the fire
agreeable. Burrell heaped en- more
wood and stretched cut beside her.
This day has been so wonderful"
said the girl. that l shall never go to
sleep. l can't bear to end it,"
But yOu must be weary. little
maid" he said gently. Il am"
wait. Let me see" She stretched
her limbs and moved slightly to try
her muscles. Yes, / am very tired.
but not the kind of tired that makes
you want to go to bed. l want to talk,
talk, talk, and not about ourselves Ell
Their, but about sensibles. Tell me
about your people-yOur sister"
He had expected her to ask this, for
the subject seemed to have an mex
haustible charm for her. She would
sit rapt and motionless as long as he
cared to talk of his sister. in her wide,
ticditative eyes the shadow OF great
'nvoiced longing. He told her of his
lG.her. the crotchety old soldier whose
absurd sense of duty and whose elab-
)rate southern courtesy had become a
bywOrd in the south. He told her
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
1apOlis, the while his listener hung
upon his words hungrily, her mind so
quick in pursuit of his that iC spurred
him uncOnsrie-Siy. her great, dark
eyes han: closed in silent laughter or
wide with wonder, and in them al
ways the warmth of the leaping fire
light, blended with the trust of new
born virginia. love.
Then he began to laugh silently.
What is it," she said curiously.
"Oh, nothing! was just wondering
what my straitlaced ancestors would
say If they could see me now"
What do you meanT' the girl asked
in open eyed wonderment.
II don't care" he went on, unheed-
ing her question. "They did worse
Kings in their time, from what 1 hear"