Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-04-21
CHAPTER vi.
THE BuRRELL CODE.

l lust llle IQeuOEy OIL
that march with Necia through
the untrodden valley. and yet
| its incidents were never clear cut nor
distinct when he looked back upon
them. but blended into one dreamlike
procession. as if he wandered through
some calenture where every image was
delightfully."- distorted and each act de-
liciously unreal, yet all the swceter
from its fleeting unreality. They talk
| ed and laughed and sang with IL rush
of spirits as untamed as the waters in
the course they followed. They wan
| dered hand in hand into land Of illu-
sions. where there was nothing real
but love and nothing tangible but joy.
They held to the bed Of the stream.
fer its volume was low and enabled
them to ford 1t from bar to bar.
They had become SO intimate by
now as to fall into whimsical mode
OF speech, and Necia reverted to Il
childish habit in her talk that brought
many smile to the youths face: 1t
| had been her fancy as Il little girl to
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 Il fire. then fetched bucket
Of water from IL 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 her domain
and turn himself to the manlier duties
of chopping wood and boughs.
First, however. she showed him how
which the teapot and the frying pan
would sit without upsetting and how
long she wished the sticks of cookin.
wood. Then she bunished him. as 1t
were, and he built II wicliiup Of spruce
| tops. 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 seat beside her on a pile
troublesome. He had chosen spot
that was sheltered by lichen covered
ledge. and this low wall behind. with
the wickiup joining it. formed an In
| closure that lent them d certain mir of
privacy. They ate ravenously and
| drank deep cupfuls Of the unfavored
| ten. BY the time they were finished
the night had fallen. and the air was
| just cool enough to make the fire
| agreeable. Burrell heaped on more
wood and stretched out beside her.
This day has been so wonderful"
said the girl. that shall never so to
sleep can't bear to end it,
But you must be weary. little
maid" he said gently. II 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 go to bed. | want to talk,
talk. talk, and not about ourselves eli
ther, 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,
meditative eyes the shadow OF great
unvoiced longing. He told her OF his
father, the crotchety old soldier whose
absurd sense Of duty and whose ciab-
crate southern courtesy had become Il
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 rs Il boy in the bay of Tripoli
down to the cousin who was at An,
napolis. the while his listener hung
upon his words hungrily. her mind SO
quick in pursuit Of his that it spurred
him unconscio"siy. her great, dark
eyes hdT closed in silent laughter or
wide with wonder, and in them all
ways The warmth of the capng fire.
light. blended with the trust of new
born virginia. love
Then he began to laugh silently.