Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
CHAPTER VI.
THE BURRELL CODE,

YOI until his dying day Will
N Burrell lose the memory of
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 II he wandered through
some calenture where every image was
delightfully."- distorted and each act de-
1ciously unreal, yet all the sweeter
from its deeting unreality. They talk
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 flu
sions, where there was nothing real
but love and nothing tangible but Joy.
They held to the bed Of the stream,
for 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 a
childish habit in her talk that brought
many smile to the youths face. It
had been her fancy as 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 hunor 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 rill that trickled down
among the rocks near by. He made as
II to prepare their meal, but she would
have none Of it
"Bigs should never cook" she de-
clared. "That work belongs to httles,"
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
to place two green foot logs upon
which the teapot and the frying 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 wickiup 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 be 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 q spot
that was sheltered by lichen covered
ledge. and this low wall behind, with
the wickiup Joining 1t, formed an IN
closure that lent them a certain air Of
privacy. They ate ravenously and
drank deep cupfuls Of the unfavored
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 on more
wood and stretched out beside her.
'eThis 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. * am"
"Wait. Let me see" She stretched
her limbs and moved slightly to try
her muscles. eyes. l am very tired,
but not the kind Of tired that makes
you want to go to bed. I want to talk,
talk, talk, and not about ourselves Ell
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,
meditati7e eyes the shadow Of a great
unvoiced 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 Tripou
down to the cousin who was ut An
napolis, the while his listener hung
upon his words hungrily, her mind so
quick In pursuit Of his that it spurred
him unconsc!a4Sly, her great, dark
eyes hair 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 mean?' the girl asked
IN open eyed wonderment.
II don't care" he went on, unheed-
ing her question. '.They did worse
things in their time, from what hear"
he leaned forward to draw her to
him.
Worse thingsl But we are doing
nothing bad" said Necia, holding him
81. There's no wrong in loving.
'of course not" he assured her.
Il am proud Of It," she declared. ''It
d 49,