The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-10

sented. but do bo careful-and. for
goodness sake, save me some break
fast. I've got that appetite you spoke
of already"
They climbed down the bank, where
the birch bark canoe lay like thins
alive on the water swaylng back and
forth with airy llghtness at each soit-
est breath of wind. The guide pulled
it's dainty PROV to the shore and held
It steady, while she took her seat IN
the stern. Then they slipped away
swiftly and noiselessly, over the yer
low water The girl watched the easy
play of the mans broad shoulders and
the unconscious grace of his figure as
the double paddle kept the fairy cralt
In a straight flight
IL spose," said the guide, presently
without looking back, that you New
York folks feel sorry for us poor devils
up here in the woods?
Indeed we don't" she answered
quickly. Sometimes think I'd IKE
to live up here always"
On either side the thoroughfare
great pines and spruces and cedars
lowered up, rank above rank, in splen-
did masses the topmost trees lifting
graceful spires of black-green into the
blue sky.
but you don't know how lonesome
it gifts sometimes the guide went on.
"S'posin' you're out all alone on one oil
these here lakes. They ain't anybody
else within ten miles OF you It's get
tin dusk and the shadows of the trees
are CROWN long and black on the wa
ter and the shore looks just alike as
far as you kin see in every direction
Away off somewheres you hear a
| splash in the water, and, though you
know it amt nothing but mushrat or
an otter, it sounds mighty creepy
cause that's the only noise there Is.
These here woods are so blamed still
and so blamed big!"
"One can be very lonesome in New
York." Miss Witherspoon put in.
The man glanced backward over his
shoulder smiling, and the girl saw in
his eyes half-mocking, half-earnest
! twinkle She bit her lip as she felt the
answering color rise in her cheeks.
! Who was this man that he should
make her blush like a schoolgirl? She
could find no fault with anything he
had said or done. It was all very cas-.
ual and commonplace Yet alone with
him, here in the heart of the forest,
she felt strangely moved.
"Td like to know why not" said
Miss Witherspoon, with mischievous
emphasis. 81 don't see how girl could
fail to be interested In man like
Fred"
Her father, his face puzzled and anx
ious, got up and waved a protesting
hand.
But, Helen, you're playing with Are,
/ tell you. It's cruel unfair to the man
And you're like to ruin your own life,
my dear"
The girl laughed gayly. Don't wor.
ry bit more about me. dad" she said.
Il haven't the slightest idea OF falling
in love with a lumber.jack or OF letting
one fall in love with me. Besides,
we're going home tomorrow, you
know"
That same evening Fred, the guide,
walked with Judge Witherspoon down
the winding path which led from the
clearing about the camp into the thick
woods. II was a long walk and the
story which the guide was telling must
have been an interesting one, for, first,
the old man stared at him with unbe.
lievlng eyes, then grew angry for a
moment and then smiled.
you may take Helen out and tell
her that story If you dare. young man,
he said
The light canoe floated on a smooth
surface of frosted silver. The drip OF
the water from the paddle--each black
drop turning molten as the moonlight
struck twas the only sound abroad
on the big lake. Under the shadow of
the Point of Pines the guide turned
from his place on his knees in the
PROV Of the canoe. His face was sol.
emn and set with determination.
Miss Helen" he said, "all this time
I've let you think l was a lumber.
jack"
Don't spoil it all now, Fred" she an,
swered.
"At first hought It would be fun to
, pretend. And then l was afraid-you
didn't give me chance TO confess"
DO lumber-jacks usually wear heavy
seal.rings with coats of arms engraved
on them?" the girl asked.
The mans eyes dropped. His face
went stupid "Then you've known Il?
do they usually have steamer
trunks, with pastors from Paris and
Vienna on them? Two weeks ago had
a letter from friend In Chicago, who
knows you very well, Mr. Douglas"
He laughed little bitterly and, in
) spite Of her effort to appear severe, an
answering light shone in her own
! brown eyes. Us that why you insisted
I on paying me overtime when / took
{ you after water lilies before break
! fast?" he asked.
b II thought | was entitled to a ittIt