The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-18

on trls COAST. ON easily recognized oy
their resemblance TO the Cape va
riety. Their fight gave him small
concern: for the time being he was
more interested in topography than
game.
The southern headland now lay
close before them, its seward face
rearing up sheer and lofty. but the
approach behind running down in
broken terraces. Mid-morning found
the explorers at the foot of the ridge.
Blake squinted up at the bcwIder-
strewn slopes and the crannies of the
broken lodges.
Likely place for snakes. Miss Jen-
ny" he remarked. Guess I'd better
lead"
Eager as she was to look over irto
the country beyond. the girl dropped
into second place and made no COM
plant about the wary slowness of
her companions advance. She found
the most difficult parts of the ascent
quite easy after her training on the
tree-ladder. Blake could have taken
lodges and all at a run, but as he
mounted each terrace he halted to spy
out the ground before him. Like Miss
Leslie, he was looking for snakes
though for an exactly opposite reason
He wished to add to the contents Of
The cigarette case.
Greatly to his disappointment aud
the girls relief neither snake nor si1n
Of snake was TO be seen all the way
up the ridge. AS they neared the
crest Blake turned to offer her his
hand up the last lodges, and in the
instant they gained the top.
The wind, now freshening 10 a gale,
struck the girl with such force that
She would have been blown back
down the lodges had not Blake
cIutched her wrist. Needless alike Of
the painful grip which held her and
Of the gusts which tore at her skirt.
the girl stood gazing out across the
desolate swamps which stretched
away to the southwest as far as the
eye could see. She did not speak
until Blake led her down behind the
shelter of the crest lodges.
What's the natter" he demanded.
Didn't | warn you?"
She looked away to hide the tears
which sprang into her eyes
Il can't explain-only, It makes me
feel $3.50 lonely"
"Oh. come now. little woman; don't
take on So" he urged. 1T might be
a lot worse. you know. We've gotten
along pretty well, considering"
ou have been very kind Mf.
Blake, and as you say matters might
have been worse. do not forget
how far more terrible was our situa-
ton the morning after the storm. Yet
you must realize how disappointing it
Is to lose even the slightest hope of
escape"
We'll. don't know. II II wasn't FOR
the fever that's bound to come with
the rain. 7, for one, would Just as
leave stick to this camp right along
providing the company don't change"
She turned upon him with flashing
eyes, all thought of caution lost in her
anger. How dare you say such a
thing? You are contemptlble! de-
spise YOU"
My, Miss Jenny, but you are pref
ty when you get mad" he exclaimed
The answer took her completely
aback. He was neither angry nor
laughing at her but met her defiant
glance with candid. sober admiration
There was something more than adj
miration in his glowing eyes; yet she
could not but see that her alarm had
been baseless. His manner had never
been more respectful. Suddenly she
found that she could no longer meet
his gaze. She looked away and
stammered lamely: "You-you should
MT say such things. you know"
Why not? Hasn't everything been
running smooth the last few days?
Haven't we been good chummy com
rades? or course you've got the worst
OF the deal | know I'm not much on
fancy talk but like TO hear it when
I've chance. I've led lonesome
sort OF life since they did for my sis
ters- No, I'm not going to rake that
up again. I'm only trying to give you
an idea what ii means to a fellow to
be with a lady like you Maybe it
isn't polite to tell you all this, but it's
just what | feel. and never did
amount to shucks as liar"
Il believe I understand you. Mr..
Blake. and | really feel highly com
plimented."
No. you don't. any such thing, Miss
Jenny. Own up. now, If | met you
tomorrow on your papa's doorstep,
you'd cut me cold"
81 should if you continued to be so
rude. Have you no regard for my
feelings? But here we are. talking
nonsense when we should be going"
is it nonsense?" he broke in
What does life mean. anyway? Here
We can be true friends and comrades
real, free living people. 1t can't be
that you want to go back TO all those
society shams after you've seen real
life, AS for me. what have | to gain
by going back to the everlasting
grind? | don't mind work; but when
man has nothing ahead to work for
but a bank account, when it's grind,
grind, grind till your head goes stale
and all the world looks black, then
there's no choice but throw up your