Evening star., 1909-06-29

CHAPTER xXI-Continued.
Heaven may bs as beautiful as this
grove" sighted Desiree In ecstasy. but
I'm perfectly sure II will never smell so
deliciously appstising. I'm starved. Is
that drinking water. stever' she asked.
pointing to pail with dipper beside it.
Yes. ma'am.' replied the guide. "Or
it will be when I've boiled IT.
I'm too thirsty to wait for It to boil. !"
she objected. picking UP the dipper.
Won't somebody else have some?-Mrs.
Hawarden?"
"'Tisn't healthy to drink water from
forest springs till it's been boiled" put
in the guide. Its likely to be all chock-
full of germs Boilin' kills en-" he
added. proud OF his scientific lore.
I'D as lief be q germ aquarium as .
germ cemetery" decided the girl drink
ing deep Of the cold. limpid water. rs
there any fishing in this pond. ! wonder"
Well" drawled the guide. pfqued that
his medical advice should have gone for
naught. "theren be better nshin' tonight
than there is just now. There's pretty
sure to be a heavy mountain fog after
a day like this. And those fogs get so
thick around here sometimes that the
Ash can't tell the difference between the
up into the tents. I've caught EN- that
way dozens of times. Forrest Bird and
Smiling Kelly was telling me they came
here once and"
asked Desiree. pointing to flask neck
that had worked its way into view from
the pocket of the guides jacket as he
leaned over the fire.
He showed back the offending mask.
grinning sheepishly.
DeSiree
same wide-eyed innocence, I've always
heard 1t attracted more snakes than nsfl
Isn't It lucky there are no snakes In the
Adirondacks?"
Rex sniffed longingly at the candy box
lying on the pile Of wraps near the hre.
Then he looked at Desiree and waved his
tail with an air of disinterested friend
liness; after which he resumed his study
of the box.
TT viii make you quite Ill II you eat
candy before dinner. Rexie." the girl
told him.
The dog seemed impressed. for he
moved away from the coveted treasure.
But he eyed Desiree so sadly that she
till she found a chocolate wafer and
tossed 1t to Rex. He caught II In mid
air Caleb absent -mindedly helped him
self to a piece of candy from the open
box.
There was a young man SO benight-
ed she admonished Conover.
He never knew when he was slighted.
He'd go to party
And eat just as hearty
AS IL he'd been really invited.
And the moral Of this is:-Wait till
people say Please have some before you
dip in. Where are your manners. Caleb ?
Now. what are you looking at?
marked Conover. his glance rowing ap-
praisingly over her trim figure In its
roughing costume, and at the tanned.
eager little face, "As pretty's you can
be-
II suppose every one is,'' laughed
Desiree. in embarrassment. noting Mrs
Hawarden's air Of seeming nc not to have ave
beautiful green caterpillar that's come to
our party! And whole army OF nice nun
him of, Jack. Don't kill him. though:
It's bad luck For the spider. anyway.
"Avant. dread monster OF the wilder
ness!" declaimed Jack. brushing the OF
fender away.
row Of exploration about the ponds edge,
a visit to the island: a ramble through
the woods-and nightfall found the camp
ers eating a freight supper with the
Grass hunger Of the unaccustomed out
punctuated chat around the campfire.
and the signal for bed.
1t is one thing for man OF cities to
be delightfully."- sleepy after his first long
ent matter for him to be able to fall
asleep on a many-protectioned bed or
balsam, while a guide snores raucously
on one side Of him and second man
the other. After counting up to one
hundred and keeping tabs on flock OF
visionary sheep as they leaped an equal-
ly mythical wall (and hoping In morbid
disgust that some OF them would fall
and break their imaginary necks). Con-
ments as he had removed. groped about
till he found his thick waterproof coat
and stumbled out into the open he
kicked the fires smoldering logs into a
barely nine-thirty. He took out cigar
and prepared to sit down beside the logs
and smoke himself sleepy again.
Then she came.
He was not surprised. Even before he
turned his head or noticed the fall OF
her light feet on the mold he somehow
knew she was drawing near. He looked
around to find her close behind him. Her
hair was caught up loosely ana sh,m-
mered like rust-shot aureole In the
waning freight. She wore the sweater
and walking skirt of the afternoon. But
her high boots had been changed for moe
casins.
Il couldn't Sleep" she whispered. clasp
ing the h0n0S ne Deld out TO HeI AAl
the forest and the silences seemed calling
to me. Besides. Mrs Hawarden sleeps
500 audibly All at once I felt you
were out here. So I came. Is 1t very
late?"
mo-" he answered in the same key.
mot much morn half-past 8. Sit down
here an I'll get q blanket to wrap round
you. I ought to send you back. SOS you
won't catch cold. But fts-somehow
it's so good to have you right here oy
me. This time tomorrow night I'll be
glad to remember It.
Don't get me any wrap" she for
bade. stretching out her hands to the
blaze he was again stirring into life. I'm
warm enough. And you'll fall over some
thing and swear. and that would wake
somebody. Then I'd have to so back to
the stuffy tent
Rex, curled UP asleep on the far side
of the fire. lifted his head, wakened by
the stbilant whispering. Seeing Desiree.
he began to smite the earth resounding-
ly with his wasging tail.
"Hush!" whispered the girl. raising her
finger in warning; as the collte's sleepy.
golden eyes blinked more and more
friendly greetings and the bushy tail In
creased the tempo of its beats. Mfstak-
Ing her gesture. Rex rose with lazy
grace, stretched himself. alternately, fore
and aft. collie fashion. and picked his
way daintily across the cleared space to
Desiree's side. He lay down at her feet,
thrustins his cold nose affectionately in
to the hollow Of her hand.
What q gorgeous night! murInured
Desiree, looking up at the black. star
~, No. -