Connecticut western news., 1910-03-31

eyes the scene DeTOfe her. The little camp perched almost on the edge of the precipice commanded a magnifi- cent view of the snow topped Cascade range blushing under the first rays of the rising sun.
 Barbara went to another tent and called her father. He replied by a yawn. followed by racking cough. prepared breakfast.
 Presently James Owen came forth. Hungry as a bear, Bab," he said. "The very smell of that coffee makes me feel ten years youngerr' T wish the taste of it would mako you feel ten times better" said Bar bara as she placed the meal on the table.
 Barbara chatted brightly during tho meal and when 1t was over completed her household tasks. and. leaving her father swinging i'll a hammock among the trees with book between his thin fingers. she disappeared in the forest. The path she trod was faintly de- fined by disturbed brown needles. and it followed course marked by high branched trees, winding in and out, sl1irting thirket of dwarfed spruce or leading over roughly bridged gully to a broad wagon trail.
 Before she reached the wagon trail Barbara turned abruptly to the left. Here a giant spruce lifted naked white shaft high above the surround ing trees of the forest.
 Crowding about the spruce was a thicket of young hemlock. ragged and starved for want of light and air. There were an opening in the thicket and low mound covered with brown needles. Dry eyed and fearless, Bar bara sat down in the dimness and tried to face a future that was ominously near-a future when her father should be laid beside her mother in another grave under the tall spruce. A branch cracked under a firm tread and then another. mans low whis- tie came nearer to Barbara's retreat. and presently the man himself came into view among the distant tree trunks. Clad in brown khaki. like her self, with leather puttees. blue flannel shirt open at a strong brown throat and a canvas hat tossed back on ,a rumpled head, Barbara recognized the young man as one of the foresters pa trolling the governments forest re- serve wherein their camp was pitched. She had met lthese men occasionally along the wagon trail, and her father had fallen into conversation with one of the sturdy, bronzed woodsmen and afterward had spoken enthusiastically of the splendid work in which they were engaged.
 Barbara watched him with interest, confident that he would not penetrate into the thicket.
 When he came to the spruce he stop- ped suddenly, leaned back and squint- ed his eyes at the white shaft above his head He knelt down and exam ined the young hemlocks and once more drew out his notebook. Barba- ra, silent and brown, blending with the background of brown trunks, was un- observed until the forester drew his hatchet and cut a deep incision in the spruce tree. The girl was on her feet in an instant
 "Stopm she cried. Don't do thatw
 The man started and peered as if some brown wood fairy had arisen be- fore his bewildered eyes. Barbara laughed shakily.
 'It sounds like a school oration, 'Woodman, spare that tree;' but. you see, my mother is buried here-and- and-the tree marks her grave"
 The man had removed his hat and looked at her with respectful attention. Barbara noted that he was young, per haps thirty, with a crop of thick, sun burned hair and a handsome, we'll tan ned face lighted by keen dark eyes.
 'I am very sorry" He hesitated. "I would not do anything to pain you; but, you see, it is my duty to take care of the forest For the safety of the other and younger trees this dead spruce should come down."
 Barbara's eyes filled with tears as she bowed her head against the white trunk of the spruce. We thought it would be quite undisturbed here in the forest" she sobbed. 'There are only three of us-mother here-she died suddenly; father, back at the camp, where he Is trying to regain his health in the open, and l. l dare not tell father about the tree. He loves to come here when he Is strong enough. The trees sing overhead"-
 The forester stepped forward and placed a finger on her sleeve. "Please do not cry" he said awkwardly. Will you trust me to respect this little spot in the forest and yet do my duty to my employer?'
 Barbara looked at his steady eyes and the friendly smile on his clean cut mouth. "Yes," she said slowly; 'I will trust you"
 "Will you give me your mothers name and the date of her birth and death ?", he asked. pulling his notebook out
 ' Puzzled and a little curious. Barbara gave him the desired information and, with q word of thanks, turned away.
 "One week from today you may