Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-04-02

camp perChed almost on the edge OF
the precipice commanded a magniti-
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 Il
yawn, followed by a racking cough.
Then she FASTENED to a third tent and
prepared breakfast.
Presently james Owen came forth.
Hungry as Il bear Bah, he said.
THE very smell of that coffee makes
me feel ten years younger"
Il wish the taste of it would make
you feel ten times better" said Bar
bara as she placed the meal on the
table.
Barbara chatted brightly during the
meal and when it was over completed
her household tasks, and, leaving her
father swinging in hammock among
the trees with a book between his thin
fingers, she disappeared in the forest.
The path she trOd was family de
fined by disturbed brown needles, and
1t followed Il course marked by high
branched Jrees, winding in and out.
skirtinG thickct of dWarfcd spruce
or leading over Il roughly bridged gully
to 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 hcmlock. ragged and
starved for want Of light and air
There We're an opening in the thiCkct
and low mound covered with brown
needles. Dry eyed and fearless. Bar
bara sat down in the dimneSS and tried
to face Il future that was ominouSly
ncar-a future when her father should
be laid beside her mother in another
grave under the tall spruce.
A branch cracked under 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 puttecS, blue flannel
shirt open at a strong brown throat
and canvas hat tossed back on a
rumpled head, Barbara recognized the
young man as one of the fOreSterS pa
trolling the government forest re
serve wherein their camp was pitched
She had met these men occasionally
along the wagon trail and her father
had fallen into conversation with one
of the sturdy, bronZed wOodSmcn 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 thicllct.
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 hcmlocks 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
hatchct and cut deep inciSiOn in the
spruce tree The girl was on her feet
in an instant.
Stop she cried. Don't do that
The man started and pecred as if
fore his bcwildered eyes. Barbara
laughed shakily.
ut sounds like school Grafton,
'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 crop of thick, sun
burned hair and a handsome, well tan
ned face lighted by keen dark eyes.
Il am very sorry" He hcSitatcd. 81
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. I'VE thought it
would be quite undisturbed here in
the forest" she sobbed. There are
only three of us-mOthcr here-She
died suddenly; father, back at the
camp, where he is trying to regain his
health In the open, and |. | 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 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:
II 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 little curious, Barbara
gave him the desired Information and.
with n word of thanks, turned away.
"One week from today you may
come again. said the forester gravely.
THANK you" said Barbara once
more. and then she stepped lightly
into the trail ana was gone.
| It was a long week for BIibara