Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-15

for the time. and he was anxious to
walk In the forest and visit his wife's
grave. Barbara invented a dozen ex-
cuses to keep him away from the
white spruce.
Seven mornings she saw the refec-
ton of the rising sun on the western
mountain SHOWS.
On the seventh day she took hes
father. and together they walked over
the narrow trail to where the white
spruce had lowered. James Owen ut
tered an astonished cry as he stopped
before his wife's grave. Barbara chung
to his arm. overcome by a strange
emotion. She was glad hat the for
ester was not there to witness it.
The stump of the white spruce arose
like a five foot shaft of marble. the
bark had been planed off until the
wood showed white as satin and as
smooth; the top was rounded. and on
the fiattened side of the stump a hot
iron had burned a brief epitaph above
Mrs. Owens resting place. The young
hemlocks had been thinned out unr.
they formed n green semicircle abo,
the white shaft.
"Who has lone thisg' asked Owen
huskily. I
Barbara told him in a few words
of her meeting with the young for
ester, and after awhile the two walked
over to the wagon trail in the direc-
ton of the metallic ak blows.
He saw them coming and came to
meet them. 81 am glad you liked it,"
he said simply in response to Mr..
OweB's warm thanks. ut was better
shipshape manner than permit it to
fall of its own accord"
But the work you did on the stump,
young man-it was more than kind of
you; we are deeply grateful"
II had a mother once myself" he re-
piled soberly.
Come over to the camp and see us.
Mr. said Owen suggestively.
My names Charter = Benjamin
Charter" said the forester quickly.
"You are very kind; i shall be glad to
come"
After that day James Owen i'm
proved rapidly. There would never be
hope of his complete recovery, but a
return to even moderate health was an
encouragement to his only child. They
walked through the woods to the lit
tie hemlock circle and felt that here
was a spot they might call their own
forever.
Their walks often included a search
for the foresters engaged in their in
~teresting work of conserving the ma
tive trees and guarding against en-
croaching lumbermen or wandering
flocks of sheep or devastating herds of
cattle.
Benjamin Charter came to the camp
and proved In entertaining compan-
ion for father and daughter. He play
ed cards with Mr.. Owen or read to the
invalid the week old newspapers that
came their way. He brought his vio-
lin, and Barbara drank in the wonder
full melodies woven by the brown fin
gers and the flashing bow.
The NOV cars On the mountains be-
came a little smaller as the season adj
vanced; the dry air was warmer and
seemed to give new life to the sick
man. Barbara's eyes had a new light
in them. and Benjamin Charters fin
gers trembled when he played the vio-
lin.
Then n day Barbara and her IA
ther walked in the forest. They had
zone along the wagon trail and were
drawing near the working foresters.
There was a sound Of blows on wood,
a silence and then a crashing tearing
sound close at hand. Somebody shout
ed wildly and pushed Barbara and her
father out of harms way, somebody
who was too late himself to spring
from under the falling tree and so was
caught beneath the weight of heavy
green branches.
A tree had fallen in an unexpected
direction, and Benjamin Charters
quickness had probably saved Mr..
Owen and his daughter from injury, If
not death. When the tree was re-
moved by the score of laborers that
sprang into view Charter was quite
unconscious.
He was carried into the camp on the
precipice, and one of the men rode
madly away to the distant settlement
for a doctor. In the meantime Bar
bara and her father did what they
could. The forester opened his eyes
upon their anxious faces.
81 am glad you are safe" he said
feebly.
you saved my worthless life and
Barbara's precious one." said Owen
brokenly. 81 wish | could reward you,
Charter. You have been a friend in
deed to me-"
81 wish you would give me Bar
bara," said Charter, with more
strength. 81 haven't got very much,
but l can take care of her and make
her comfortable"
"What do you say, Bab? asked her
father.