The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-17
MERlDEN IN THE MOUNTAINS

The huntsman's quest was futile. IL
another camp existed near h a OF the
youth, it was cleverly concealed. And
yet the New Yorker was persistent.
he searched day N night. and with
a growing yearning in his heart.
A week later TINS yearning had be-
come SO strong that Meriden was 'se-
riously considering the ~advisability of
packing ZIP his Traps n effects and
returning to the city.
one morning ne stood in a reyerie
by the banks of the very brook he had
begun to fish when the mysterious
singer had manifested her presence
In Inc vicinity.
Crack! smash! Bang! Noisily, and
out of the brush, at the mountain 8
ledge just above him, sprang a fright
ened Diana, capiess, n with her
dark haIr over ner shoulder as she
sped silently toward Meriden.
The Keen eyes of the youth summed
up the rare beauty OF this forest ad-
ventures before the grizzly that he
instinctively knew was behind her
came lumbering into the open.
There is little fear in h heart of a
hungry bear. The great brute came
on in it's shambiing. rapid pace and
the girl. without a word on her lips.
wv WIN eioadeLl dPRSdt IA mex Eyes,
raced before the grotesque giant.
Meriden took steady air and fred
The great brute wavered only for a
minute. Again q face fun of shot told
a tale of torture to the Spartan-like
savage, and again the brute rallied.
The girl, with a gasp. dashed by and
the youth pumped another offering
into the ACE of the animal. Then
Meriden felt a crushing blow ON his
head and he knew no more;
Are you better"
The IL hermit came to his
senses to find himself in a strange
bunk. The cabin seemed to be one
similar to his own A CHEEKY FIRE
burned in the fireplace just opposite.
and a fussy iron tea kettle, hung on
irons. ave the oom a homelike APP
pearance-
Are you ,better?" reiterated the
soothing little voice, and a cool hand
sought the feyerish brow of the
man.
What happened" asked Meriden
laconicaliy.
The bear--you blinded it-struck
you before IL turned to retreat. / had
90 leave you while l went for father.
and then we brought here 10 our
cabin.
But where are we7' came from
Meriden. AS he spoke his inyestiga-
tive fingers tenderly touched his ach-
ing head. II was b~andagsd.
Not over a mile from u place."
came from the smiling girl. w are
concealed by a large ledge The maid
was all that the man who hadn't
seen a woman In months could de-
sire. She was clad In a neat hunts
wornan's suit that served to accentu-
ate her athletic shoulders.
The maids yes suddenly urned
serious. Il don't know what I should
have done" h said, simply. ~ It
hadn't been for you. You saved my
life. Father a rome to dig some
herbs for a finiment for your head
oh, i forgot the conventions Father
is the Hon. Mert Harmon. of Denver.
He made his money in the hills-gold.
You know-and every year we two
come out here to live close TO nature.
| am Daphne Harmon
you are not seriously hurt" she
continued. You viii be all right In
a few days. but. of course. l shall keep
you here and nurse o until you
have recovered"
Meriden became a willy pessimist. 81
recover slowly from sickness-and ac-
eident, Slowly" he repeated with
peculiar emphasis.
The girl hlushe6 and suddenly turn
ed away her head.
In the heart Of Mertden there was
no thought of Dolly Condor.