Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-11-08
ON SOUAW
NOUN T AIN
ByDOROTHY BLACMMORE

tones carried down the slope of the
mountain. The girl, clinging to the
ledge not many feet below. looked up
and then bowed her head on the hard
slate as If utterly exhausted.
III come down. Keep your nerve"
called the young man, trumpet-wise
through his hands.
Stepping hastily into the little cabin
which constituted for the time being,
! his home on the top Of Squaw Noun
tain, he laid aside the glasses with
which he had been scanning the land
sCape for forest fires, and slipped into
his mountain boots. Then, with an
other shout of assurance to the girl
below, he began his descent.
He had been fire warden on Squaw
mountain for nearly three weeks and
this was the first person who had
| come under his notice. The ascent of
the mountain from the shore of the
beautiful lake below was not hazard
Gus, but it was tedious and it was
seldom that tourists made it during
the hot months of July and August
And it was during these months, when
forest fires ragged all about the state,
that a fire warden was stationed on
the summit Of the peak
Henderson called out occasionally
to the girl whom he was going to as
sist, but she did not answer He de
! cided that she must be well nigh ex-
hausted after so long a climb on a
hot day.
AS he passed spring, the young
fellow filled his cap with water in
case he might need it when he reached
the girl
At last he found himself on the
ledge beside her and even then he
could get no word from her. He.
head was bowed on her arms folded
across the rock and her basket of
berries had tumbIed down the noun
tain side.
Lifting her hair, Henderson bathed
her brow with his dampened handker
chief. Presently the girl opened her
eyes and looked about.
"Oh," she said at last, half dazedIy
"You-you found mel"
In a less serious moment the young
man would have accused her of ask.
ing a foolish question; as it was he
refrained
How did you come so far aIone?''
he asked when he had found a safe
seat for her.
Il was blue-berrying and before
knew it l was-lost. What time is
it?' she asked.
NEARLY four o'clock and you can't
possibly return tonight-you are ex
! hausted," Henderson told her as gent
ly as he could. 1T is miles to the
foot of the mountain
The girl turned pale again. But
she hesitated and looked about her
! Who are you and why are you here p
;, she asked as if only now she were be
ginning to realize her situation ant
. the strangeness of having found a hu
s man being near her.
= 81 am Jerome Henderson, fire wal
/. den during my college vacation
L looking about for fresh fires l spie
. you down the slope here. | could Sc
no companion with you and-I Gale
p out. That's ALL"
do you live up tnere?" she asked
looking far up at tho peak above hel
"At least, | exist for two months
but it's good pay" he said, half laugh
ing, land it's novel"
The girl bathed her hot face an
hands with the cool spring water an
even through the sunburn the man b.
d side her could see her fresh beauty
"Then-Tll have to sleep here?" sh
asked, her voice wavering as sh
thought of the dark shadows thu
would soon fail all about her.
NO; as soon as you are rested,
will help you UP to my cabin and 20
may remain there. I'll go down fo
=. the night and you'll be as safe as
child in it's mothers arms. Butt
have to ask you to do duty for M
The fires are bad just now, and
have to report any fresh evidences
see."
4 It'll do what l can but-you
II she asked, looking at him with wid
g eyes.
= "Oh, I'll make the descent all RICH
- I'm accustomed to it and | can TAX
e a message to your people," he a
s, sured her.
IN YES" she cried, that has worrie
IF me so. I'm visiting friends at Moo
e. ley Camp. They have phone"
AZ Good" exclaimed Henderson. &c
have l! Up there in my little cabi
l have a telephone so as to repol
the fires and as soon as we reach tn
top you shall call up your friends"
AS if the relief of mind refreshe
> her body, the girl rose to her feet an
tied her hat more securely under be
chin. For one moment she locke
ruefully at the basket of berries sea
AZ tered down the Slope. Then sh
laughed-and the echo came back t
them both. "All my days work." sh
. .E IL said
Never mind, you can get more O
CT your way down tomorrow" Hende
. son said. Nov, are you ready?"
NJ