The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-22
BY MARJORIE WATSON MERRITT.
Copyright. 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.)

iVAlt Ny NcSSSaoNSA ~~fN-
erary PressJ
Old Bilrs camp nestled down on the
edge of q lake in the heart OF the
Maine woods. Il was built OF logs
and had been, originally. a lumber
mems camp. After ali the desirable
timber had been cut and the camp
abandoned. Old Bill had found 1t ana
made application to Its owners for 1t.
Being granted permission to live In II.
he had taken UP bis soiitary ABODE
in the woods. and for iive years,
winter and summer. he had lived
within the small log house.
Old Bill was a guide and In MS
younger days no guide OF the Maine
woods had been more popular. he
was full six feet In height and he
knew the woods and trails. the lakes
and mountains like a book. Then
there had come a time when he could
no longer tramp from morning till
night with young. enthusiastic fisher
men or hunters, and carry their packs
and cook their meals. But when that
time came he found that he could not
leave the woods: He loved them
every foot of them--whether they
were strewn with fragrant pine
needles or carpeted with the SHOWS or
winter.
from the United States. he had
served his time in the civil war and
this monthly sum. small though 1t
was, was sufficient for his wants. to-
gether with what he was able to find
for his table In the woods and lakes.
In summer he lived off fish and the
berries that grew Wild all about his
camp. In winter, he Jared well: veni-
son and game were plentiful.
1t was December--early December
but the winter was well under way
in the north OF Maine. Old Bill sat
by the stove In his cook house, read
ing six months old magazine, when
he heard the unfamiliar Jingle Of
sleighhells on the crisp air.
He took his feet from the stove and
sat upright. listening. The jtnglins
sounds came closer. Some one had
found the way to the isolated log
camp and Bill made haste to throw
on his great fur coat and step out OF
doors.
In the distance, picking their way
slowly between the bows that marked
the trail across the frozen lake. came
two horses drawing sled The road
was well marked by the green
branches Old Bin himself had helped
to place In the Ice, but heavy snow
of the niaht before had made sleigh
ing heavy. Old Bill closed the cabin
door and walked through the narrow
footpath to the foot of the lake He
had few friends In the village. six
miles away. but he little thought Of
their coming on "A day like this.
Hello Bill" came across the cold
air to him.
Bill waved his great hand. ~ yet
he could see nothing but the sled
and some muffied creatures within.
We've got surprise for you, Old
BILL" said one OF the men as the
sled drew up.
You sure have" replied the guide,
helping to hold the horses while four
persons crawled out from beneath the
fur rugs and stepped into the deep
snow. You sure have, l haven't seen
living soul for three weeks-nor
used my voice for as long. Put the
horses up in the shed and blankst
them well. Have you got feed?"
Frank Allen. for it was he. attend
ed to the animals and then made his
way with the others to the warm
little cook shanty of the camp.
Now. Old Bill" he begun, putting
/ his arm on little figure all wrapped
In great coat, fur cap, veil and nit
tens. here is the SURPRISE" He took
or the heavy garments and q lovely
Shi stoou pSiOIo H}Il- ms, OlQ BILL
is your granddaughter, Isabel Rogers
from Omaha. Nebraska"
Old BIZ rubbed his eyes--he did not
wear glasses. ,"Not--not my daugh-
ter Bellies girl" he cried, looking
closely at her.
The girl nodded. Yes, Grand
father. your daughter Belle was my
mother" she said.
The old man put out hand that
trembled. II have not heard from
her for years--not since she married
that ranchman Rogers and went GU,
! West to live," he said.
The others had stepped aside, see
Ing the old mans emotion.
My mother has-has gone" the
girl faltered, and it was her last re.
auest-she made me promise to find
you and live with you. She wal
afraid of my health and she knew the
| cold mountain air and the out-of.
door life would be good for me- Oh
not that I'm not all right" the CIR
FASTENED to explain, but mother wa.
afraid sitter father died that I nigh,
not be strong. wrote to you and
each time my ieftara u.ra ratvrp I'd