The Meeker herald., 1911-07-08

One morning he took BketchnG DiOck
and pencil and went forth on the trail
Of Ellis, who had been gone hours be-
fore hot ON the track of q brown bear
which had invaded their storehouse
the night before.
RoderIck paused to rest on the fallen
trunk of a giant beech when his
startled glance took In . scene that he
never forgot.
Beyond him in small clearing car
peted with soft drift of newly fallen
snow there stood a girl and a deer.
quite unconscious Of his presence. It
was evident that each had emerged
from the woods on opposite sides Of
the clearing and were now poised in
startled contemplation Of each other.
The girl. small and slender and
graceful, wore long red cape that
enyeloped her like the cloak of Little
Red Riding Hood of nursery tales. and
over her fair hair was drawn n red
hood, framing the pale oval Of her
lovely young face. out Of which shone
eyes as shy and brown as those Of the
deer, which stood In an attitude Of pitt
able fright.
So they stood for whole minute
while Roderick transferred their heads
to his block with quick, sure strokes of
his crayon. Then he thrust both in
his pocket and made sharp sound
with his lips. Instantly the animal
turned about and leaped into the forest
from whence it had come, while the
girl leaned against tree. one little
| hnN
staring at Roderick.
"You were frightened-there was no
cause for alarm-but 1t was no doubt
startling to come face to face with
tsuch wild creature" he said, talking
rather volubly to ennble her to recover
herself. How is 1t that you are alone
and SO far from the settlement? Are
you not afraid?" asked ROderick Gu
riously.
Indeed, no." she said In surprised
tone. II know every inch Of these
woods, but don't know all the dent-
zens thereof. Now 1 can add another
to my acquaintance" She smiled in
such friendly way that Roderick
took the compliment to himself.
THANK you," he said conrteously.
81 am proud to be received by the lady
of the forest"
She blushed beautifully and bit the
red curve of her lip thoughtfuIly. Real
ly 1t seems such rude thing to say.
but 1 didn't mean you, sir. l meant
the deer was new acquaintance"
| Roderick reddened as he laughed at
his own confusion. SERVES me right"
he said emphatically, "fOr being such
conceited jackannpes. II can be OF
no further service to you l may as
well get along after Ellis"
"Oh, do you know Mr.. EllisT she
asked. els he heref'
Hes staying in Anjou for the hunt
Ing. I'm with him. My names Wake
Iy-Roderick Wakely."
.sThen you're the painter. Mr.. Ellis
has often mentioned your name to US
He always comes over to the lodge to
see father and me. We have a camp
AWAY back here. Tell Mr.. Ellis we
shall be glad to see him and his friend
too" She smiled back over her shout
der and disappeared. while Roderick
whirled about and tramped back to
the cabin, forgetting everything save
the fact that at last the great picture
was at hand.
After that the weeks flew rapidly
while Rodireck worked on his picture.
tramped the woods hoping for
glimpse of Katherine behring's red
cloak or Joined Ellis in his trips after
brown bear and deer. Many evenings
they spent at the lodge with Colonel
Deering and his daughter while the
great fire blnzed on the hearth and
threw Pickering shadows over their
(, faces.
AS the spring came on Roderick's
engagement to Edith Penlow seemed
to fade into dull background that he
had called life-before he had met
Katharine Deerlng and fallen In love
with her sweetness and shy simplicity.
EdIth's letters had grown fewer un-
til they ceased altogether. Then one
morning there came letter that fell
into his life like bombshell Of un-
pleasantness.
1T am tired Of New York." she wrote
rather petulantly, $50 II you are ready
to 20 to Paris shall prepare to be
married in June. Aunt Bee has given
up the trip for this year."
In his perplexity Roderick laid the
case before Dick Ellis. The latter
gnawed his pipestem savagely and
looked Mt Roderick through narrowed
lids.
you're all over 1t, eh. Rod7' he
asked bluntly.
"I'm ashamed to say am" nodded
the other II didn't know I was such
cad"
you're not, only neither of you is In
love with the other. OF course it's
Edith Penlow." His voice lowered.
YES"
"she doesn't care rap for you
never did! She's in love with me.
Fact. No, I'm not conceited, old man.
II happens I know 1t. only-Only 1t