Charlevoix county herald., 1912-01-13
In Old Bills Camp
(Copyriaht IaII. By A.sociated Literary Pr.ss)
By MARJORIE w. MERIT

| that ranchman Rogers and went out
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 1t was her lasthnS-
| quest-she made me promise to- dd
you and live with you. She was
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 girl
hastened to explain, but mother was
afraid after father died that | might {
not be strong l wrote to you and
each time my letters were returned
from tho postofIice in Greenville. SO
determined to come and find you.
Mr. Allen took me into his home
when / arrived and promised to find
you for me. He says he has known
| you for years, grandfather"
The old guide nodded repeatedly as
IL just coming to a realization or
what had taken place. His own
grandchild had come to live with him
his daughter Bellies child 1t
seemed incredible but there she stood.
living proof of the truth-for Isa-
bel was like her dead mother.
well, well. let's get some supper
and celebrate" the old guide began.
turning to the others. His heart was
too full for further words with the
f, girl: there would be time enough for
that.
| Frank Allen rubbed his E@nds to-
| gether in front of the stove. In that
basket there is enough plain food for
week and with the aid of your ven-
ison, Old Bill. guess we'll make out.
These boys are starved and | prom
ised them if they'd drive us out here
they should have such a dinner as
they've never had in camp before"
Old Bills eyes twinkled. I'll show
them some venison steaks that will
make your word good to them and
I'll make some of Old Bills corn
bread" the guide added, laughing. as
he went about the cook shack getting
down pots and pans. Isabel, you'll
have to stay right here till l get a
fire made in the little camp out yon-
|
home from this minute"
Isabel locked out of the tiny win
dow at the adjoining cabin of logs.
1t was piled high with snow banks
to keep out the cold, they told her.
If little shudder passed through her
at the thought OF sleeping out there
she did not give evidence of it. She
was brave and she had promised her
mother.
Old Bills camp rang with merri-
ment that night as the five sat around
the red-covered table and ate of the
guides cooking and welcomed to the
camp the pretty western granddaugh-
ter.
Tie visitors were not long on their
way the next morning before Isabel
and her grandfather were out making
footpaths in the snow and exploring.
The girl took readily to the cold
weather and helped to make her little
cabin comfortable. The guide had
made.a great fire for her in the stove
and she had unpacked the few home
like things she had brought with her.
DO many hunters come this way?"
asked the girl hearing shots in the
woods far off
Eyes - plenty" replied the guide.
ut is a coed season for deer"
And even as they sat at supper that
night they heard a knock at the cook
room door.
Come in" roared Old Bill. with
out rising. This was the hospitality
Of the woods.
A lone man, blue and cold and
tired, flung open the great door. He
sank into chair exhausted
Old Bill rose hastily and went to
| him. "Lost?" he asked, unbuttoning
the mans fur coat.
yes got lost from my party
this morning and have been tramp
ing ever since. l saw your light"
"A lucky light for you. my boy"
said Old Bill in kindly tones. Come
over and have supper with me and
my-grand-daughter." he said.
And after while when the man
was warmed and had become rested.
he Joined them.
This often happens. Isabel my
girl" explained the old man. so
don't be surprised. I've been re-
fuge for many lost hunter"
You've been mine. indeed" added
the grateful man as he drank the cof-
fee Isabel had heated for him.
When Isabel went to her lo-ely
little cabin that night 1t did not seem
lonely. In all that great dense snow.
covered forest she did not feel alone.
Something told her that she would
never feel alone again and though it
was year later that she realized just
what had taken place on that night,
she felt at peace with all the world.
just now. and slept
And Old Bill still has his camp.
but II is enlivened during fishing and
hunting season by visits from his
granddaughter and the husband he
gave shelter to on one cold December
night.