Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-02-28

took stock Of the room.
The cabin was built Of logs, the
room was large, perhaps IL by 20 feet,
with one side completely taken up by
the stone fireplace; there were two
windows, one on either side Of the
outer door, which opened toward the
southwest. The walls were unplaster-
ed save in the chinks between the
rough hewn logs Of which it was made.
Over the fireplace and around on one
side ran a rude shelf covered with
books. She had no opportunity to ex-
anime them, although later she would
become familiar with every one of
them.
Into the walls on the other side
were driven wooden pegs; from some
of them hung pair of snow shoes, a
heavy Winchester rifle, fishing tackle
and other necessary wilderness para
phernalia. On the puncheon floor wolf
and bear skins were spread. In one
corner against the wall again were
piled several splendid pairs of horns
from the mountain sheep.
The furniture consisted of the single
bed or berth in which she had slept,
built against the wall in one of the
corners, a rude table on which were
writing materials and some books.
A row of curtained shelves, evidently
made of small boxes and surmOunted
by a mirror, occupied another space.
There were two or three chairs, the
handiwork of the owner, comfortable
enough in spite of their rude construc-
ton. On some other pegs hung
slicker and a sou'wester, a fur over
coat, fur cap and other rough clothes;
a pair of heavy boots stood by the
fireplace. On another shelf there were
a number Of scientific instruments, the
nature of which she could not deter
mine, although she could see that they
were all in beautiful state of pres
ervation.
There was plenty Of rude comfort in
the room, which was excessively man
nish. In fact, there was nothing any
where which in any way spoke of the
existence of woman-except picture
in a small, rough, wooden frame which
stood on the table before which she
sat down. The picture was of a hand
some woman-naturally Enid Maitland
saw that before anything else. She
would not have been a woman if that
had not engaged her attention more
forcibly than any other fact in the
room. She picked it up and studied
it long and earnestly, quite uncon-
scious of the reason for her interest,
and yet certain uneasy feeling might
have warned her of what was toward
in her bosom.
This young woman had not yet had
time to get her bearings. She had not
been able to realize all the circum-
stances Of her adventure. So soon as
she did SO she would know that into
her life a man had come, and what
ever the course of that life might be
in the future, he would never again
be out of it.
1t was therefore with mingled and
untranslatable emotions that she stud
led this picture. She marked with a
certain resentment the bold beauty
quite apparent, despite the dim fading
outlines of a photograph never very
good. So far as she could discern, the
woman was dark haired and dark eyed
her direct antithesis! The casual
viewer would have found little of fault
in the presentment, but Enid Matt
lands eyes were sharpened by what,
pray? At any rate, she decided that
the woman was of a rather coarse
fiber, that in things finer and higher
she would be found wanting. She was
such a woman, so the girl reasoned
acutely, as might inspire passionate
affection in a strong hearted, reckless
youth, but whose charms being large
Iy physical, would pail in longer and
more intimate association; danger
0us rival in charge, but not so for
midable in steady campaign.
These thoughts were the result Of
.ong and earnest inspection, and it
was with some reluctance that the girl
at last put the photograph aside and
looked toward the door. She was hun
cry, ravenously so. She began to be
little alarmed, and had just about
made up her mind to rise and STUN
ole out as she was, when she heard
steps outside and knock on the
door.
What is it?" she asked in response.
MAY 1 come in?"
eyes," was the quick answer.
The man opened the door, left it
ajar and entered the room.
Have you been awake long?" he
began abruptly.
mot very
81 didn't disturb you, because you
needed sleep more than anything else.
How do you feel?"
Greatly refreshed, thank you."
Sand hungry, 1 suppose?"
very"
81 will soon remedy that. Your
foot?"
cit seems much better, but L"
The girl hesitated, blushing. ST can't
get my shoe on, and"
"Shall [ have another look at it?"