Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-10-04

not be disturbed until In her own good
time she awoke.
The clouds had emptied themselves
during the night, and the wind had
at last died away toward morning. and
now there was great calm abroad in
the land The sunlight was dazzling.
Outside. where the untempered rays
beat full upon the crests of the noun
tains. 1t was doubtless warm, but with
In the cabin 1t was chilly. The FIRE
had long since burned completely
away, and he had not entered the room
to replenish 1t. Yet Enid Maitland had
lain snug and warm under her blan-
kets. She presently tested her wound
ed foot, by moving 1t gently. and dis
covered agreeably that 1t was much
less painful than she had anticipated.
The treatment the night before had
been very successful
She did not get up Immediately, but
the GOODNESS of the room struck her SO
soon as she got out of bed. Upon her
first awakening she was hardly con-
scious Of her situation; her sleep had
been too long and too heavy, and her
awakening too gradual for any sud-
den appreciation of the new condition.
1t was not until she had stared around
the walls Of the rude cabin for some
time, that she realized where she was
and what had happened. When she
did 30 she arose at once.
Her first impulse was to call. Never
In her life had she felt such death
like stiffness. Even In the camp al
most always there had been a whis-
per Of breeze through the pine trees,
or the chatter of water over the rocks.
But here there were no pine trees and
no sound Of rushing brook came to
her, It was almost painful. She was
keen to dress and go out Of the house.
She stood upon the rude puncheon
floor on one foot, scarcely able vet to
bear even the lightest pressure upon
the other There were her clothes on
chairs and tables before the fireplace.
Such had been the heat thrown out by
that huge blaze that a brief inspec-
ton convinced her that everything
was thoroughly dry. Dry or wet. she
must needs put them on, since they
were all she had She noticed that
there were no locks on the doors. and
she realized that the only protection
she had was the sense of decency and
the honor Of the man. That she had
been allowed her sleep unmolested
made her the more confident on that
account
She dressed hastily, although Il was
The work of some dificulty in view of
her wounded foot. and of the stir con-
1ition OF her rough, dried apparel.
Presently she was completely clothed.
save for that disrobed foot. With the
big clumsy bandages upon 1t, she could
not draw her stocking over IT, and even
4 she succeeded in that, she could IN
no way make shift to put on her boot
The situation was awkward, the pre-
iicament annoying. She was wearing
oloomers and short skirt for her
climbing, and she did not
know quite what to do. She thought of
earring up one of the rough, unbleach-
ID sheets and wrapping it around her
eg, but she hesitated as to that II
vas very trying. Otherwise. she would
lave opened the door and stepped out |
INTO the open air. Now she felt her
'elf virtually a prisoner.
She had been thankful that no one |
lad disturbed her. but now she wished
or the man. In her helplessness she
bought of his resourcefulness with |
agerness. The man, however, did not
ppear, and there was nothing for her
o do but to wait for him. Taking one
f the blankets from the bed, she sat
own and drew it across her knees and
ook stock of the room.
The cabin was built of logs. the
Dom was large. perhaps IL by 20 feet,
nth one side completely taken up by
he stone fireplace; there were two
one on either side Of the
utter door, which opened toward the
outhwest. The walls were unplaster-
d save in the chinks between the
ough hewn logs OF which Il was made.
)ver the fireplace and around on one
ide ran a rude shelf covered with
ooks. She had no opportunity to ex-
mine them, although later she would }
ecome familiar with every one OF
hem.
Into the walls on the other side
'ere driven wooden pegs; from some
them hung a pair of snow shoes. a
eayy Winchester rife, fishing tackle
nd other necessary wilderness para
hernalia On the puncheon floor wolf
nd bear skins were spread In one
orner against the wall again were
lied several splendid pairs Of horns
r0m the mountain sheep.
The furniture consisted of the single
ed or berth in which she had slept,
uilt against the wall In one Of the
orners. rude table on which were
7riting materials and some books.
row Of curtained shelves. evidently
lade of small boxes and surmounted
y mirror, occupied another space.
here were two or three chairs, the
andiwork Of the owner. comfortable
nough in spite of their rude construc-
on. On some other pegs hung a
ticker and a sou'wester. a fur over
pat. fur cap and other rough clothes:
pair Of heavy boots stood by the
replace. On another shelf there were
number Of scientific instruments. the