Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-07-25

what did you do then"
81 went down the canon myself l
think I saw evidence that some one
had preceded me, too"
Did you overtake them?"
Certainly not, they Travelled as
rapidly as I; they must have started
early in the morning and they had
several hours the advantage Of me-.
But they must have stopped some
where for the night and"
Yes, answered the man; "if l had
only myself to consider, should have
pressed on through the night and
oyertaken them when they camped." "
Only youTself?"
lou made me promise to return
here by nightfau. I don't know wheth-
er I should have obeyed you or not. l
kept on as long as I dared and still
leave myself time to get back to you
by dark"
She had no idea of the desperate
speed he had made to reach her While
it was still daylight.
IF you hadn't come when you did,
I should have died" cried the girl i'm
petuously. 'You did perfectly right.
I don't think I am a coward; I hope
not. I never was afraid before, but"
Don't apologize or explain to me,
it's not necessary; I understand ev-
erything you feel. It was only because
[ had given you my word to be back
by sunset that I left off following their
. mi o.
think me dead or that something had
happened and"
q should, | did" admitted the girl.
ct wasn't so bad during the day time,
but when the sun went down and you
did not come I began to imagine ey-
erythfng. I saw myself left alone here
in these mountains, helpless, wound
ed, without a human being to speak
to- I could not bear it"
But l have been here alone for
five years." said the man grimly.
That's different. I don't know why
you have chosen solitude, but I"
You are a woman" returned the
other gently, and you have suffered,
| that accounts for everything"
Thank you" said Enid, gratefully.
And I am so glad you came back to
me-"
Back to you" reiterated the man,
and then he stopped. If he had al
lowed his heart to speak he would
| have said, Back to you from the very
ends of the world. But I want you to
believe that / honestly did not leave
4 the trail until the ultimate moment,
/ he added
q do believe it." she extended her
hand to him. you have been very
! good to me, [ trust you absolutely"
And for the second time he took
| that graceful, dainty, aristocratic
hand in his own larger, stronger. firm
/ Ell. grasp. His face flushed again; un
| der other circumstances and in other
days perhaps he might have kissed
that hand AS it was he only held
it for a moment and then gently re
leased it.
And you think they are searching
/ for me?" she asked.
! 4 know it. I am sure of what
myself would do for one love-
loved. I mean, and they"
And they will find me?"
The man shook his head.
Il am afraid they will be convinced
that you have gone down with the
flood. Didn't you have a cap Or
yes" said the woman, "and {
sweater. The bear you shot covered
the sweater with blood I could no.
put it on again"
AS she spoke she flushed a glorious
crimson at the remembrance of thai
meeting, but the man was looking
away with studied care. She thanked
him in her heart for such generous
and kindly consideration.
They will have gone down the
stream with the rest, and it's just pos
sible that the searchers may fine
them, the body of the bear, too. Thi.
river ends in a deep mountain lake
and I think it is going to snow; i
will be frozen hard tomorrow"
And they will think me-there? p
i am afraid So"
And they won't come up here?"
1T is scarcely possible"
Obi" exclaimed the woman family
at the dire possibility that she nigh
not be found.
4 took an empty bottle with me-
said the man. breaking the silence, I'll
which I had enclosed a paper sayin,
that you were here and safe, saw
for your wounded foot, and givini
direction how to reach the place
/ built Cairn Of rocks in a She
tered nook in the valley wher
your camp had been pitched and lef
the tightly cOrked bottle wedged Of
top Of it. If they return to the cam,
they could scarcely fail to see it"
But if they don't go back there"
Well, it was just a chance"
And if they don't find me?"
You viii have TO stay here for
while; until your foot gets vel
enough to travel, anyway" returne
the man, evasively.
But winter is coming on; you sal
T the lake would freeze tonight and if j
snows?"
1T viii snow"
The woman stared at him appalled,
And in that case
I am afraid" was the slow reply
: that you will have to stay here"
He hesitated in the face of her white
still facial winter" he added. des
| | perately.
My God" exclaimed the cir
; alone, with your"
Miss Maitland said the man, resC
: lutely, I might as well tell you tn
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