Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-12-04
'lentlng
BY EMERSON BURRIS

My doctor told me to so into the
country and live outdoors.
To get the whole benefit Of the stu
alton | set up a tent. l built a floor
with my own hands and did what
could to make my habitation attrac-
tive. In this failed signally. 1t is
not in 4 man to beautify a home. At
any rate, it was not in me. The in
terror furnishings of mine consisted of
a cat and Il trunk. AS for food, l was
encamped on the bank of Il stream in
which there We're plenty Of fish, and
when | wanted meat l could shoot
game, but not ear where l was. l
had to go quite a distance for that
and usually made an all day trip of it.
In the region near about me there
were scattered houses, some of them
tarmhouses. some summer cottages for
city persons. for the country was very
beautiful and the air salubrious. The
greater part Of these houses were now
vacant, but there were a number Of
them occupied. None Of them We're
very a ME. or, rather, in selecting
a camping ground I got as far as pos
sible away from all Of them.
One day, on returning from a hunt
ing trip, on entering my tent I met
with a surprise. A dainty little wash
stand, with bowl and pitcher, stood in
II corner. while above it hung a
small mirror. Several colored litho-
graphs We're pinned to the tent walls.
On the floor was a wicker armchair
such as is used in summer on piazzas.
In the center of the tent was a tiny
table. with a lamp on it. had used
a candle.
That some woman had done all this
was my first thought; that she had
seen me and taken an interest in me
was my second; that she was young,
comely and otherwise attractive was
my third.
These preliminaries having flashed
through my mind. l looked about me
to observe the cottages nearest me
with a view to locating the lady who
had made me comfortable. The
rounding dwellings were all on higher
ground and my view Of most Of them
unobstructed by trees. There they
were, bathed in the light Of the setting
sun, but not one of them had a word
of information for me. And vet I fan
cied that concealed in one of them a
girl had a pair of glasses fixed on me.
watching to see how I acted at the
moment of my discovery of her handi-
work. So I stood in front of the tent
with my face toward the landscape.
took off my hat and threw a kiss.
No response came to me. The cot
tages were as nhte as before. But in
fancy I heard a musical laugh ring
ing out on the quiet air.
Building my fire in my improvised
range, a number of fat stones. I pro-
ceeded to cook my supper, a brace of
quails l had shot during the day. l
was thinking the while that my bene-
factress was watching me. And the
next day I had proof that she was. for.
going to the spring from which I OBJ
tanned my water supply, on my return
| found sticking in the ground a few
yards from my tent an arrow and
wrapped about it a bit Of paper bear
ing the words:
Leave anything you wish cooked at the
store and it will be attended to.
was not slow in awaiting myself of
the invitation-not that ! needed much
culinary work done. but because I hoped
thereby to get a clew Of the cook. But
in this l was disappointed. The store
keeper was an old woman. who was
very deaf, or pretended to be: at least
she turned a deaf ear to my inquiries.
The only reply got was Tomorrow"
I inferred that | was to come tomor-
row for the bird ! left. and when l
did SO l received it deliciously cooked.
l will not specify the devices | EN-
ployed to find out who was my bene-
factress. made to chat with
several of the ladies Of the neighbor-
hood. OF one | begged the loan of a
needle and thread. Of another a little
baking powder. of another some qui.
nine. Each and every one of these
persons granted my request willingly
u L SClllCN III llllOl llldtloIl lIOIl HlN
one Of them.
I discovered my girl. however, and
by accident. Or. rather, by taking ad
vantage Of seeing something that gave
a clew. Having occasion to visit the
express Office at the railway station.
saw a box bearing the label Of a yend
er Of sporting goods addressed to 6
Miss Clara Farnsworth. The size anG
shape Of the box led me to believe tina
it contained archery goods. straight
way inquired which was the Farms
worth cottage, and my informant di
rected me to one no nearer and no far
ther than the rest. but especially wei
situated to get a view Of my camp.
Tagging a bullet with Il note O
thanks to Miss Farnsworth for he
kindness to me, l fired the bullet int,
a npr %.-, T., A., c-l 1 ,