Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-10-10
en ]! t il
By EMERSON BURRls

MY doctor told me to go into the
country and live outdoors. "
To get the whole benefit of the stu
alton set up a tent. I built floor
with my own hands and did what I
could to make my habitation attrac-
tive. In this failed signally. It is
not in man to beautify home. At
any rate. it was not in me. The in
terror furnishings of mine consisted of
cat and a trunk. AS for food, l was
encamped on the bank of stream In
which there were plenty of fish, and
when wanted meat could shoot
game, but not near where I was. I
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
farmhOuses. some summer cOttag es 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 were
very near me. or, rather, in selecting
camping ground l got as far as pos
sible away from all Of them.
One day. on returning from hunt
ing trip, on entering my tent I met
with a surprise. 4 dainty little wash
stand, with bowl and pitcher. stood in
one corner. while above it hung a
small mirror. Several colored litho-
nh nj tn yo11 S
On the floor was Il wicker armchair
such as is used in summer on piazzas.
In the center OF the tent was a tiny
table. with Il lamp on it. I had used
Il candle
That some woman had done all this
seen NE 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. looked about me
to observe the cottages nearest me
with view to locating the lady who
had made me comfortable The sur
rounding dwellings were all on higher
ground and my view of most of them
unobstructeQ by trees. There they
were, bathed in the light of the setting
sun. but not one of them had Il word
of information for me. And yet fam
cied that concealed in one of them a
girl had Il pair Of glasses fixed on me.
watching to see how l acted ut the
moment of my discovery of her handi
work. Sc l 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 mute rs before. But in
fancy l heard u musical laugh ring
ing out OH the quiet air. q -
/ BuildinG ny ti:p in ny j,i'pruyise1
range. q number OF fiat stones. | pro-
ceeded to cook NY supper. Il brace Of
quails had shot during the day. ]
was thinking the while that my hene
factress was Watching me. And the
next day had proof that she was. for.
going to the spring from which OBJ
tanned my water supply, on my return
Il found sticking in the ground few
yards from my tent an arrow and
wrapped about it bit Of paper bear
Ling the words:
Leave anything you wish cooked at the
store and it will be attended to.
I was not slow in awaiting myself of
the invitati>n-not that | needed much
culinary work done. h,lt because hoped
thereby to get Il clew of the cook. But
in this was disappointed. The store
keeper was an old woman. who was
very deaf, or pretended to be: ut least
she turned deaf ear to my inquiries.
The only reply got was ''Tomorrow."
| inferred that l was to come tomOr-
row for the bird left. and when |
did so I received it deliciously cooked.
l will not specify the devices en-
ployed to find out who was my bene
factress. I made excuses to chat with
several of the ladies' of the neighbor-
hood. OF one begged the loan of a
needle and thread. of another Il little
baking powder. Of another some qui-
nine. Each and every one of these
persons granted my request willingly.
but gained no information from any
one of them.
discovered my girl. however. and
by accident. or. rather. by taking adj
vantage of seeing something that gave
clew. Having occasion to visit the
express Office at the railway station. I
saw box bearing the label Of vend-
err of sporting goods addressed to a
Miss Clara Farnsworth. The size and
shape Of the box led me to believe that
it contained archery goods. straight
way inquired which was the Farms
worth cottage. and my informant d.
rected me to one no nearer and no far
Their than the rest. but especially we'll
situated to get view of my camp.
Tagging bullet with a note Of
thanks to Miss Farnsworth for her
Kindness to me, fred the bullet into
a#slarge tree in the front yard Of the
Farnsworth place. The next day a
note came to me through the post from
Mrs. Farnsworth acknowledging that
the family had seen my camp and
could not resist a temptation to make
- - orn onrn forto h1o Tho lady q1Sn eX.