The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-10-31
Ienting
b. EMERSON BURRIs

My doctor told me to go into the
country and live outdoors.
To get the whole benefit Of the stu
alton l set up a tent. l built a floor
with my own hands and did what I
could to make my habitation attrac-
| tive. In this l failed signally. 1t is
not in a man to beautify a home. At
any rate, it was not in me. The in
terror furnishings of mine consisted Of
n cat and a trunk. AS for food, l was
encamped on the bank Of a stream in
which there were plenty Of fish, and
when l wanted meat l could shoot
game. but not near where l a I
had to go quite a distance for that
and usually made al all day trip of it.
In the region near about me there
were scattered houses, some of them
farmhouses, 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 were
very near 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. 4 dainty little wash
stand, with bowl and pitcher, stood In
one corner, while above it hung a
small mirror. Several colored litho-
graphs were 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 1t. had used
4 candle.
That ZONE oma 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 u
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 yet l fan
cied that concealed in n of them a
girl had a pair of glasses fixed on me.
watching to see how / acted at the
moment of my discovery Of her handi-
work. So l stood in front Of the tent
with my face toward the landscape.
took OF my hat and threw a kiss.
No response came to me. The cot
tages were as mute as before. But in
fancy l heard a musical laugh ring
ing out on the quiet air.
Building my fire in my i~unprovised
range, a number Of fiat stones. l 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 ! had proof that she was. for.
going to the spring from which l OBJ
tanned my water supply. on my return
I found sticking in the ground a few
yards from my tent an. arrow and
wrapped about 1t a bit Of paper bear
ing tile words:
leave anything you wish cooked at the
store and it will be attended to.
was not slow In availing myself OF
the i~nvitation-not that I needed much
culinary work done. but because I hoped
thereby to get a clew Of the cook. But
In this I was disappointed. The store
keeper vas an old woman. who was
very deaf, or pretended to be; at least
she turned a deaf ear. to my Inquiries.
The oniysreply ! got was Tomorrow"
l inferredsthat 1 was to come t0mor-
row for the bird l left. and when I
did 80 I received 1t d%eliciously evoked.
will not specify the devices ! en-
ployed to find out who was my hene-
factress. made excuses to chat with
several of the ladies Of the %neighbor-
hood. OF one l begged the l0an 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.
hut l gained no informatfon from any
one Of them.
1 discovered my girl. however. and
by accident. or. rather. by taking nd
vantage Of seeing something that gave
a clew. Having occasion to visit the
express ONCE at the railway station. l
saw a box bearing the label Of vend-
er 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.
recte( me to one no nearer and no far
ther than the rest. but especially well
situated to get a view Of my camp.
Tagging q bullet with a note Of
thanks to Miss Farnsworth for her
kindness to me. l fred the bullet into
q. large tree In the front yard Of the
Farnsworth place. The next day .
note came to me through the post from
y 49,