Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-11-12

He was glad when supper was over
and he was back in his own cabin
smoking his pipe. II was almost with
n FEELING of shame that he took the
golden hair from his wallet and held
1t once more 30 that it shone before
his eyes in the freight
You're crazy, Phil Steele" he as
sured himself. You're an unalloyed
idiot. What the deuce has Colonel
Becker's wife got to do with YOU
even II she has golden hair and uses
cream-tinted paper soaked in hya-
cinth? Confound it--there!" and he
released the shining hair from his
fingers so that the air currents sent
1t floating back into the deeper gloom
OF the cabin.
1t was midnight before he went to
bed. He was up with the first cold
gray of dawn. All that day he strode
steadily eastward on snow-shoes,
over the companys trail to the bay.
Two hours before dusk he put up
his light tent. gathered balsam for
bed, and built fire of dry spruce
against the face of huge rock in
front of his shelter. II was still light
when he wrapped himself IN his
blanket and lay down on the balsam,
with his feet stretched out to the re-
fiected heat of the big rock. As the
night thickened beyond the rim OF
freight, and. as the gloom grew still
deeper, blotting out his vision In inky
blackness, there crept over him slow
ly a feeling OF loneliness Steele
knew that in this hour he was long
ing Ger companionship-no that OF
Breed, nor OF men with whom he
hunted men, but of men and women
whom he had once known and in
whose lives he had played a part
ages ago, it seemed to him. He
knew that chiefly he was longing for
woman-a woman whose eyes and
lips and sunny hair haunted him
after months OF forgetfulness. and
whose face smiled at him luringly.
now, from out the leaping flashes OF
fire-tempting him. calling him over
thousand miles OF space.
Physical exhaustion rather than de-
sire for sleep closed his eyes, at last,
in half-slumber, and after that the
face seemed nearer and more real to
him, until 1t was close at his side.
and was speaking to him. He heard
again the soft, ripping laugh. girl
ishly sweet, that had fascinated him
at Hawkins BALL, he heard the dis
tant hum and chatter Of other voices.
He moved restlessly. After a mo-
ment he wriggled to his elbow and
looked toward the fire. He awoke and
thrill as keen as an electric shock
set his nerves tingling when he heard
once more the laughing voice OF his
dream, hushed and low. In amaze
ment he sat bolt upright and stared.
Was he still dreaming? The fire was
burning brightly and he was aware
that he had scarce fallen into sleep.
A movement-a sound of feet crunch
ing softly in the snow. and figure
came between him and the fire.
1t was a woman!
He choked back the cry that rose
to his lips and sat motionless and
without sound. The figure approach
ed step nearer, peering into the
deep gloom of the tent. He caught
the silver CLINT in the freight on
heavy fur, the whiteness OF a hand
touching the flap of his tent, and then
for an instant he saw face. In that
instant he sat as rigid as IL he had
stopped the beat of his own life. A
pair of dark eyes laughing in at him,
a flash OF laughing teeth, low litter
that was scarce more than a ripping
throat-note, and the face was gone,
leaving him still staring into the
blank space where it had been.
With a cough to give warning OF
his wakefulness, Steele flung on his
blanket and drew himself through
the low opening of the tent. On the
extreme right Of the fire stood a man
and woman, warming themselves
over the Goals. They Strengthened
from their leaning posture as he ap-
peared.
This is too bad. too bad. Mr..
steele, exclaimed the man, advanc-.
ing quickly. II was afraid we'd make
blunder and awaken you. We were
about to camp on mountain back
there when We saw your fire and
drove on to it. I'm sorry"
Wouldn't have had you miss me
for anything" interrupted Steele,
gripping the others proffered hand.
you see, I'm out from Lac Balm to
meet Colonel and Mrs. Becker, and"
He hesitated purposely. his white
teeth cleaning in the frank smile
which made people like him i'm
mensely from the first.
you've met them" completed the
laughing voice from across the fire.
please, Mr.. Steele, will you forgive
me for looking in at you and waking
you up? But your feet looked so ter
ribly funny, and | assure you that
was all l could see, though | tried
awfully hard Anyway, saw your
name printed on the flap OF your
fantp