Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-16
CHAPTER III.
A Forester's Secret.

lhcy ShAuDSu. SdJIlC
fed on the hillsides in scattered
bands like elk. Here and there small
cabin stood on the bank III stream,
but for the most part the trail mounted
the high slopes in perfect solitude.
The girl talked easily and leisurely,
reading the brands of the ranchers, re-
vealing the number of cattle they own
ed, quite as young farmer would
have done. She seemed not to be en-
barrassed in the slightest degree by
the fact that she was guiding strange
man over a lonely road and gave no
outward sign of special interest in him
till she suddenly turned to ask, What
kind of slicker-I mean a raincoat-
did you bring?"
He looked blank. 81 don't believe
brought any. I've a leather shooting
jacket, however"
She shrugged her shoulders and look
ed up at the sky. Were in for
storm. You'd ought % have a slicker,
no fancy 'raincoat,' but a real old fash
toned COW puncher's oilskin. They
make business of shedding rain"
She rode on for a few minutes in 81
lence, as if disguised with his folly,
but she was really worrying about
him. "Poor chap" she said to her
self. "He can't stand a chill. | ought
to have thought of his slicker myself.
He's helpless as baby"
They were climbing fast now, wind
ing upward along the bank of
stream, and the sky had grown sud-
denly gray, and the woodland path
was dark and chill. The mountains
We're not less beautiful, but they were
decidedly less amiable, and the youth
shivered, casting an apprehensive eye
at the thickening clouds.
Berea perceived something of his dis
may and, drawing rein, dismounted
Behind her saddle was tightly rolled
bundle which, being united and shaken
out proved to be horSeman's rain
proof oilskin coat. "Put this on!' she
commanded.
ooh, no." he protested. Il can't take
your coat"
Eyes you can! You must. Don't you
worry about me. I'm used to weather.
Put this on over your jacket and all
You'll need it. Rain won't hurt me,
but it will just about finish you"
The worst Of this lay in its truth,
and Norcross lost all his pride of sex
for the moment. A wetting would not
dim this girls splendid color nor re-
duce her vitality one degree, while to
him it might be a death warrant.
'You could throw me over my own
horse" he admitted in kind of bitter
admiration and slipped the coat on,
shivering with cold as he did so.
"You think me poor excuse for
trailer, don't your he said ruefully as
the thunder began to roll.
you've got to be all made ovel
new" she replied tolerantly. "Stay
here a year and you'll be able to stand
anything"
! Remounting, she again led the way
with CHEEKY cry. The rain came dash
ing down In ftful, misty streams, but
she merely pulled the rim of her SOM
brero closer over her eyes and rode
steadily on, while he followed, plunged
in gloom as cold and gray as the
storm.
"TheSe mountain showers don't last
long," the girl called back, her face
shining like rose. "We'll get the sun
in few minutes"
And so it turned out. In less than
an hour they rode into the warm light
again, and in spite Of himself Norcross
returned her smile, though he said: 81
feel like a selfish fool. You are
soaked"
81 never take cold" she returned
I'm used to all kinds of weather
Don't you bother about me-"
Topping low divide, the youth
caught glimpse Of the range to the
southeast, which took his breath
Isn't that superb?' he exclaimed.
''It's like the shining roof of the
world!'
Eyes, that's the Continental divide"
she confirmed casually, but the lyrical
note which he struck again reached
her heart. The men she knew had so
few words for the beautiful in life.
She wondered whether this mans i'll
ness had given him this refinement or
whether 1t was native to his kind.
I'm glad he took my coat" was her
thought.
She pushed on down the slope, rid
Ing hard, bat it was nearly 2 O'Clock
when they drew up at Meeker's house
which was long, low, stone struc.
ture built along the north side of the
road. The place was distinguished
not merely by its masonry, but also
by its picket fence, which had once
been whitewashed. Farm wagons of
various degrees of decay stood by the
gate, and in the barnyard plows and
harrows-deeply buried by the weeds
were rusting forlornly away. A little
farther up the stream the tall pipe of
sawmill rose above the frs.
A pack of dogs of all sizes and signs
came clamoring to the fence, followed
| by a big, slovenly dressed, red beard
ed man of sixty or thereabouts.
"Hello, Uncle joel" called the girl in
offhand -boyish fashion. How are
| you today?"
! "Howdy. girl" answered Meeker
gravely what brings you up here
this timer
She laughed. Here's boarder who
wants to learn how to raise cattle"