Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-16

way. L slept like log after | knew
you were comfortable. You must have
\ q better bed and more blankets. Ifs
always cold up here"
I The sunlight was short lived The
clouds settled over the peaks. and rag
eed wisps Of gray vapor dropped down
the umbered slopes OF the prodigious
smphitheater in which the lake lay
Again Berrie made everything snug
while her young woodsman toiled al
bringing logs for the fire.
At last fully provided for. they sal
contentedIy side BY side under the
awning and watched the falling rain
as it splashed and sizzled on the sturdy
dre. Its a little like being ship
wrecked on desert island. isn't it?''
ne said ~As IL our boats had drifted
away"
AT noon she again prepared an elab-
crate meal. She served potatoes and
grouse. hot biscuit with sugar sirup
and canned peaches and coffee done
to just the right color and aroma. He
declared it wonderful. and they ate
with repeated wishes that the super
visor might turn up in time to share
their feast but he did not Then
Berrle said firmly: snow you must take
a snOoze. You look tired"
He was in truth not only drowsy,
but lame and tired Therefore he
yielded to her suggestion.
She covered him with blankets and
put him away like child Now you
have good Sleep" she said tenderly.
"I'll call you when daddy comes"
When he woke the ground was again
covered. with snow, and the girl was
feeding the Gre with wood which her
own hands had supplied.
Hearing him stir, she turned and
fixed her eyes upon him with clear,
soft gaze. How do you feel by now?'
she asked
quite made over" he replied, rising
alertly.
His cheer. however, was only pre-
tense. He was greatly worried. Some
thing has happened to your father," he
said. HIS horse has thrown him. or
be has slipped and fallen" His peace
and exultation were gone. How far
Is 1t down to the ranger station?"
About twelve miles"
Don't you think we'd better close
camp and go down there? 1t is now
O'Clock. We can walk It In FIVE
hours
She shook her head. mo. ! think
we'd better stay right here. It's a
long. hard walk. and the trail is mud
dy."
But, dear girl" he began desperate
Iy, 'it won't do for Us to camp here
alone in this way another night. What
will ClifI sayT
She damed red, then whitened. Il
don't care what Gin thinks. I'm done
with him, and no one that really care
about would blame u.s." She was fully
aware of his anxiety now. 1T isn't our
fault"
1T will be my fault If keep you
here longerr he answered. I'VE must
reach telephone and send word ont.
Something may have happened to your
father"
I'm not worried bit about him. II
may be that there's been a big snow.
tall up above us, or else windstorm.
The trail may be blocked, but don't
worry. He may have to so round by
Lost Lake pass" She pondered mo-
ment- 81 reckon you're right Wed
better pack up and rack down the trail
to the rangers cabin-not on my ac-
count but on yours I'm afraid you've
taken cold"
I'm all right. except I'm very lame.
but / am anxious to go on By the
way, Is this ranger Settle marriedg
mo; his station is one Of the lone
soonest caoins on the forest. No wo-
man will stay there"
This made Wayland ponder. "Nev-
ertheless," he decided. well so. Aft
er all, the man is a forest officer. and
you are the supervisors daughter"
She made no further protest, but
busied herself closing the panniers and
putting away the camp utensils. She
seemed to recognize that his judgment
was sound
1t was after 3 when they left the
tent and started down the trail. carry
ing nothing but few toilet articles.
He stopped at the edge OF the clear.
ing. should we have left note for
the SUPERVISOR
The trees were dripping, the willows
heavy with water, and the mud ankle
deep In places, but she pushed on
steadily, and he, following In ber
tracks, could only marvel at her
strength and sturdy self reliance. The
swing OF her shoulders, the poise OF
her head and the 1.-THE movement OF her
waist made his own body seem poor
thing.
For two hours they zlgEaeged down
a narrow canyon heavily timbered
with dr and spruce. dark. stern ave
aue, crossed by roaring streams and
hiled with frequent bOggy meadows. |
whereon the water lay midleg deep.
Wen get out OF this very soon"