Alma record., 1915-09-16

=
before. wish you had better bed
II seems selfish Of me TO have the tent
while you are cold"
CHAPTER VII.
The Walk In the Rain.
~ NE by one, under her super
vision. he made preparations
for morning. He cut some
~ shavings from dead. dry
branch OF fir and put them under the
hy and brought bucket of water from
the creek. and then together they drag
ged up the dead tree
Had the young man been other than
he was, the girls purity. candor and
self reliance would have conquered
him. and when she withdrew to the
little tent and let fall the frail barrier
between them she was as safe from in
trusion as If she had taken refuge be
hind gates Of triple brass. Nothing In
all his life had moved him so deeply
as her solicitude. her sweet trust IN
his honor, and he sat long in profound
meditation Any man would be rich n
the ownership OF her love he admitted
That he possessed her pity and hei
friendship he knew. and he began t'
wonder if he had made n deeper ap
peal TO her than this.
"Can 1t be that am really a mar
to her." he thought, Il who am only
a poor weakling whom the rain and
snow can appallY
Then he thought OF the effect of this
night upon her life. What would Cliff
ford Beden do now? To what deeps
would his rage descend if he should
come TO know of il?
Berrie was serene Twice she spoke
from her couch to say: You'd better
go to bed. Daddy can't get here till to
morrow now"
I'm stay up awhile yet My boots
aren't entirely dried out"
After a silence she said: You must
not get chilled. Bring your bed int
the tent There is room for you"
"Oh, no. that isn't necessary. I'm
standing it very well"
You'll be sickl" she urged in a voic,
of alarm. please drag your bed in
side the door. What would | do If you
should have pneumonia tomorrow? Yor
must not take any risk Of fever"
The thought Of a sheltered spot, OF
something TO break the remorseles.
wind. oyercame his scruples. and h,
drew his bed inside the tent and rear
ranged it there.
You're half frozen" she said. "Youl
teeth are chatterlng"
"Ill be all right in few moments. -
he said. Please 20 to sleep. shall
be snug as a bug In a moment"
She watched his shadowy motions
from her bed. and when at last he had
nestled into his blankets she said, Ell
you don't lose your chill III heat a
rock and put It at your feet"
lie was ready TO cry out in shame oi
his weakness. but he lay silent till he
could command his voice. then he said
That would drive me from the coun
try in disgrace. Think of what the
fellows down below will say when
they know OF my cold feet!"
They won't hear Of It. and, besides
il Is better 10 carry a hot water baa
than to be laid up with fever"
Her anxiety lessened as his voice re
sumed its pleasant tenor flow. Dear
girl" he said, mo one could have been
sweeter-more like a guardian angel to
me- Don't place me under any greater
obligation. Go to sleep. am better
much better now."
She did not speak for few moments
then in voice that conveyed 10 him a
knowledge that his words of endear
ment had deeply moved her she softly
said. Good night"
He heard her sigh drowsily there
after once or twice. and then she slept
and her slumber redoubled in him his
sense of guardianship, OF responsible
| ". Lying there I'm the shelter Of hei
/ tent, the whole situation seemed sim
/ pie, innocent and poetic. But looked al
| from the standpoint of Clifford Beldeu
! IL held an accusation.
1T cannot be helped" he said. The
only thing We can do is TO conceal the
| fact that we spent the night beneath
this tent alone"
In the belief that the way would
clear with the dawn. he, too, fell
asleep. while the Ere sputtered and
smudged in the itful mountain wind.
The second dawn came slowly. as
though crippled by the storm and wall
ed back by the clouds.
With a dull ache In his bones. Way
land crept out to the frs<pd set e
work tanning the Goals VII his hat
as be had seen the supervisor do. III,
worked desperately tn one OF the EN-
bers began TO angrily sparkle and e
smoke Then. slipping away out o.
earshot. he broke an armful OF dry ii
branches TO heap above the wet. char
red logs. Soon these twigs broke int
flame. and Berrie. awakened by the
crackle Of the pine branches. called
out ''Is IL daylight
Eyes. but it's very dark daylight
Don't leave your warm bed for th'
/ dampness and cold out here. Sta'
where you are. I'll get breakfast"
How are you this morning? DID
you sleepT'
Finer
I'm afraid you had bad night" sh'
insisted. in a tone which Indicated he
knowledge Of his suffering.
"Camp life has its disadvantages.
he admitted. as he pat the coffee po
on the fire. But I'm feeling bette
now. / never fried bird In my life
but I'm going to try II this morning