Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-08-20
CHAPTER VIII.
The Walk In the Rain.

vision, he made preparations
for morning He cut some
~ shavings from a dead, dry
branch of fir and put them under the
fly 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 in
the ownership of her love he admitted.
That he possessed her pity and her
friendship he knew, and he began to
wonder if he had made deeper ap-
peal to her than this.
Can it be that l am really man
to her." he thought 81 who am only
a poor weakling whom the rain and
snow can appall?'
Then he thought of the effect of this
night upon her life. What would Cliff
ford Belden do now? To what deeps
would his rage descend if he should
come to know of it?
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"
"Pll stay up awhile yet. My boots
aren't entirely dried out"
After a silence she said; you must
not get chilled. Bring your bed into
the tent. There is room for you"
"Oh, no, that isn't necessary. I'm
standing it very we'll"
you'll be sickr she urged, in a voice
of alarm. 'Please drag your bed in
side the door. What would do if you
should have pneumonia tomorrow? You
must not take any risk of fever"
The thought of sheltered spot, of
something to break the remorseless
wind, overcame his scruples, and he
drew his bed inside the tent and rear
ranged it there.
You're half Frozen" she said. "Your
teeth are chattering"
"Ill be all right in a few moments"
he said. "Please go to sleep. l 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, "If
you don't lose your chill I'll heat a
rock and put it at your feet"
He was ready to cry out in shame Of
his weakness, but he lay silent till he
could command his voice, then he said
l"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,
it is better to carry hot water bag
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
me. Don't place me under any greater
obligation. Go to sleep. l am better
much better now"
She did not speak for few moments,
then in voice that conveyed to him a
knowledge that his words of endear-
lment 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 bis
sense of guardianship, of responsible
ty. Lying there in the shelter of her
tent, the whole situation seemed sim
pie, innocent and poetic. But looked at
from the standpoint Of Clifford Belden
1t held an accusation.
1T cannot be helped" he said. 1.-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 fire sputtered and
smudged in the fltful 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 fire and set Il
work tanning the Goals with his hat
as he had seen the supervisor do. HI
worked desperately TIL one of the EN-
bers began to angrily sparkle and f
smoke. Then, slipping away out o
earshot, he broke an armful of dry ID
branches to heap above the wet, char
red logs. Soon these twigs broke int
fame, and Berrie, awakened by tn
crackle of the pine branches, calle'
out, "Is it daylightT
Eyes, but it's very dark daylight
Don't leave your warm bed for tn
dampness and cold out here. sta
where you are. I'll get breakfast"
"How are you this morning? Di'
you sleep?'
"Fine!"
I'm afraid you had bad night, sh
insisted, INA tone which Indicated he
knowledge Of his suffering.
Camp life has its disadvantages.
ne admitted. as he put the coffee pc
on the fire. But I'm feeling bette
now. / never fried bird in nv life