Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-09-03

less, messy swamp OF spruce trees. In
experienced as he was, Wayland knew
that this was not well marked trail,
but his confidence in his guide WAS
too great to permit Of any worry over
the pass, and he amused himself by
watching the water robins as they
fitted from stone to stone in the tor
would drop a line for trout if he had
time to do so, and in recovered seren-
fly enjoyed his ride. Gradually he put
aside his perplexities concerning the
future, permitting his mind to prefig-
ure nothing but his duties with Ian
don at Meekers mill.
He was rather glad of the decision
to send him there, for 1t promised alb
Borbing sport. 81 shall see how Lam
don and Belden work out their prob
lem," he said. He had no fear of
Frank Meeker now. GAS forest guard
with official duties to perform l can
meet that young savage on other and
more nearly equal terms" he assured
himself.
The trail grew slippery and in places
ran full of water. 'But there's a bot
tom somewhere" Berrie confidently
declared, and pushed ahead with reso-
lutte mien. 1t was noon when they
rose above timber and entered upon
the wide, smooth slopes of the pass.
Snow filled the grass here, and the
wind, keen, cutting, unhindered, came
out of the desOlate west with savage
fury, but the sun occasionally shone
through the clouds with vivid splen-
dor. at is December now," shouted
Wayland as he put on his slicker and
covered low to his saddle. at will
be January SOON"
1--WE will make it Christmas dinner"
she laughed, and her glowing good hu-
NOR warmed his heart. She was en-
tirely her cheerful self again.
AS they rose the view became mag
niticent, wintry, sparkling. The great
clouds, drifting like ancient warships
heavy with armament, sent down chill
showers Of hail over the frosted gold
of the grassy slopes, but when the
shadows passed the sunlight descend
ed in silent cataracts deliciously spring
like. The comics squeaked from the
rocky ridges and a brace of eagles cir
cling about lone crag, as if exulting
In their sovereign mastery of the air,
screamed in shrill ecstatic duo. The
sheer cliffs on their Swallowed sides
were violently purple. Everywhere the
landscape exhibited crashing contrasts
Of primary pigments which bit into
consciousness like the flare Of mar
tial band.
1t was nearly o'clock when they
began to drop down behind the rocky
ridges of the eastern slope, and soon,
in the bottom of warm and shelter
ed hollow just at timber line, Berrie
drew her horse to stand and slipped
from the saddle. well rest here an
hour" she said, "and cook our grouse,
or are you too hungry to waltz
81 can wait" he answered dramati-
caIly. But it seems as if had never
eaten"
well, then, We'll save the grouse till
tomorrow, but I'll make some coffee
You bring some water while l start a
fire."
And so, while the tired horses crop
ped the russell grass, she boiled some
coffee and laid out some bread and
meat, while he sat by watching her
and absorbing the beauty of the scene
the charm of the hour at is exactly
like a warm afternoon in April" he
said, "and here are some of the spring
flowers"
There now, sit by and eat" she
said, with humor, and in perfectly re
stored tranquility they ate and drank
with no thought of critics or of rivals
They were alone, and content to be so
1t was deliciously sweet and restful
there in that sunny hollow on the
breast of the mountain. The wind
swept through the worn branches OF
the dwarfed spruce with immemorial
usefulness, but these young souls
heard it only as a far off song. Side
by side on the soft Alpine clover they
rested and talked, looking away at the
shining peaks, and down over the dark
green pillows of fir beneath them
Half the forest was under their eyes
at the moment, and the man said: SIS
1t not magnificent! 1t makes me proud
of my country. Just think, all this
glorious spread of hill and valley is un
der your fathers direction-I may say
under your direction, for l notice hC
does just about what you tell him tC
do"
you've noticed that?" she laughed
IF were a man I'd rather be super
visor of this forest than congressman.
80 would l." he agreed. Nash says
you are the supervisor. / wonder Il
your father realizes how efficient yOr
are? Does he ever sorrow over YOU
not being a boy?"
Her eyes shone with mirth. mo
that l can notice. He pears con
tented"
You're a good deal like a son tc
him, l imagine. You can do about al
that boy can do, anyhow-more thar
could ever do. Does he realize how
much you have to do with the man
agement of his forest? I've never seer
your like. really believe you could
carry on the work as well as he"
She flushed with pleasure. "Yol
seem to think I'm a district forester il
disguise"
II have eyes, Miss Supervisor, ant
also ears, which leads me to ask, Why
don't you clean out that saloon gang
Landon is sure there's crooked worl
going on at that mill-certainly tina