Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-09-22

for, morning. He cut some
" ~ shavings from u dead. dry
branch of fir and put them under the
fly and brought bucket of water from
the creek. and then together they drag
2ged 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
illusion as If sheShad taken refuge be-
,5hind gates of triple. BRASS. Nothing In
..hll his life had moved him 50 deeply
as her solicitude, her sweet trust in
his honor, and he sat long in profound
meditation. Any man would be .riclf 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. g., ~ 49,,
t.4S"Can 1t be that. am really man
to her." he thought, II 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? -, r.
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
"1'll 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 WELL"
you'll be sick!' 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 a sheltered spot Of
something to break the remorseless
drew his bed inside the tent and rear.
ranged it there.
you're half Frozen" she said: "Your
teeth are chattering."
''I'u be oil right in a few moments"
he said. "Please go to sleep. I shall
be snug as bug in moment"
She watched his shadowy motions
from her bed. and when ut last he had
nestled into his blankets she said. III
you don't lose your chill I'll heat a
rock and put 1t 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:
''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
sweeter-more like guardian angel to
me. Don't place me under any greater
obligation. Go to sleep. lam better
much better now
She did not speak for a few moments
then in u voice that conveyed to him IL
knowledge that his words of endeur-
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
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
it held an accusation.
lit cannot be helped he said. THE
only thing we cale 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 dakn, he. too. fell
:s=sns