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

That he possessed her pity and her
friendship be knew. and be began 20
wonder II he had made a deeper ap-
peal 10 her than this.
Can Il be that / am really a man
to her" he thought, 81 who am only
poor weakling whom the rain aad
snow can appallY'
Then he thought OF the effect OF this
night upon her life. What would ClIf-
ford Belden do now? To what deeps
would his rage descend IL he should
come 10 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"
"Tll 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 1t very we'll"
you'll be sick" she urged. 10 voice
OF alarm "PIease drag your bed in
side the door What would do II you
should have pneumonia tomorrow? You
must not take any risk Of fever"
The thought OF sheltered spot, OF
something to break the remorseIess
wind, oyercame his scruples, and be
drew his bed inside the tent and rear
ranged It there.
You're half frozen" she said. "Your
teeth are chattering."
IN be all right In few moments"
he said please go to sleep. shall
be snug as 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
bis 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 feetlp
They won't hear Of II, and. besides,
II IS better to carry a hot water bag
than TO be laid up with a 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 to him
knowledge that his words Of endear.
ment had deeply moved her she softly |
said. Good night"
He heard her sigh drowslly 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 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 ftful mountain wind.
The second dawn came slowly, as
though crippled by the storm and wall
ed back by the clouds.
With a dun ache In his bones. Way
land crept out to the fire and set to |
work tanning the Goals with his hat,
as he had seen the supervisor do. He
worked desperately TIL one OF the EN-
bers began to angrlly sparkle and to
smoke. Then. slipping away out OF
earshot. he broke an armful OF dry Cir |
branches to heap above the wet, char
red logs. Soon these twIgs broke into
flame, and Berrie, awakened by the
crackle Of the pine branches. called |
out, rs It daylight?'
"Yes, but it's very dark daylight.
Don't leave your warm bed for the |
dampness and cold out here. STAY
where you are. I'll get breakfast"
How are you this morningl Did
you sleepY'
"Flnew
I'm afraid you bad a bad night" she |
insisted, in tone which indicated her |
knowledge OF his suffering.
Camp life has its dlsadvantages,r
he admitted, as he put the coffee pot |
on the Ore. But I'm feeling better
now. never fried bird In my lie,
but I'm going to try II this morning |
| have some water heating for your
bath" He put the soap. towel and ba
sin or hot water Just inside the tent
dap. Here It is. I'm going to bathe
In the lake. must show my hardl. |
hood"
When he returned he found the girl
full dressed, alert and glowing. but she
greeted him with a touch Of shyness
and self consciousness new to her, and
her eyes yelled themselves before his |
glance.
"Now, where do you suppose the su.
pervisor lsT' be asked
81 hope he's at home" she replied
II