Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-10-07

reproduction OF her fathers unhurried
and graceful action. Her seat I'm the
saddle was as easy as I.andon's. and
her eyes were alert TO every rock and
stream I'm the road. She was at home
here. where the other girl would nave
been bewildered child. and his words
of praise lifted the shadow from her
face.
Wayland called out, The air feels
ike Thanksgiving morning. doesn't it,
.It is THANKSGIVING for me. and I'm
going TO get grouse for dinner. she
replied, and in less than an hour the
snap of her rifle made good her prom
| ise
After leaving the upper lake she
turned TO the right and followed the
course of a swift and splendid stream
which came churning through a cheer
less. messy swamp of spruce trees. In
experienced as he was. Wayland knew
that this was not well marked trail.
bur his confidence i'm 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 10 stone in the tor
rent, and In calculating just where he
would drop line for trout II he had
time TO do SO. and In recovered seren-
ity enioyed his ride Gradually he put
aside his perplexties concerning tire
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 it promised alb
sorbIng sport. IL shall see how Ian
don and Belden work out their prob
lem" he said He had no fear OF
Frank Meeker now. AS forest guard
with official duties TO perform | 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 n bot
tom somewhere" Berrie confidently
declared. ana pushed ahead with reso-
lutte mien II was noon when they
rose above timber and entered upon
the wide. smooth slopes Of the pass.
/ ClDN HlltU Allt ElHNN utifs anu Ah'
wind. keen. cutting. unhindered. came
out OF the dcsolate west with savage
fury, but the sun occasionally shone
through the clouds with vivid splen-
dor 1t is December now" shouted
Wayland as he put OF his slicker and
covered low TO his saddle. 1T will
be January soon"
I'VE will make il Christmas dinner"
she laughed, and her glowing good HUI
NOR warmed his heart. She was en-
tirely her cheerful self again.
AS they rose the view became mag
nhcent. 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 i'm silent cataracts dcliciously spring
like The comics squeaked from the
rocky ridges and a brace Of eagles cir
cling about a lone crag, rs If eXulting
in their sovereign mastery Of the air.
screamed i'm shrill ecstatic duo The
sheer cliffs on their Swallowed sides
we're violently purple. Everywhere the
landscape exhibited crashing contrasts
Of primary pigments which bit into
consciousness like the flare OF a mar
tial band.
IL was nearly o'clock when they
began 10 drop down behind the rocky
ridges OF the eastern slope. and soon.
in the bottom OF a warm and shelter
cd hollow just at timber line, Berrie
drew her horse 20 stand and slipped
from the saddle wen rest here an
hour" she said. and cook our grouse.
ar are YOU TOO hungry to waltz
Il can wait" he answered dramati-
cally But it seems as IL had never
eaten"
We'll. then. wen save the grouse till
tomorrow. but III make some coffee.
You bring some water while | 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. lit is exactly
like a warm afternoon in April" he
said. land here are some of the spring
towers
There now. sit by and eat she
I 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.
Ii 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 II only us 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: lis
it not magnificent It 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 h
does just about what you tell him to
do"
You've noticed that?" she laughed
IF / were man I'd rather be super.
visor OF this forest than congressman"
$50 would l. he agreed. Nash says
you are the supervisor. wonder II
your father realizes how efficient you