The Bossier banner., 1915-08-19
drew his bed inside the tent and rea

drew his bed inside the tent and rear
ranged it there.
You're half frozen," she said Your
teeth are chattering."
I'll be all right In few moments. !"
he said Please so to sleep. l shall
be snug as bug in 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:
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-
suned it's pleasant tenor dow. 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. am better
much better now"
She did not speak for few moments.
then in Il voice that conveyed to him a
knowledge that his words of endear-
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 al
from the standpoint Of Clifford Belden
1t held an accusation.
1T 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 fitful mountain wind.
The second dawn came slowly. AZ
though crippled by the storm and wall
ed back by the clouds.
With q 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 t
smoke Then, slipping away out o.
| earshot, he broke an armful of dry 6l
branches to heap above the wet char
red logs Soon these twigs broke init
| fame. and Berrie. awakened by thu
crackle of the pine branches, callet
out. '.Is 1t daylight?'
Eyes. but it's very dark daylight
| Don't leave your warm bed for tn,
| dampness and cold out here. STAY
| where you are. I'll get breakfast"
"How are you this morning? DIX
you sleepr'
"Finer'
I'm afraid you had bad night" Oh,
insisted, in tone which indicated he
knowledge Of his suffering.
Camp life has its disadvantages,
he admitted. as he put the coffee po
on the fire. But I'm feeling bette
now. I never fried bird in my life
but I'm going to try 1t this morning
l have some water heating for you
bath" He put the soap. towel and ba
sin Of hot water just inside the ten
Dap. "Here 1t is. I'm going to bath
in the lake. must show my hardl
hood"
When be returned he found the gir
full dressed. alert and glowing. but sh
greeted him with touch Of shynes
and self consciousness new to her. ant
her eyes yelled themselves before hi
| glance.
"Now. where do you suppose the SO
pervisor isy' he asked.
II hope he's at home. she replies
quite seriously ''rd hate to think o
1