The Mena weekly star., 1916-12-21

suggested to the summit of the nearest peak to watch the sunset lalter-gloW. In the rush that fol- lowed Louise did not notice the personnel of the party; she having fallen in with an old acquaintance they were somewhat apart from the rest of the crowd.
 In the front ranks Colonel knobei joined a very interesting gentleman
 especially Co an older man-an at tentive listener. Have you not mo- iiced the comment of the aged, He is a very delightful companionl ac- curately interpreted means He let me do the talking?'
 In this ease it was truly agreeable to the younger man, for he found in 'The Colonel" a wealth of history and legendary lore entirely unfamil- far to him. In the development of the Middle West Colonel knobel had worked as the chief engineer in the construction of several of the great commercial highways. His work in the open had developed in him the spirit of the true naturalist, and as his profession offered the oppor- tunity he had explored the great primeval forests and streams, and knew their hidden treasures. He was skilled Nature Specialist, giving Mir, Adams a glimpse into a new science
 On reaching the summit of the mountain they had just paused to rest and enjoy the beauties of the evening, as Silently, one by one, i'll the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars-the | Forget me-nots of the angels, when Louise noticed them appar- ently unconscious of the arrival of the rest of the party. Fearing the climb had been too much for her father she rushed to him, and there came face to face with the brown eyed stranger she had noticed at supper
 T beg your pardon" said the Colonel to his companion, q may have been introduced to you, but | do not recall your name"
 Adams came the quiet answer.
 MT Adams, this is my daughter" '"
 Smiling. at the same time extend ing his hand, Miss what stall | call the name?'
 "knobel," Louise replied.
 T could have guessed your name Iwithout asking came the blushing response.
 After the return to the inn the evening passed in cards, music, and dancing, till a fate hour. Alone in her room at last, the distance from the main building being sufficient to annihilate all sounds. Louise fell asleep thinking of the charming stranger she had met "on the heights"
 The next morning the suns first rays peeping over the mountain tops fell upon her face, and she awoke smiling as she thought of the half merry, half-melancholy eyes of Mr. l Adams when he said, T could have guessed your name" She had promised to join the crowd in a two mile tramp to the river, otherwise she would stay in bed, however, she could not resist the call of Nature on such a perfect morning. Why was she wondering still about the lady she had seen talking Go Mr. Adams at supper? If she were his wife why had she not been with him later in the evening2
 By nine o'clock the breeze had quit blowing; the mercury was ris- | ing rapidly By noon the heat was intenscl Thirty OF more of the guests of the inn. with a score of children following. went to the river for an after-dinner plunge into its leooling waters.
 1 There is no more beautiful stream hiding among the Ozarks, than the fabled Cossatot You need only to look into it's secret depths, and hear it's weird song as it comes to you from the boulders beyond the big bridge to imagine it's birth in some distant cave high up among ina mountains, where mvsterious beings hide, and hold their wild orgies. In it's mad rush to reach ''ihe Father of Waters it catches lup thc notes of every wild creature haunting it's banks, till it no longer sings it's own song. hut that of all Iuniamed life From each curve in | lis winding course it brealhcs a lmrad haunting hapmonies. 1 The river reached the children l ran eagerly down its pebbly banks Imto the shallow waters. others lclimbcd out on the fallen trunk of 1 an cid monarch of Che forest that bent its protecting arms over the Ideep waters of lhe Diving Hole. ! No one had noticed the little gol- lden-hared girl as she climbed lar l lther and farther out on the old tree. ! intently watching her playmates l down the stream "A splash -and l ihe golden hair was seen Go disap- lpear beneath the deep watersl | From an 0yerhangne bank a man ! leaped just in time Co grasp the ! frightened child as she appeared aeain He elasped her frantcally | in his arms, then with the skilled strokes Of an expert he started to- ward the shore, as others rushed lo his aid
 Look Look What's the mat ter2"
 Has he fainted?a