Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-03-15
CHAPTER XIII.
The Red Bar OK the Waters.

uoy later MISS OrQWay packed an
expensive bag of real alligator and
made ready for a departure.
I'm going to Salem, partner" she
said. If Hampden gets anxious
enough to inquire openly. tell him I'm
after-clothes."
She smiled to herself, thinking OF
those millions of trees. For it's own
sake, the pursuit of Hampden was be-
ginning to enthrall her professional
instinct, but there was a flicker OF
passion under her lashes, sleepy look
or anticipation, as she glanced side
wise at Sandrye on the step beside
her.
i may be away a week-maybe a
month. I'll drop you a line coca
sionally."
A yearning sense of loss and loneli.
ness gripped Sandry as he took her
hand at parting, lending to his clasp
an unwonted tightness. and to his
voice sense of huskiness. She was
home and the things thereof, this
woman who was an orchid among the
pines, and with her going went some.
thing he had scarcely realized, yet
which he would sorely miss.
The camp seemed more than usually
dreary in the days that followed. The
fog ribbons twined and twisted con.
t1nualiy along the hills. the pines
brought their marching ranks closer
IN upon the shrinking valley, and San.
dry was taken with an acute attack OF
the blues.
"S'letz," he said abruptly as he met
the girl one noon at the pump. will
you ride with me tomorrow? It's Sun.
day and we can take lunch. What
do you say?"
She did not meet dis eyes, her own
somber ones glancing down the slough.
Yes" she said quietly
They were up betimes the following
morning. Ma Daily cooked an early
breakfast and Sandry sat down for the
first time with the girl at table. Con.
versation languished until a gentle
tread sounded on the floor and the
Preacher came in. his delicate face
aglow from the touch of icy water
John Daily, too, numbered in at the
same moment.
'Sleep well, father?" he asked.
las always, son. The lowering OF
Gods hand is like the sound of many
ngs-hushing-ah, so hushing. Isn't
it so,-ah-ah-I have forgot
The pathetic, childlike eyes searched
Sandry's face in straining inquiry.
What is it | would remembers" he
asked plaintively.
Nothing. father. 1t is all we'll"
Siletz had pushed back the bench for
him. Now she laid her slim hand low
ingly upon his and looked in his face
a smile curving up the lips above the
broken sign. AS the two hands lay
upon the oilcloth Sandry noticed them
one white and fine veined and shape
ly, with the slender, pointed fingers OF
dreamer-the other olive and shape
ly and with the same slim-pointed fin
gers.
Alike" he unused, how very much
alike. Why. they are counterparts!
AS he led Black Bolt to the hammer
block for Siletz to mount he heard
snatches of song from the clubhouse
Collins was outside. stretching fresh
deerhide against the planks.
The owner turned in mis- saddle and
looked back at the camp-his camp
as they trotted away down the green
valley. 1t lay snuggled tight against
the pine-clad hills, primitive force in
a primitive country, and he thrilled tc
| it's suggestion. AS they passed the
lower rollway he stopped and sur
| veyed the brown slough, solid hool
of logs as far as he could see, even un
! til it lost itself between it's low, tule
edged banks.
At a natural clearing they refined II
to breathe the horses. and Sandry
turned to the girl.
| "SIetz." he said, tell me how 1t Is
that you have lived all your life sc
near the ocean and have never seen 1t
when you have wanted to SO much?"
The rare smile lighted her face anc
she turned to him.
81 was afraid" she said.
What? Afraid! Afraid of what?'
"Of how it might look in truth
know how it looks in my own pictures
lit might not-look the same"
For a moment the man was silent
before the subtle fineness OF the
thought, amazed to find it in this sim
pie child of the logging country.
And why now?" he asked curiously
"Why do you go now?"
"You CO." said Siletz as simply a:
Kolawmie would speak in his govern
ment cabin at the reservation to the
north.
you're a great dreamer. S1etz,
said Sandry.
She nodded.
The horses, having taken their re
uuired rest, started forward of thei
own will after the manner of hill-bret
horses. and silence prevailed, save TO-
the swish and slip of the iron-shot
hoofs. It took an hour to reach TIT
crest OF the range.
Siletz had fallen a-dreaming. sway
ing unconsciously to every motion
Black Bolt, one hand swinging out
ward as encouragement to the dol
whose anxious eyes were raised from