Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08

logging lumber In British Columbia.
Charlie tells Stella of his prospects and
describes his primitive manner of living.
lilo introduces a neighbour Paul Abbey.
The st, Allwoods' car was rolling ont
to Hopyard when they came back. BY
the time Benton had turned the canoe
over to the bathhouSc man and reach
Ell the wharf the horn OF the returning
machine sounded down the road. They
waited. The ear came to n stoD nj
the nbuttmg wharf. The driver hand.
cd TWO suit cases Off the burdcncd hood
OF his machine. From out the tonncau
clnmDcrcd large, smooth faced young
man. lie wore an expansive smile in
addition to Il blue serge suit, white
panama and polished tan oXfords, and
he bestowed hearty greeting upon
Charlie Benton. But his smile suf-
fcrcd eclipse and II faint flush rose in
his round checks when his eyes fell
upon Bcnton's sister.
Miss Bcnton's cool. impcrsonnl man
ncr seemed rather to hcightcn the
young mans embarrassment. Benton,
apparently observing nothing amiss,
introduced them IN an ofrhand fashion,
MIR. Abbey, my sister"
Mr.. Abbey bowed and murmurcd
something that passed for ncknowl-
cdgmcnt. The three turned uD tho
wharf toward where Sam Davis had
once more got up steam. AS they
walked Mr. Abbcy's habitual assurance
returned, and he directed part OF his
genial flow of conversation TO Miss
Benton. 10 Stclla's inner amusement,
however, he did not make any refer
cncc to their having been fellow tray
elers for day and II half.
Presently they were embarked and
under way. Charlie fixed Il scat for
her on tie aftcrdccli and went for
ward to steer, whittier he was straight
way joined by Paul Abbey Miss Ben
ton was rs well pleased to be alone.
She was not sure she should approve
Of young men who made such crude
efforts to scrapc acquaintance with
women on
Afier,aivut hours run; with tho
south wind be inning to whip the
crestS or the short seas into white
foam. the boat bore in to landing be-
hind low point. Here Abbey discm-
parked after taking the trouble to
come aft and shake hands with polite
farewell. Standing on the float, hat
IN hand, he bowed his sleek blond
head to Stella
II hope yon'll like Roaring lake, Miss
Benton" he said us Benton iinglcd the
go ahead bell. 81 tried to persuade
Charlie to stop over awhile, so YOU
could meet my mother and sister, but
he's in too big hurry. Hope TO have
the pleasure OF meeting you again
soon"
Miss Benton parricd courtcously, q
little ut loss to futhom his bland
fricndlincss. and presently the WIDEN
ing space cut Off their talk. AS the
boat drew otIshorc she saw two wom-
en- In white come down toward the
float. meet Abbey ana turn back. And
little farther out through an opening
III the woods she saw white and
green bungalow. low and rambling,
wide verandacd. set on hillock 300
yards back from shore. There was an
encircling area of smooth lawn, Il Mace
rcstfnlly inviting.
Far ahead loomed n ridge running
down to the lake shore and cutting
Off in a hold promontory. That was
Halfway Point, Charlie had told her,
and under its shadow lay his camp.
Without any previous knowledge OF
camps, she was approaching this ono
with less eager anticipation than when
she began her long journey. She be-
gan to fear that 1t might be totally I'M
like anything she had been able to
imagine, disagreeably so.
In due course the Chickamin bore in
under Halfway Point, opened out n
sheltered blight where the watery COM
motion outside raised but faint rip
pie, and drew in alongside float.
The girl swept lake shore, bay and
sloping forest with q Quickcning eye.
Here was no trim painted cottage and
no velvet lawn. In the waters beside
and lining the beach tloated innumer-
able logs, confined by boom sticks; hun
drcds Of trunks Of fir, forty and sixty
butt, timber enough, when it had pass
ed through the sawmills, to build four
such towns as Hopyard. Just back
from the shore, amid stumps and lit
tered branches, rose the roofs Of divers
buildings. One was long and low.
Hard by 1t stood another OF like type,
but Of lesser dimension. Two or three
mere shantics lifted level with great
stumps - crude, implanted buildings
Smoke issued from the pipe of the
larger, and white aproned man stood
In the doorway.
Somewhere in the screen of woods a
whistle shrilled. Benton looked at his
watch.
eve made good time in spite OF the
little roll" said he. 'Thats the dom
key blowing quitting time, @ o'clock.
Well, come on up to the shack, sis.
Sam, you get Hhcelbarrow and run
those trunks up after supper, will
your"
Away in the banked timber beyond
hn OH