The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-12-27
ADIRONDACK GUIDE.
BY GEORGE HAssLER

The fashionable world long won
dered why Miss Elizabeth Courtland
Van Rensselaer,, aged rs, did moi
marry. She was rich, handsome, ant
one Of the 400. She had refused many
offers. So society finally gave it uI
aud put down the heiress as decidedly
eccentric. IL
Now, John Turner Osgood was one
of many interested in Miss Van Rens
salaer's matrimonial Intentions. He
| was looking for rich wife. He had
no objections to good looks and social
| position, but never having been ii
love. Riches were the main considern
ltion with him. And being rather
clever. young man, sitter q fashion iii
his own, Mr.. Osgood did not rush III
to try his fate. On the contrary, he
took good care that Miss Rensselaer,
should not even see his face. Inste;tl
he had a confidential talk with his
clever Young married cousin, Mrs.
Thomas Cnrstairs, who, not long al.
forwards, struck up quite 4 Friendship
with Miss Rensselaer,. In due course
of time Mrs. Carstairs reported to Mr..
Osgood that she guessed Miss Ven
Rensselaer, Gid not marry because she
was looking for real man and had
not been able, up to date, to find one
in her exclusive and limited set.
This report must have borne fruit,
for queerly enough, last summer when
Miss Van Rensselaer, and camping
party went into the Adirondacks one
of their guides was new man-John
Turner, he called himself-wh0 was
Just little different from any other
guide in all the region round about.
One afternoon toward the last Of
the camp, Miss Van Rensselaer, got
into her boat, remarked that they
needn't wait for supper for her and
pulled leisrrely across the lake. At
supper time it was suggested that
someone ought to look her up. Turner
volunteered and pulled across the lake
I to the mouth Of stream where he
!, had last seen her boat. A little way
up the stream he met freshly plucked
pond lily floating down. Further on
he saw more lilies, birch bark and
beech leaf wreaths. It was trail
blind man could follow. and even after
It was dark he rOwed on, confident
that she was upstream. Finally be
found her on the bank busily engaged
In broiling black bass over small
camp IRE. A substantial lunch basket
showed she had come prepared.
Miss Van Rensselaer, did not seem
] at all surprised to see the guide and
the guide expressed no surprise at
finding her cooking her supper alone
/ at a distance Of ten miles or more
from the camp. He merely remarked
!. that the party had asked him to hsnt
her up and tell her that supper was
ready. She remarked in turn that the
, fancy had seized her to eat supper
| alone in the woods and asked him to
get some more wood for the fire. Then
she made him help. her with her cook.
Ing and finally handed him q tin plate
and a knife and fork and told him to
fall to. Afterward they sat about the
fire and talked casually about the
woods.
At last she remarked casually that
she supposed he knew how to build q
shelter for her for the night. He re-
piled that he did and proceeded TO put
together light lean-to Of saplinRs,
boughs and bark, and to heap the floor
with fragrant hemlock and cedar.
When 1t was done she asked him to
pile up enough wood by the fire to last
all night. When this was ready she
remarked:
"I've set my heart on sleeping here
in the woods. OF course, IL would not
be safe for me to stay alone?'
"No," he answered, ''there are pan.
theirs and wolves in these woods
I want you to stay and keep watch.
Then in the morning you can go back
first to camp and say you couldn't find
me-"
Il see,' he remarked, "all right"
Thereupon, Miss Van Rensselaer,
went to her lean-to, made herself snug
with a blanket.
Presently Miss Van Rensselaer,,
much to her surprise, dropped off to
sleep. Promptly with the first blush
of dawn Miss Van Rensselaer, opened
her eyes and looked into the guides
face. He was staring straight in front
Of him, and his face was drawn and
haggards-
= 80 -
"Who are your she said suddenly.
"A fraud" he replied. He did not
even seem surprised at her question.
Il saw you in Washington last win.
ter" he went on. II knew had no
chance there, but l thought luck might
come my way up here in the woods.
l imagined you were deadly tired of
your world. wanted rich wife. ]
spied on you and here ana hired
guide.'
why do you tell me this? Why not
keep up the pretence- not talk Of
love-why not threaten me? You hold
the cards.
Because I do love you.'
ooh"
And because love- you I am
ashamed, and am going"
USit still momoDf Mr. Thin