The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-02
HIS WOOD NYMPH'
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.
tcopyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.


F.! leaves, and lighting his pipe, leaned |
/ laZily back against tree-trunk Game |
| was scarce, but it was the autumn |
| beauty Of the woods, as well as the |
| hunting which had called him This |
| day of warmth and sunshine seemed |
| borrowed from the summer so lately |
passed.
What glorious spot it was!" His |
! dark eyes took in the color scheme Of |
gold and crimson. Back in the days |
| of chivalry, wandering knight might |
meet in such romantic surroundings.
q lady of wondrous charm and beauty
"A wood nymph perhaps, with flow
ers twined in her hair, But in this
prosaic age of rush and reality
Carson smiled into the bowl Of his
pipe, ''the wonderful ladies competent
~ run their own cars about city pave
mcnts, or golfed at country club
Following his smile came Il rumina-
tive frown, why was he always
doomed to find the companionship of
the fair sex of such tiresome same
ness, was it because romance still
fingered hopefully at the back of his
capable business brain? A painting
The Daughter of the Wood which
hanging before his desk at home, had
not consciously attracted his atten-
ton, became now pictured upon his
} mind The girls long ripping hair,
the eyes of wide startled wonder, the
mischicvous curl Of lips .4s+red us the
berries in her hair. Then with n
sense of human nearby presence, Car
son turned to find the pictured spri!3
perched upon 4 mound Of lee.ycS h hti9
him. This particular sprite l.u-..
in frank delight at lis evident asjga
, ishment.
"Well:" she asked saucly. Still be-
wildcredly staring, he noted her round
brown arms escaping from their rag
ged covering, the wreath Of mountain
ash berries GROWING her shimnerin:-
hair; hair rippled far below the waist
Could it be girl or vision?
THAT is what | must ask you" he
replied. "Wcn?"
5 She laughed again. You wonder
= how | came here" she questioned, iii
! this solitude, fur from habitaton."
. lie nodded. Il fenced at first tn
; l had conjured up your image. NJ
o mind was at the moment filled witt
i such poetic imaginings."
: "Nc will them" the vision replied
= continue the fancy. l am, sir, 4
: daughter of the wood" She pointct.
to his gun. You, l fear, have been
destroying my feathered friends; the
cruelty must cease
1T will, fair nymph." the man re-
! piled, joining WhiInsically in her pleas
I ure. with 40 habitatep within many
weary miles Of walking. may | ask
:, where is Your abodef"
= The girl pointed upward. IN the
= sturdy oak, sir, beneath which l Sit
:, Asking pardon Of 4 Woodland
:, daughter" Carson replied. the tree
beneath which YOU sit is a sturd,
beech"
The girls laughter went ringing
through the silence. What does Il
d matter:.' she said. lat night the tree
+. makes Il sheltered resting place ans
e by day" she arose hastily TO her tin,
1t sandaled feet-"by day 1 must he bus,
II gathering nuts for the winters store
il Sir, must leave YOU"
Il, Carson arose also. The girl put forti
Is protesting hand.
IF you please" she begged, and lef
him looking after her rctreating fig
uvc.
:, The episode filled his thoughts dun
:" ing days which followed. He smile'
in mi -
: picture Of the wood nymph above hi
r. desk. These pictured eyes were no
u half so beautiful he thought tn
!, curved lips not SO alluring, rs on
ether And the remembered fac
would not be dismissed. Merrily
laughed at him from the crackln
flames of his own fireplace. gravely
" regarded him from shadowy corner
is Carson knew that he must 20 back
In back TO the far wooded country whet
is he had seen her. Now that romano
n had at last found him, he must clai
en- it for his own.
He had reached this decision, whe
to pass Il restless hour, he entere
4 motion-picture house Absently |
watched the changing scene cast upc
'er the screen. There was somcthir
vi vaguely familiar, in the wooded, hill
~ country, then Carson sat up abrupt
ne Amazement and delight fitting acro
~ his features.
Down a narrow path, ever near
ran graceful girlish figure, her flo,
ing hair crowned with n wreath
.,s berries her barred arms outstretch,
or before her, creature Wild and FRI
or she was, now pausing to laugh in Il
Id very face, now dropping upon moul
Of leaves, mischievously hiding fro
The lover who pursued .ier-Cars,
knew the hero-lover well, his face WI
pictured in many magazines, but
of was the girl who claimed his ate
in ton.
lst Nellie Miller" he read the mar
upon the screen; and thereafter S