Middletown transcript., 1918-06-08

| this country doesn't get on ones
nerves-not If one is a normal human
being. You'll find that. When I first
came up here I thought so, too; 1t
| seemed so big and empty and forbid
ding. But the more I see Of 1t the bet
ter it compares with the outer world,
where the extremes Of luxury and want
are always in evidence. It began to
seem like home to me when I first
looked down into this little basin. I
had a partner then. I said to him:
Here's a dandy, fine place to winter
So we wintered-in log shack sixteen
foot square that Silk and Satin and
Niger have for stable now. When
summer came my partner wanted to
move on, 80 I stayed-stayed and be-
gan to build for the next winter. And
rye been working 1T 1t ever since.
making little things like chairs and
tables and shelves, and fixing up game
heads whenever got an extra good
one. And maybe two or three times a
year I'd go out. Got restless, you
know. I'm not really hermit by ma
ture. Lord, the things I've packed in
here from the outsidel Books-I hired
a whole pack train at Ashcroft once to
bring in just books; they thought I
was crazy, guess. I've quit this place
once or twice. but l always come back.
It's got that home feeling that can't
find anywhere else. Only it has always
lacked one important home quanfica-
tion," he finished softly. do you ever
build air castlesY
mo-" Hazel answered untruthfully,
uneasy at the trend Of his talk. She
was learning that Bill Wagstaft, for
all his gentleness and patience with
her. was a persistent mortal.
"Well, I do" he continued, upper
turbed. Lots of 'em. But mostly
around one thing-a woman-a dream
woman-because I never saw one that
seemed to At in until I ran across you"
'Mr. Wagstaff," Hazel pleaded,
wont you please stop talking like
that? It isn't-it isn't"
isn't proper, suppose Bill sup
piled dryly, "Now, that's merely an
error. and fundamental error on your
part. little person. Our emotion and
instincts are perfectly proper when you
get down to fundamentals. You've got
an artificial standard to Judge by,
that's all. And I don't suppose you
have the least idea how many lives are
spoiled one way and another by the
operation Of those same artificial stand
ards In this little old world. Now. I
may seem to you a lawless, unprin-
cipled individual indeed, because I've
acted contrary to your idea Of the ac-
cepted order Of things. But here's my
side Of 1t: I'm in search of happiness.
We all are. have a few ideals and
very Few illusions. I don't quite believe
IN this thing called love at first sight.
mat presuppOses a volatility Of emo
ton that people Of any strength of
character are not likely to indulge in.
But-for instance, a man can have a
very definite ideal of the kind Of wom-
an he would like for a mate. the kind
OF woman he could be happy with and
could make happy. And whenever he
finds woman who corresponds to that
ideal he's apt to make a strenuous at
tempt to get her. That's pretty much
how felt about you"
you had no right to kidnap me-"
Hazel began.
you had no business getting lost
and making it possible for me to carry
you off," Bill replied. isn't that Logger"
I'll never forgive you," Hazel
flashed. 1T was treacherous and un-
manly. There are other ways Of win
ming q woman"
There wasn't any other way open
to me-" Bill grew suddenly moody.
"Not with you in Cariboo Meadows.
I'm taboo there. Why. I'd have been at
your elbow when you left the supper
table at Jim Briggs that night If I
hadn't known how it would be. went
there out of sheer curiosity to take q
look at yOu-maybe out of a spirit of
defiance, too, because l knew that I
was certainly not welcome even If they
were willing to take my money for q
meal. And came away all up in the
air. There was something about you
the tone Of your voice, the way your
proud little head is set on your shout
ders. your makeup in general-that
sent me away with q large-sized crouch
at myself, at Cariboo Meadows, and at
you for coming in my way"
"Why2" she asked in wonder.
Because you'd have believed what
they told you, and Cariboo Meadows
can't tell anything about me that isn't
bad" he said quietly. my record
there makes me entirely unfit to asso-
ciate with-that would have been your
conclusion. And I wanted to be with
you, to talk to you, to take you BY
storm and make you like me as I felt |
could care for you. You can't have |
grown up. little person. without realiz-
ing that you do attract men very
strongly. All women do, but some far
more. than Others"
"Perhaps," she admitted coldly.
'Men have annoyed me with their un-
welcome attentions. But none Of them
ever dared 60 the length Of carrying
me away against my will. You can't |
explain or excuse that"
"Tm not attempting excuses" Bill |
made answer. There are two things
I never do-apologize or bully. l dare
say that's one reason the Meadows
gives me such black eye. II they
weren't good deal afraid Of me, and
always laying for chance to do me
up, they wouldn't let me stay in the
town overnight. So you can see what
a handicap was under when it came
to making your acquaintance and
you In the orthodox manner"