The Washington herald., 1918-12-27
CHAPTER xI-continued


first one jumped of into the long
grass, the second following closely.
A bird thinking himself alone began
to sing directly over their heads. Then
a rabbit leaped scuarely into the dell.
but seeing the intruders gave one
| frightened jump into the bushes,
where. hearing no movement he
turned and regarded the pair out Of
his bright eyes.
And now and again, Rebecca would
whisper in her companion's ear Of
their forest visitors, softly, that they
might not be disturbed.
NO wonder you love your woods,
o Queen of the Roses" said Martin
gently. They are the most beautiful
that l have ever seen"
CHAPTER XII
Mrs Vanderpool sat in the quiet,
airy library, writing to Maud Haver-
hill. 1t is doubtful whether she had
ever passed a more enjoyable half
hour.
Such a pity" fell from her pen.
that Becky seems so adverse TO mat
rimony. DIR. Manfred is thoroughly a
gentleman and "a distinguished
scholar. He is genuinely in love with
her"
1t was as balm to her disappointed
mother heart to write after this
fashion.
Meanwhile the unconscious subject
of the letter day-dreamed on the
great rock. her arm in Martins
while nature went ineXorably on per
forming her miracle within their
hearts.
THE sun is climbing up over the
tree-tops," she said at last, 1T is
time to light the fire" She looked
at her watch to make sure.
so soon?" Martin sighed content
edly. Il thought that we had Just
come"
Rebecca left the rock and opened the
large basket From It she secured
a newspaper and a box OF matches.
which last she tucked into her MILDLY
blouse.
A Primitive stove.
The paper she crumpIed up and
placed in the primitive stove which
from a few feet away. looked merely
like a pile OF stones. and then she
began TO collect small twigs.
Cant help
Yes" said she, you may unpack
the basket and lay the things on the
rock where We have been sitting"
She took Martins hand and assisted
him TO his feet Then she drew the
basket a bit closer.
There" she said Now I will
make the fire"
She bent herself to her task. while
her companion cautiously ran his
sensitive fingers over the bulginE
parcels in the basket Rebecca had
packed il in such a way that It would
be quite safe for him to Unpack t.
Each article was in a tightly-corked
bottle or done up snugly in a paper
napkin.
There is enough here for hungry
family" he said as he laid the last
parcel on the rock.
Wait and see" she replied.
And now you may light the fire
The lighting Of a fire at a flat-rock
fry is a kind OF ceremony. like the
laying Of a corner stone OF a library
or the christening OF a ship. II is a
tremendous honor, I can assure you"
Martin rose TO his feet and stood in
ratient expectancy by the great rock,
his face looking so wonderfully young
in his new-found happiness. And IL
was a strange kind OF happiness. too
for a man OF his experience in the
world. where he had worked for hon
ors. striven TO conquer opponents, and
traversed continent after continent
in pursuit OF learning.
Martin Makes n Discovery.
He realized that he had grown tt
love Rebecca- He knew. also. thai
It was the more irrevoCable. coming
in answer to his hearts first grea
sense of need. and without the back,
ground of other remembered lessel
loves. He knew that their meeting
was as though in accord with tn,
outworking OF some law which haC
been approaching this end for cen
turies. but-he would never marrl
now He would not put in the wsy
OF a young and charming woman {
temptation. to which her very sweet
ness OF nature might induce her t.
yield He could well imagine he1
marrying him out OF pity. He woulC
never let her know how much h,
needed just what she had TO give
lest she should imagine. after tn,
manner of such women. that she love,
him only to discover her mistak,
when it was too late.
He would be her friend Then sh,
should be free when the man whom
, she was destined to love should COM
to her.
Rebecca took his hand and the!
, moved slowly to the pile OF stones
! She bade him kneeI down. and sh
knelt beside him. They looked like
, pair OF fire-worshipers before som
, forest altar. Then she handed hin
the box of matches.
Strike the match" she said
ssTbara iS M wind today will enid
your hand"
Martin lighted the match. and Re
Z becca guided it until its little yellow
6 flame touched the paper into a blaze
2 Now. that so much is accomplish
> ed" she said. you must sit on m,
rock while I fill the pail at tn
q brook.
J; The Picnic Progresses.
!, From the tin pail she took the Dit
> tie bottle OF thick cream, the whit
2 muslin bag Of ground coffee, the sal
!. end pepper and ran down to tn
3 water. which CurgIed and laughe
!. over the green rocks between its bed
= Of forget-me -nots.
" ."Oh. isn't il lovely here" she cried
:. as she clambered hack up the stee
bank
;; Yes" Martin replied, very lovely.
Rehecca took n large sponge fror
? her basket. and dipping It in the pai
!, sponged the flat rock that topped tn
!. pile Of stones.
/; It had begun to grow warm.
!. I'm washing my broiler." she SAID
a, 1T is getting hot already"
Martin smiled
e I've a big sponge" she went OF
!. desirous that he should see all, "an