Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-06-12

SAS ~ AN IAO 0AOClAAA6 q
Yes, the bag was safe, and its con
i, tents, but its beauty was gone, for the
thin leather finish was blistered and
peeiing from the inner lining. The
things inside were all there, even the
strange mans leather case, wrapped
in a wet pulp of paper. She took the
ipaper off and threw it from her; then
realizing how few worldly goods she
was now possessed of. she reached and
spread the paper out to dry. Il would
be needed, of course.
Her small store OF money was safe,
and her bits of pins and watch, the
little timepiece ticking bravely on as
ii y We're alive and trying to be cheer
full under adverse circumstances.
Jean tool out her combs and hair
pins which she had slowed in the
pocket of her handbag that they might
be easily found in the morning. and
felt rich indeed to have them. They
would assist very materially in her
toilet.
With the aid of the combs she pres
emily had her hair soft and shining in
it's accustomed coils and fluffy masses.
for fortunately for her appearance
that morning, her hair was of the kind
that tries to curl in spite of floods and
winds, and it fluffed it's prettiest with
the first rays of the sun glinting over
it.
The handbag held, among other
things, a needle and both black and
white thread. With their aid Jean,
mended the rents in her robe, and
managed to make herself look quite
like a maiden of the present day. Then
wrapping the damp paper again about
the %displeasing leather case she be-
slowed it with a shrug of dislike, in
the disfigured bag once more and
started forth in search Of water to
wash off the stains Of the night.
Her hands were badly scratched and
one had been bleeding. She remem-
bered the glass and wondered now
how she had escaped with as few
scratches as she had.
But water she could not find within
sight of the fire, and she dared not go
further lest she got lost. She found,
however, a dense growth of bushes
bearing great luscious berries. and
though they were not exactly like any
berries with which she was familiar.
she decided that they were probably
edible, and gathered her hands full.
Then, coming softly back near the fire,
she looked around for a suitable place
for the breakfast table. The sleeper
had not awakened. She went about
cautiously and found a great fat rock
quite near where he lay that would do
beautifully. Here she laid her berries
On a dish of green leaves, with their
points all radiating from the center
and two large leaves, one ON each side,
for plates.
Then remembering something, she
opened her handbag again.
The day before, when her cousins
had been taking her sightseeing, they
had treated her to ice real soda,
with which had been served a tiny en-
velope Of wax paper containing three
small wafer crackers. She had put
hers in the bag, laughingly declaring
that she would eat them on the train
when she was hungry, and one cousin
had added her envelope as we'll. She
had not thought of them when she
opened it before, but now she hurried
to bring them forth. or course they
would be spoiled! But no-the envel-
opes were still about them, and though
somewhat damp they had retained
their shape a1d looked exceedingly
good to a hungry mortal.
Eagerly she set them forth, three
on each leaf-plate, and hurried back to
thu bush to get o berries.
Either the soft stepping feet as they
went lightly through the grass, or the
falling Of a stick into the ashes OF the
fire, disturbed the sleeper, for he
awoke suddenly and looked about him.
The girl was gone! That q his
first thought.
The look OF hoyishness fell away
from him in q fash, and he rose to his
feet and gazed about In .nxiously,
falertly, as II he feared danger ear
Then his eyes fell ON the nat rock with
its mimic banquet spread forth! A
food Of wonder and delight swept into
his face and a great tenderness, such
as no n of his friends OF foes ever
dreamed would be hid away anywhere
in his nature. He had never played
dolls on q rock with some little girl,
and moss and acorns for carpets and
dishes. but the playhouse" spirit was
there in his heart and leaped at once
into consciousness. "A table for two!
The woman had provided q meal even