The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-11-28
THE FOREST MAN
BY JACK LAYTON.

SSfFSfSffsfffffSSeSSff
The man lay upon a messy bank,
beneath him swirled deep water, while
trees interlaced overhead. His up
turned face was Drowned as one ac-
customed to the open, and Its fine fea-
lures seemed full of strength and pur-
pose. He frowned now up into the
trees, and stretched easily his 1.-THE
frame.
Fishing tackle, and an open book
failed to interest in his present dis
satisfied mood, he sat up impatiently
at last gazing, still scowling, into the
water. No sound disturbed the wilder
ness of green things. Instinct alone
caused the man to turn his head, and
he saw-heri She stood just in the
opening, her bronze gold hair gleam-
ing in the sunlight, her blue eyes re-
garding him, her red lips smiling-an
unbelievable, almost unknown vision
of a girl.
Throughout his boyhood he had loved
wilds like a young animal, and had
gloried in his freedom.
That last group of engineers and the
books they left him to read brought
his awakening. Reading was his Joy
and relaxation, he was thankful to his
father for the one privilege that the
strange personality had allowed-mak-
Ing 1t possible for his isolated SON to
attend the crude structure at the foot
% Aa Ile hnnCo
Dams learning was accomplished
quickly, Pop needed the boys time
for the saving and piling of logs and
the homework of the little cabin. Now
that the old man was dead, big Dan
bewildered, dlffident and fearful Of
civilizations ridicule, continued In the
primitive way.
The girl-vision caught at his breath,
and left him speechess. Still smiling.
she came toward him and sank down
on the grass at his side.
"Tve watched and watched you,"
she said calmly, land this is the first
morning that I've found you idle.
Won't the fish bite?-or have you all
the sketches in your book by memory
You study them so much"
She picked up the book.
Something about forestry-ls 1t
not? You readT" she asked mis-
chievously, "yet-you cannot speakT
Dan cleared his throat, his great
hands trembled.
"You-surprised me-" he said. How
did you come an where
The vision-girl held out protesting
hands.
$50 you can speak, man." she said,
land you surprise me also-by your
accent. It's quite ineligible. But then,
old Mamie told me all about you; the
nice mother you had, and how she
came to this END o the world place,
years ago with your father, and all
because she loved him." The girls
eyes widened. THAT must have been
a wonder-love, man." she said, real
love-the only kind-that's fit to mar
nv on" She stopped abruptly and
laughed a soft laugh, that somehow
stirred the big mans heart.
II will answer your questions" said
the girl. 'I came here alone because
I was running away. l passed this
quiet spot once, when we were touring.
And It occurred to me In my plight
that 1t would be a good place to hide
In. Old Mamie made US tea that tour
ing time, so l came to stop with Nan
ME in her shack"
you've run away" Dan said slow
", unexpected severity showed In his
face and tone.
The vision-girl stared.
'Mebbe." he went on, you'll tell me
lust what It was you ran away from
mebbe, we ought to know"
81 will tell you," answered the girl
impulsively. because you are kind,
and lust. Someway-I know this:
ran away from my approaching mar
riage to rich man for whom do not
care at all. II was an honor to be
chosen by him-my people said SO. II
was the climax of their ambition. Do
Won by any chance know what 1t means
TO be copper king? Well, 1t was the
Famous copper MIX VIM was " HA~
me his wife. Was-but l ran away.
Nothing else could save me from his
determination. Oh he is successful
and-tiresome, this great man. / don't
love him, you see. I'm one Of those odd
women, your mothers kind, who would
glory in giving their all-for love.
without tt" the girl held out
empty hands; then looked up at the
man with frightened eyes. II had al
most forgotten you were here" she
said. "that was talking to you.
"When the scandal and chatter con-
corning my dramatic disappearance
have ceased, I'll go back. Until then,
YOU must let me talk to you man. Old
Mamie says, that / may he able to
help you with the books you try to I'M
derstand. Mamie loves you"
A great light came into Dams dark
ewes. Eagerly he bent toward the girl.
''But | have talked with few wom-
en-" he said humbly. "Never before
with any woman like YOU"
almost" she said. 81 think. that ]
have talked with few-men. Never
before. II is certain, with one like you"
And not long after, in a far away
CITY. excited comment concerning the
disappearance Of a society beauty, had