The Mena weekly star., 1920-09-02

log-landing, where in listless and
half-hearted manner the loading crew
were piling logs on Pennington's log
ging trucks.
Bryce looked at his watch. II was
two o'clock at two Fifteen Penning-
toms locomotive would appear, to back
In and couple to the long line Of
trucks. And the train was only half
loaded.
where's McTavish7" Bryce de-
manded of the donkey-driyer
The man mouthed his quid, spaf
copously. wiped his mouth with the
back of his hand, and pointed. up
at his shanty," he made answer. and
grinned at Bryce knowingly.
Up through the camps single short
street, flanked on each side with the
woodsmen's shanties, Bryce went. AT
the most pretentlous shanty on the
street Bryce turned in. He had never
seen 1t before, but he knew 1t to be
the woods-boss's home. for unlike its
neighbors the house was painted with
the coarse red paint that Is used on
Dox-cars, while fence, made of fancy
pointed pickets painted white, inelosed
a tiny garden in front Of the house.
As Bryce came through the gate, a
young girl rose from where she knelt
in a bed of freshly transplanted
pansies.
Bryce lifted his hat. rs Mr.. Nc
lavish at homer he. asked.
She nodded. "fIe cannot see any
body" she FASTENED to add. He's
sick"
Il think he'll see me. And | wonder
If you're MORA McTavish."
Eyes, I'm MORA"
I'm Bryce Cardigan"
A look of fright crept into the girls
eyes. "Are you-Bryce Cardigan"
she faltered. and looked at him more
closely. Yes. you're Mr.. Bryce. You've
changed-but then it's six years since
we saw you last, Mr.. Bryce"
He came toward her with outstretch-
ed hand. And you were little girl
when saw you last. Now-you're a
woman" She grasped his hand with
the frank heartiness Of man.
I'm twenty years old" she informed
him.
stand right where you are until !
have looked at YOU" he commanded.
and backed of few feet. the better
to contemplate her.
He saw girl slightly above medium
height, tanned. robust. simply gowned
In a ginghan dress Her hands were
soiled from her recent labors in the
pansy-bed, and her shoes were heavy
and coarse; yet neither hands nor feet
were large or ungraceful. Her head
was well formed; her hair, JET black
and Of unusual Iustre and abundance,
was parted in the middle and held In
an old-fashioned coil at the nape of
neck the beauty of which was re-
vealed by the low cut of her simple
frock. Her nose was patrician, her
face oval her lips, full and red. were
slightly parted in the adorable Cupid's
bow which Is the Inevitable heritage of
short upper lip; her teeth were
white as Parian marble; and her full
breast was rising and falling swiftly.
as If she labored under suppressed ex.
element.
SO delightful picture did MORA
McTavish make that Bryce forgot all
his troubles In her sweet presence.
by the gods, Moira," he declared
earnestly, you're peachl When ]
saw you last you were awkward and
leggy, like colt. I'm sure you weren't
bit good-looking. And now you're
the most ravishing young lady in sew
enteen counties. BY lingo, MORA,
you're sumner and no mistake. Are
you marriedT
She shook her head, blushing pleas
urably at his unpublished but sincere
compliments.
"What? Not married. Why, what
the deuce can be the matter with the
eligible young fellows hereabouts?"
There aren't any eligible young fel-
lows hereabouts. Mr.. Bryce. And I've
lived in these woods all my life"
Are you lonely. Moira?"
She nodded.
poor Moral" he murmured alb
sently.
The thought that he so readily un.
derstood touched her; CLINT of tears
was In her sad eyes. He saw them
and placed his arms fraternally around
her shoulders. "Tut-tut, MORA
Don't cry" he soothed her. Il IN
derstand perfectly, and of course wen
have to do something about 1t. You're
too fine for this" With sweep OF
his hand he indicated the camp. "SiI
down on the steps. Mora, and wei
talk 1t over. ! really called to sec
your father. but guess | don't wan,
to see him after all--if he's sick"
She looked at him bravely. II dldn't
know you al first. Mr.. Bryce. fibbed
Father isn't sick. He's drunk"
Il Thought so when ! saw the load
!ng-erew taking It easy at the log
landing. I'm terribly sorry"