The Crittenden press., 1920-07-16

his son Bryce was born, and here, two
days later. the new-lnade mother made
the supreme sacrifice Of maternity.
For half a day following the de
struction Of his Eden John Cardigan
sat dumbly beside lis wife, his great,
hard hard caresslng the auburn head
whose every thought for three years
had been his happiness and comfort.
Then the doctor came to him and men-
toned the matter of funeral arrange
ments.
Cardigan looked up at him blankly.
Funeral arrangementsT He passed
his gnarled hand over his leOnlne
head. "Ah, yes. suppose so. shall
attend to it,"
He rose and left the house. walking
with bowed head out Of Scquoia, up
the abandoned and decaying skid
road through the secOnd-gr0wth red
woods to the dark green blur that
marked the old timber. up the skid
road recently swamped from the land
Ing to the down timber where the
crosscut men and barkpeelers were at
work, on into the green timber where
the woods-b0ss and his men were
chopplng.
Come with me. McTavlsh," he said
to his wOods-boss. They passed
through n narrow gap between two
lo1 hills and emerged in long mar
row valley where the redwoods grew
thickly and where the smallest tree
was not less than fifteen feet in diam
eter and two hundred anc fifty feet
tall. Mc-avish followed at his
masters heels as they penetrated this
grove. making their way with diff
Guilty through the underbrush until
they came at length to a little amphl-
theater. clearing perhaps a hundred
feet In diameter, oval-shaped and
surrounded by wall Of redwOods of
such dimensions that even McTavish,
who was no stranger to these natural
marvels, was struck with wonder.
"McTavish." Cardigan said. "she
died this morning."
I'm sore distressed for you, sir"
the woOds-boss answered. "We'd q
whisper In the camp yesterday that the
lass was like to be in a bad way"
Cardigan scuffed with his foot a
clear space In the brown litter.
Take two men from the sectlon-gang,
McTavish," he ordered. "and have
them dig her grave here; then swamp
trail through the underbrush and
out to the donkey.andIng, so we can
carry her in. The funeral will be
private"
McTavish nodded. "Any further
orders. slrf"
"Yes. When you come to that little
gap In the hills, cease your logging
and bear Off yonder." He waved his
hand. I'm not going to cut the tim,
her In this valley. You see, McTayish
what II Is. The trees here-ah, man
| haven't the heart TO destroy Gods
most wonderful handlwork. Besides
she loved this spot, McTavlsh, and she
called the valley her Valley of the
Giants. II gave 1t to her for a wed
ding present because she had a bit OF
n dream that some day the town
started would grow up to yonder gap
and when that time cape and we could
afford II, twas in her mind to give
her Valley Of the Giants to SequoIa
for n city park. oil hidden away here
and unsuspected.
"She loved II. McTavish, twas our
playhouse. McTavish. and who am nc
longer young-l who never played un
III ! met her-I-I'm a bit foolish.
fear, but l found rest and comfort
here, McTavlsh, even before / met
her, and I'm thinking I'll have to come
here often for the same She was
like this sunbeam, McTavish. She
She"
Aye" .murmured McTavish huskily
IL ken. Ye wouldna gle her common
or public spot In which to walt for
ye. An yen bc shuttln' down the
mill an loggin'-camps an layin' or the
hands in her honor for a bity
Until after the funeral. McTayish