Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-06-19
NEAR TO
NATURE
81 GFNEYIEYE ULMAR

Ccopyright. 1880. western Newspaper Union)
II was a bird and a book that led |
Dale Worden to become acquainted
with Bella Vance. Both had caught his |
eye as he was passing along a. busy |
city street and paused to gaze into the |
show window Of a taxidermist. 1t was |
dismal and dust-infested, as are most
windows given to the exhibition Of in
animate nature In the shape Of stuffed
and preserved entities, but next to a
dilapidated eagle with one glass eye
bullying and an articulated ape minus
foot there was a fair specimen Of
tailor bird, neat and fOppish Of plum
age as in its native woods.
The pretty songster, mute just now,
touched a chord of memory in the
mind Of Worden that was pleasing.
Where he had passed his life in the
Ozarks bird life was at it's most entic-
ing and interesting stage. His father
had lived and died among them, had
given his years to their study, had
written two books on their history and
habits and both had become standard
in the scientific Libraries Of the world.
In the window lay one Of these vol
umes. It showed usage, but was evil
IDENTIFY placed there to attract a pur-
chaser.
The Sign over the place, old and
faded, read: Robert Vance" The
young man opened the door Of the
stuffy, feebly lighted shop, and bell
attached to it's other side tinkled. Be-
hind the counter was a young girl,
wearing a long apron, busy sewing TO-
gather O rent in the web foot Of
rare species Of Labrador duck. She
was fresh and charming as to face
and wore a radiant smile Of youth and
innocence.
"Mr. Vance is not in, suppose|
suggested WOrden.
'My uncle is gone for the after
noon," replied Bella Vance, but may
be able to serve you If 1t is anything
in stock"
"NO," dissented Worden, "a mere
whim to see Mr.. Vance," and then
Worden told Of how the familiar tailor
bird had made him think Of home, and
Of his pleasure at coming across the
book his father had written. The
girls eyes glowed as he spoke Of the
paradise Of greenery her young eyes
had never seen, and she said:
my uncle will welcome you, indeed,
for he holds in reverence the work Of
a man which has become his own IA
vorite textbook. Tell me more about
your fathers wonderful home and
work, will you not?" she asked in a
spirit of genuine interest.
Worden was nothing loath to expati-
ate on the rare old family mansion,
with it's quaint, pretty hooks and cor
ners, but his auditor had attention
most for "the house in the tree" a
Titan Of the forest, where John WOr-
den had built an aerial home for HIM
self and his favOrites. 1t was rOomyr
secure, reached by rope ladder, and
1t had open apartments where the
birds could nest and feed and battle
while the view beyond it spread out a
paradise Of shade and color.
Worden was due to get back to Ha-
zelwood within a week and superin-
tend the development Of some coal
land discovered on the estate, but he
fingered two, then thRee. And then
he could not terminate his always
pleasant visits to uncle and niece, fol
he had learned to love the latter.
Robert Vance was about to remove
to another city to combine his business
.4. . I,I-o o,o oopduotod NV on old
time friend. Bella was an orphan. L
was an eventful and happy evening IL
the life of Dale Worden, upOI
which he asked her to marry him anC
gained her consent.
There was a tender, loving parting
, from Robert Vance. Then the honey
! moon began. Artless, inexperienced
: Bella was ecstatic as a child released
from school to travel with loved com
paniOn half across the continent and
for the first time in her life view rea
! nature. Mountains, woods, the laugh
! ing waters were joyous revelation tt
. her. When they turned their face'
: hOmeward she could talk Of little elst
I but the bird house and the granC
i views, and the sweet sOlitudes sur
!. rounding it. The grand old mansion
} and it's roomy comfort had no attrac
ton for her. The house in the ire,
seemed to be surrounded in he
e thoughts with a rare idyllic fasclna
# ton.
y 1t was we'll that this was so. A vas
L surprise greeted Dale Worden whel
e they motored up to the home Of hi
It youth 1t was in ashes, and the hiret
; man explained that it had burnel
IS down a week previous.
6 "And Mrs. Evans, the housekeeper2
inquired Worden.
m "She is installed in the tree house
N SIR"
h ooh, let us go therep" and an hou
e, later the bride Of a week was singing
c. with the birds, at home with them, ant
g, so happy and cOntented that Dale WOE
lie den realized what a peerless creatur
N he had won for his wife.
!" eve win soon rebuild the old home