The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-06-17
NEAR TO
NATURE
By cENEvlEvE ULMAR

1t was a bird and book that led
Dale Worden to become acquainted
with Bella Vance. Both had caught his
eye as he was passing along busy
city street and paused to gaze into the
show window of a taxidermist. It 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
dilapidated eagle with one glass eye
bullying and an articulated ape minus
foot there was fair specimen of q
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. 1t showed usage, but was evil
IDENTIFY placed there to attract 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 its other side tinkled. Be-
hind the counter was young girl,
wearing long apron, busy sewing to-
gather 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 it is anything
in stock"
"No." dissented Worden, "a mere
within 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
q 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
spirit Of genuine interest.
Worden was nothing loath to expati-
ate on the rare old family mansion,
with its 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 roomy,
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
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, for
he had learned to love the latter.
Robert Vance was about to remove
to another city to combine his business
with a like one, conducted by an old
time friend. Bella was an orphan. It
was an eventful and happy evening in
the life Of Dale Worden, upon
which he asked her to marry him and
gained her consent.
| There was tender, loving parting
from Robert Vance. Then the honey
moon began. Artless, inexperienced
Bella was ecstatic as child released
from school to travel with loved COM
panion half across the continent and
for the first time in her life view real
mature. Mountains, woods, the laugh
ing waters were joyous revelation to
her. When they turned their faces
Hhomeward she could talk Of little else
but the bird house and the grand
IIV1cWSs anu tllc Sweet SOllLuueS sur.
rounding it. The grand old nolnsion
!! and its roomy comfort had no attrac-
|tion for her. The house in the tree
seemed to be surrounded in her
thoughts with rare idyllic fascina-
ton.
It was well that this was SO. A vast
l|surprise greeted Dale Worden when
I|they motored up to the home Of his
youth. It was in ashes, and the hired
man explained that it had burned
down week previous.
Sand Mrs. Evans, the housekeeperr'
Inquired Worden.
"She is installed in the tree house,
sir"
| 0Oh, let us go there!'' and an hour
later the bride of week was singing
with the birds, at home with them, and
|so happy and contented that Dale Wor-
den fealized what a peerless creature
he had won for his wife. ...s.szseasss'>
eve will soon rebuild the old home,
Bella, DEAR" he said. 1--WE cannot al
ways live in this mere dove cot Of a
house." -, s,-.-.--ss-~-
II ...~ =