The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-06-11
THE FOREST MAN
BY JACK LAYTON.

cuStOmeu TO the open, ana It's me 1ea-
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-her, She stood just in the
opening, her bronze gold hair gleam-
ing in the sunlight her blue eyes re-
gardng him, her red lips smling-an
unbelievable, almost unknown vision
of girl.
Throughout his boyhood he had loved
wilds like 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 thankfulto his
father for the one privilege that the
strange personality had allowed MAX
ing it possible for his isolated son to
uttered the crude structure at the foot
of the hills called Il school house.
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,' diflident and fearful Of
civilizations ridicule, continued in the
primitive way.
The girl-vision caught at his breath,
ana left him speechIess. Still smiling,
She came toward him and sank down
on the grass at his side.
give watched and watched you,'
she said calmly. 'and 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.
"Somethine about forestry-is it
not? You read?" she asked mis-
chievously, yet you cannot speak"
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,
"and 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,
wears ago with your father. and all
because she loved him. The girls
eyes widened THAT must have been
wonder-love, man." she said, real
love-the only kind-that's fit to mar
ry on" She stopped abruptly and
laughed soft laugh, that somehow
stirred the big mans heart.
II will answer your questions said
the girl. 81 came here alone because
| was running away. / passed this
And it occurred to me in my plight
that It would be good place to hide
in. Old Mamie made us tea that tour
ing time, so | 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
Just what it was You ran away from
mebbe, we ought to know
II will tell YOU answered the girl
impulsvely, because you are kind,
and Just. Someway-I know this:
ran away from my approaching mar
riage to rich man for whom | do not
care at all. 1t was an honor to be
chosen by him--my people said so. 1t
was the climax of their ambition. DO
you by any chance know what it means
to be copper king? Well, it-Vas, the
famous copper King who was to- make
me his wife. Was-but | ran away.
Nothing else could save me from his
determinations Oh he is successful
and-tiresome, this great man. | don't
love him, Iou see. I'm one of those ola
women, your mothers kind, who would
glory in giving their all-for love.
Without it, the girl held out
empty hands; then looked up at the
man with frightened eyes. 81 had al
most forgotten you We're here" she
said, "that | was talking to YOU.
"When the scandal and chatter CON
corning my dramatic disappearance
have ceased, I'll 90 back. Until then,
you must let me talk to you man. Old
Mamie says, that | may be able to
help You with the books you try to UNI
derstand Mamie loves you"
A great light came into Dams dark
eyes. 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, it is certain, with one like YOU"
And not long after, in far away
city, excited comment concerning tho
disappearance of a society beauty, had
but lost its first ZeSt, when came the
second sensation Of the same young |
woman's betrothal to an unknown man |
of the wilds.
poor Cynthia's father" the mothera |