The Prescott daily news., 1920-06-04
THE FORESTS EDGE
By JACK LAYTON.

oI the forest, that he seemed part of the growth about him. The tall trees were friends to Nathan, and the wide spaces his breathing place. Twice, he mad attempted city life.
 The walls of Nathan's bungalow were lined with books and on tables covered with various skins were always the latest magazines. Nathan liked to pick out accomplishments to his singing on the piano which filled a further cor her, and old Charlie, attended quietly to Nathan's needs. Charlie was, in his own recommendation, "a natural born cook" and Nathan required no other. So he lived. When he returned from some enforced stay in faraway city, lying upon the bank of a stream with fishing rod in hand, Nathan called that, and not the buster life, living, And if he missed a woman's touch or ministration he contented himself with the thought that here he had made his choice. Resting satisfied in his deci- sion, Nathan looked up one fall day to md young woman standing before him. He stared, surprised at her ap- pearance in his fisherman's seclusion, and his stare was prolonged when he took in the sweet charm of her. She was smiling thing, lips with dimpled, smiling corners like those of child, her gray eyes deep and shadowed as one knowing sorrow. The girls golden brown hair blew in wisps across her dark lashes; and as she raised her hand to confine it beneath her hat she smiled. q have lost my way" the girl said, twill you direct me? I am look ing for Rawley's shack"
 q have taken the school up at Bel don's Pass" she said, "and-I did not care to board in that vicinity as for mer school teachers did; so looked the country overland rented the only available walls and floors called house. It's Rawley's shack"
 "You mean," Nathan asked, "that you intend to live there-alone7"
 ''It Is for that reason rented the place, she replied, "so that could be alone"
 He glanced at the modish suit the girl wore, at the simple hat, which bore the mark of style.
 "Tm afraid" he said gently, "that you do not realize the situation"
 The new school teacher looked inter- ested.
 ''Then," she told him, 'T shall have to lay in a larger supply of food and fuel than have intended. You say l do not realize the situation. Why, 1t is much better than anticipated. l just passed a house back there, yours suppose. I shall have neighbors, peo- pie of my kind whom did not hope to find in this desolation. Your wife would be friendly, would she not, with stranger?"
 ; q have no wife," Nathan answered; Just an old man who acts as house keeper. He's a silent old chap, but would no doubt help you in an emer- gency. There are no women-nOne- In all the forest. It would be wiser to accept the poorest board that Belden's Pass would offer How do you expect to reach the school house in winter"
 '"The school is half way between" she said. 'T shall make it some way. I've brought my own horse and bob sleigh" her eyes were shining. "Oh! You'll, see," she finished: 'T wish you would be less pessimistic." Nathan sighed; he arose and went with her to show her the way to Raw1ey's shack. After that Nathans visits there be- came a matter of course. The little teacher showed him her housekeeping transformation. With cretonnes, bright rugs, and simple home furnish. ings she had made the interior of the weather-beaten cottage place of actual beauty. He formed a habit of meeting the girl toward the end of au- tumn days as she came down the road on her tramp from school. and long ere this, Nathan acknowledged to him. self that he loved, with a mans one true and faithful love, this little Mol lie Gail. His absences from her were filled with visions. And Nathan hoped fearfully, and at times almost conf dentlv. that the solitude would be sol itude for him no longer, with her pres ence always near. He told Mollie of his simple life. with It's outer glimpses of farther lands, Mollie did not recip- rocate, making no reference to her past. When the story of Nathan'sllove had forced his lips, Mollie trembling at last whispered her story. She, too had learned to love Nathan. But therc could be no betrothal A purpose had brought her to this world For year she had lived under the shadow Of.
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