The log cabin Democrat., 1921-12-30
DICK ACCEPTS By JACK lAWTON

4 He SllcuCe OI tue WOOulaDu country was telling on Dicks nerves. Fol eight weeks the engineering job had claimed him, and the evenings In his lonely cabin became uncomfortable Hungrily he yearaed for human com panionship.
 DalliS, his assistant, was good enough in his way, but DalliS spent most of his time writing endless love letters or talking over long-distance to d far. away sweetheart. That galled Dick, too.
 It was hard enough to see only rough mems faces; never to hear d feminine voice was another and great CT deprivation. Dick wished that he had happened to care enough for one particular fair one in the past, to war rant lonS-distance call himself. But he had not cared; and that was not his fault, but lis misfortune, so he summed up mattcrs-that was all.
 The trees rustIed mysterious whis- perings, beyond the aNeHuc of green stretched waters blue; the setting was like that of an old fairy tale. Dick remembered such q tale, with q high ly colored illustration which had nev- CT failed to delight in childhood days.
 There had been q woodland maiden in the picture, with a white frock en- circled in green. and laughing blue eyes beneath the wind-blown hair. Dick smiled at the fanciful picture the scene recalled. and then bent idly to pick up scrap of paper in his path As idly he unfolded it, and before he fully realized, was reading message
 "Dearest-dear," ran the note, II am waiting for you beneath the widest spreading tree; l am dressed in white with the green sash you like. You will see me, when you drive through the opening. And, dearest-dear. the little white table is set for us two with vase of green boughs in the center. and there is chocolate cake oh, delicious, luscious chocolate cake of the very kind you like, made with my very own hands. for my very own man. So hurry"
 Dick stood staring down at the scrib- bled note with boyish light of ad- venture in his eyes. Why not? He was far away from conventions, his days had been passed of late irksome- ly. Why not take advantage of the chance invitation tossed him by a kindly wind, and drive through the opening daringly to where the white the fairy tale, waited?
 Dick knew the country like map, but one excuse would be as good as another. And the chocolate cake! Great guns. A real homemade choc- olate cake!
 He retraced his steps to the cabin, and started horseback toward the wood.
 She was girl. undoubtedly, or she would not describe her white frock to her dearest-dear, as she invited him to tryst beneath the tree
 Dick saw the "widest-spreading tree" as soon as Bob cantered through the opening; also he saw a graceful white-clad figure and vivid green sash ends. tossed by the lake breeze. And as he came boldly nearer, there were the laughing blue eyes beneath ruff1ed brown hair, and wondering, yet dimpling smile to greet him.
 "Nell,' questioned the girl, as though she had known him all her life, how did you get h-re?"
 "I came" answered Dick promptly, "in response to your invitation. found it in my path"
 He handed over her letter. The girl frowned and smiled as she glanced over it.
 "old Jack is careless,' she remarked. Jacks my dog. I sent him on with 1T to-' She paused.
 Your dearest-dear," Dick finished for her.
 "Why, yes" agreed the girl. And Jack perhaps dropped the note, to go off on some interesting chase of his own. So you found it, by mistake"
 There is no mistake" Dick insisted. You would not think the sending of Slch an invitation a mistake if you had been buried, as l have, among these hills for two desolate months. Why, I'd travel thirty miles to hear pleasant, companionable voice, put ting all hope of the chocolate cake aside. That invitation was a charity, sent on its way by a fairy friend of mine. I-I don't know who you are i; 1 suppose angels are likely 10 appear in mcst dcsolatc places Eut my name is Richard Boyuton. I'm one of the engineers on tils contract that's be ing put through"
 The girl nodded.
 T lEoY. l happen to have seen you at work when We motoral through. You were pointed out to me" she changed her voice prilaly, "as most promising young man.