The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03

manly chair, in which you could lean
forward with elbows on knees, bend
ing near a flower-face, turned to-
wards you from the pillows.
1t was all up with me! My time
had come. / knew this, and didn't
care. Here was the unspoiled maiden
whose god was not money, but pan
Of the woods. ] was going to say l
hardly knew what, when white cap
of maid (unwelcome Is periscope
in calm waters) fitted towards us
between rhododendron bushes in
bloom.
"A telegram for you, miss; reply
paid"
thrilled at Diana's frown, as she
tore open the brick -colLred envelope.
She, too regretted the interruption
Dear girl,
I'm afraid / must run to the house
and consult mother" she said, be
fore 1 can answer this. But I'll not
be away more than ten minutes.
You won't mind? You'll go on think
ing sweet, river thoughts This tree
will talk tC you. 1t does to me. It's
my own special treei" She pushed
towards me, on the wicker table. a
box of cigarettes I'd forgotten. and
was gone.
took a cigarette, lit it, leaned
back and gazed dreami1y up, up into
the transparent wells of emerald that
shimmered under the trees dome like
fairy flags from high roof of a fairy
palace.
1t was delicious to me that trees
{"talked" te Diana. 1t made me more
certain than ever that she and l were
really kindred souls. Trees were
among my dearset friends; so far in
my life that they were of more inn
portance than people, and if the girl
hadn't felt their mystic comradeship
something must always have been
lacking between her and me.
l smoked on, happily. in the ex-
quisite calmness which alone puts
one in true rapport with nature.
And in that moment nature sur
rounded me with her embrace, shut
ting away the outer world.
$50, you're Dlana's own special
tree, noble beech!' / introduced my
self to His Royal Magnifcence. in
the thought language which all trees
u
they are more awake to us humans
at night. do you brood over her
with loving protection, you who
know her SO well?"
There was no perceptible wind. yet
the green city of leaves was filled for
me with sudden rustlings. 1t is in
that way tree talks to it's human
friends, if the humans aren't near
enough to eavesdrop with ears
against the door. Behind that door
the initiared can catch whisperings
of nature ITO her children. The trees
green world closed me in.
~ knowlher. l know her well. too
Well" the rustling answered. but l
tho ught l had misunderstood. TOO
we'll" could Anot be the words. / re-
peated them with a question.
TOO Well" came once more, clear
this time Is wireless signals,
But why?' She loves YOU" My
thoughts anxiously mounted the
green sleeps.
''She loves me because l do for her
what / must do, my feet being bound
so that only my head and arms can
move. | give her a background. /
make Of her a wood nymph or a
water prte to charm men. When
she fears failureN she brings them
here. where l against my will en-
nance her beauty With my unwill-
ing help she is a witch, and ne man
has ever yet resi- sted. l am for her
the tree of libations, of marriage
proposals. l gain for her efforts
which She accepts, only to thrt W
over if something better comes. So
is is always"
not like us. They never lie l had
to believe. Still. 1 defended Diana,