The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-07
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had given rise to his keenest joy. If only he could have gone on for a while, in blind and blissful igno- rance, feeling that Ginger was hiS until he had gone from all these dear and lovely places their pleas- ure together had made so sweetly sacred.
 It was a lovely scene before him. and scarcely less lovely as he trans ferred it to his canvas. There were the sun and rain-browned shinglee of the house, the moss-grown stones of it's foundation, the flaming flow CTS on the vines that draped the porch as Benito had so tenderly trained them. There was the slur- ring shadow of humming bird darting from blossom to blossom. under the dropping caves sat a fat sleek bird, gray green, her head hunched low upon her thick neck, her plumage ruffed up against the breeze.
 Bard smiled unconsciously as he swiftly caught the birds upon his canvas but his thoughts did not smile with his lips. Only his eyes took in the beauty of color and line, for his thoughts were down that forest path where Ginger was walking with Cotton and Speed. And the still sweet silence of the early summer enveloped house and woods.
 | It was nearly an hour later when | a shadow fell athwart his cancas. He looked up. Cotton and Speed were coming toward him from tho l,sxv sv, hot n6 laughing.
 "All cheered up, eh?" he called to them pleasantly.
 "Yes," Cotton nodded with gay emphasis. Ginger is the greatest little confidante you ever saw. But if you think we look cheered up you ought to see her. She is down. on the boat-1anding cheered up ai-s most into convulsions. She has laughed herself into genuine tears.. Where's Eddy? She wants to see him.
 | "She would" said Bard csldly.s q do not know where he is. He went for walk in the woods. don't know whether he has come back or not-and I don't care" | Cotton went to the window and called inside to ask for him, but Eddy had not returned and nearly sauntered slowly from the woods with Patty.
 | "Where's Ginger?" !
 "Oh, Eddy. she was looking for you. She was down at the landing ever so long ago. She probably got tired waiting"
 "Well, I'll have look" he said.l Its something to have want me" And he strolled off toward the river. x
 Bard did not raise his eyes from his cancas although he had finished the picture, nor did he heed th0 little cries of delight that went up from the others at sight of 1t. It. was for Ginger, and Ginger did ndE | care.
 Eddy came back in a few minutek to report that Ginger was not on the landing nor anywhere in sight,. and they all lounged idly in the pleasant shade of the big trees until Benito came to announce that lun-s cheon was ready.
 Find Miss Ginger, Benito," said Patty. She's off somewhere by her- self. in the woods, I fancy. Maybe upstairs"
 Benito went to. the edge of tho woods and called as only he could call, but Ginger did not answer.
 Well, come along to luncheon. said Eddy cheerfully. When you know Ginger as we'll as I do you'll know never to expect her until you SC her. She's that sort"
 But I don't think it's company manners to eat without the host-s ess," protested Cotton.
 | yaI1 .Af .x.tfs for the hostess to stay away from the food" insisted Eddy.
 "She was low today said Patty.s "She probably went off into the woods to nope in comfort and fell asleep"
 "She wasn't low when we left her." said Cotton. we cheered her up and left her on top of the world."
 Shell come when she smells chow" said Eddy Jackson. T never knew her to miss a meal"
 They ate their luncheon in sooth- ing silence, but Ginger did not come. One o'clock. Two o'clock.
 "I feel uneasy" said Patty. This isn't like Ginger a bit You know they were always taught In the par sonage, Eddy, that they had to be nice to company no matter now blue they were. I wish she's come.v
 shed better come if she's going to invite the crowd out tonight, < said Eddy. "It does seem bi. , queer. Suppose we cut off into the !. woods and have look for her. May
 be she has fallen and hurt herself. . You'd better stay with me, Pat. We !. don't want two babes in the woods" And I'll keep Cotton with me. sf you don't mind" said Speed. They don't grow woods like these in ! Washington Square and she doesn't know her way around" So they struck off. cheerfuily enough into the woods in different directions. singing. whistling, calling her name.
 They were not alarmed--not yet. . They knew that Ginger had been low for a few days. They didn't blame her for wanting to be alone , with her sandness.
 But when. an hour later. they . met again at the cottage and had ! seen no trace of her. they could no l longer hide their uneaslness. Ger . ltainly this was not like Ginger. . | nn. al....