Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1920 — A WILDERNESS AND THOU [ARTICLE]

A WILDERNESS AND THOU

By JESSIE DOUGLAS

<£X 1920, by lieClur* Newspaper Syndicate.) Alice Dlsbrow looked down at the girl who sat on the railing of the rode camp. “Isn’t It funny that I should find yon here?" she asked In her high-fluted -voice. “How have you ever stood this wilderness ?” “I think It’s funnier to see you here," the girl on the railing answered. She looked at Alice with an honest admiration. Alice was in all things her opposite. She was slender and -delicate and fair; she had the look of a wild-flower In her pale blue frock and the wide hat with its Icngyelvet streamers. Under the hat, Agatha Holmes saw the eyes that looked like forget-me-nots, with the penciled brows above them, the white skin, the scar4et of lips that was not quite natural. That was why Alice Dlsbrow seemed *o out of place here, she decided. She was no more an accompaniment to camp life than an orchid. Her frail dress, her high-heeled suede slippers were not made to tramp these woods. Agatha looked down at her own high, Tough boots, at her tweed skirt, her brown hands, with a sudden distaste. For one Instant she longed for all the artificialities that, made the other girl so charming. But they would not have suited Agatha; she was too simple, too sincere, to resort to subterfuge In cover her lack of prettiness. Besides, she thought ruefully, nothing could make her pretty. Her fine, strong white teeth, and her eyes, large and gray and honest, were her only good features.

"I like the wilderness,” Agatha said simply. I’d been working so hard that Just to get away and smell the breath of the forest and drive my canoe across the lake has made my life worth living again.”" r “Oh, my dear, how do you stand working? I never could. There are so many nice things to do, when there are men, dancing and flirting and —” she mocked the other girl out of the corner of her blue eyes. “Then I shouldn’t think you would want to come up here!” Agatha said honestly. “You’ll hardly see a man all season, unless you mean the guides or the men who only stop to get a meal on the way with their camping outfits.” Alice was silent. She studied the other girl as a possible adversary. Then complacently she took out her t 7 tiny vanity case and powdered her pose in the very sight of the forest aisles. Alice knew that Jere Warren was coming up here; that was why she had chosen to come. She had wanted him to know all winter. Wasn’t he the most prominent of the young illustrators, and hadn’t people told her time and again that she was Just like the illustrations of his prettiest girl? Alice studied the watch on her white wrist, and then she said: “I’ll leave you now” —and trailed into the camp. She had staged too many scenes to miss the chance to play this one artistically. So it was Agatha Holmes, who, still sitting on tfce railing of the camp, met the dark eyes of a stranger as he came pp the trail. His first look of surprise at seeing the girl in this wilderness changed to one of pleasure when he he met her friendly eyes. ‘This Is Humphries’ camp?” he asked In a pleasant deep voice. “I wonder if he is expecting me. I walked over from the stage and left my duffle to come behind.” , “Humphries is out catching, fish for dinner now,” Agatha smiled. He stood beside her on the rough veranda of the camp and listened to the modulations of her voice. She would be a very pleasant companion, he thought, to go tramping with, to hunt out the secrets of the forest with. Then Jere Warren turned to see an-' other girl come singing through the doorway. She lifted blue eyes of surprising innocence to his, and dimpled: “Oh, I didn’t mean to intrude—” “By Jove, she’s lovely!” the man thought in his one swift glance. Agatha Holmes introduced them, feeling awkward somehow, and as though she were the intruder, when she, heard Alice say: “Oh, you are Jere Warren, the illustrator? If you knew how I admire yous drawings!” Jere Warren seemed flattered at the girl’s words; and Agatha blushed hotly, for she remembered the scrapbook she had at home with his illustrations pasted in it! But the words she wanted to say would not come, and she stood there feeling more an outsider as she saw Jere Warren lose himself In admiration of the other glrL Agatha stole away in a few minutes. It was Jere Warren who insisted that they three should dine at one •rated them" from the guides and tappers who were getting ready for the ■“season.” Agatha, watching the other two with her clear gray eyes, wondered how a man like Jere, who was so clever in his could be fooled by the empty little tricks of Alice Dlsbrow. Bat die was tye first to agree with Jere when be sang the praises of the other’s loveliness In her ears., She had fought against her Jealousy, and won. She acquiesced with more pain than pleasure in his proposal tint they three take a tramp to a trout stream be had discovered pot far away. t.-.- - •- t -' - - ■ - ■ • •

. Ts the walking's too hard, m carry yon,” he smiled to Alice Dlsbrow. “Ob, Mr. Warren, bow can yon say such things?” Alice pouted. Jere and Agatha waited before the camp for Alice. When she appeared Agatha beard the man draw in his breath. Agatha was charming in her white serge skirt and short coat belted In scarlet Her tiny white felt hat with its pheasant’s wing and her high boots of white suede made her more than ever one of his Illustrations. In a few mlnntes they left the trail that led away from the camp, and struck Inward through the forest. They walked on and on until the light sifted down dimly through the treetops. but they did not strike the stream. Agatha turned when she heard a falqt cry. Alice had slipped ana twisted her foot on a hidden stone. When she reached her the girl was suddenly sick find dizzy. ‘The stream’s only a bit farther. You stay with her and I will get some water.” the man said. When he came hurrying back to dash some of the water on the girl’s face she turned away pettishly. ‘There’s no reason to ruin my dress,” she complained. “Oh, it hurts so,” she began to cry weakly; while the tears made furrows down her pink cheeks and left the rouge showing in grotesque spots. “We’d better get back,” the man said, “before It gets dark.” The three made their way slowly toward the trail, with Alice limping painfully between them. Agatha fancied she heard Jere give a muttered “damn” when Alice wept. “Oh, I don’t see why you brought me on this horrid walk! And now you don’t know how to get back!” The darkness had fallen suddenly, as It does In the north woods, and Jere was doubtful of his direction. He looked comically at Agatha and her gray eyes broke Into a twinkle of laughter. “We may have to make a night of It,” the man apologized. “Of course, they’ll send out for us when they discover we’re lost. I ought not to have brought you, but I don’t dare take the risk of leading you through this wilderness without more light.” “I should say you shouldn't have brought us!” Alice cried, her pretty voice sharp now. “I think it’ll be rather a lark” The man heard the smile in Agatha’s voice. Agatha helped him gather some dry twigs for a fire and soon they lighted the woods with a bright blaze. Alice sulked In the background; when she did come near enough for the fire to show the ravages tha't a few hours had made in her appearance Agatha was filled with pity. The water dashed on her so unceremoniously had taken the careful wave from her hair, and her white cheeks were stained with tears. And now that she had ceased to be piquant and flirtatious, her charm was gone. Alice refused the chocolate that Agatha had stuffed In her pocket and drew away from the firelight Jere and Agatha before the blaze sat munching chocolate, and tj»e man looked at his companion with new eyes. She ‘was Just as fresh as she had been when they left in the early afternoon. Her eyes gleamed across at him with their friendly frank gaze, and the heat had lighted a rosiness in her clear brown skin. It was so dark now that the fire alone lighted the woods with eerie shadows. Agatha. looking behind, saw Alice huddled In a little heap asleep. Jere Warren took ofT his coat and laid It over her gently. When be came back to Agatha there was a long silence. The man, lighting his pipe, frowned down into its bowl before he spoke. “I’ve been a fool. Miss Holmes,” he said. “I took the glitter for the gold, and novf 1 wondei v — Oh, I’m not good at that sort of thing, but I mean I wonder if a fellow would have a chance to be —your friend?” The rosie in Agatha’s cheeks deepened before she answered, and her eyes were no less friendy If they held a new shyness. “I should think so, Mr. War-renr-lf that girl was I—” Far off they heard the sound of « faint “Hallool Halloo!"