The Claim Jumpers

in himself a new psychological experience. He found that, since the evening before, he h

ear the sky; a weird, semi-poetic suggestion of one of Poe's stories implied in a contorted shadow cast by a gnarled little oak in the light of the moon-these he had n

Nature lover, one who appreciated the poetry of her moods, one who saw the beauty of her smiles, or, what is more rare, the greater beauty of her frown. The influence had entered into his being, but had l

nd the plot. At her request, he promised to read it to her. He was very young, you see, and very inexperienced; he threw himself generously, wi

t is beautiful, and in fine ideals of what is fitting. Perhaps, dimly, she perceived that this is good stuff of which to make a man, provided it s

s in the world, gradually she too became young. She listened with parted lips, and in her great eyes the sou

confided in the sympathy of his listener. When we are young we are apt to confide in the sympathy of every listener, and so we make fools of ourselves, and it takes us a l

he place is empty-except in summer-except that we have an old woman who lives tucked away in one corner of it. I lived there one summer just after I finished college. Outside my window there was an apple tree that just brushed against the ledge; there were rose vines, the climbing sort, on the wall; and then, too, there was a hickory tree that towered 'way over the roof. In the front yard is what is known all over town as the 'big tree,' a silver maple, at least twice as tall as the house. It is so broad that its shade falls over the whole front of the place. In the back is an orchard of old apple trees, and trellises of big blue grapes. On one side is a broad lawn, at the back of which is one of the good old-fashioned flower gardens that does one good to look at. There are little

said the girl quietly

" This, as every woman kno

the bird songs are stilled except that one little fellow still warbles, swaying in the breeze on the tiptop of the 'big tree,' his notes sliding down the long sunbeams like beads on a golden thread. Then we would read together, in the half-darkened 'parlour,' something not very deep, but beautiful, like Hawthorne's stories; or we would together seek for these perfect lines of poetry which haunt the memory. In the evening we would go out to hear the crickets and the tree toads, to see the night breeze toss the leaves across the calm face of the moon, to be silenced in spirit by the peace of the st

rmured the girl. He

old out doors. We would be inside, of course, and we would sit on the fur rug in front of the

she begged dreamily. "I

ds back of her head

looked quiet

hts. His only experiences in the woods East had been when out picnicking, or berrying, and he had never noticed these things. "I don't know as I ever thought of it there," he went on slowly,

w the birds

, but I love it, and I'm going to learn more. I know only the very co

ev

iasm, "then there is another 's

old house!" she o

ountry minister took me to hear him one Sun

animated face throu

" she urg

and would enter the deep high woods where the trees are tall and still. The moss is thick and soft in there, and there are little pools lying calm and dark, and there is a kind of a hush in the air-not silence, you know, but like when a big crowd of people are keeping still. And then we would walk

e girl. She was

exclaimed, "wha

re brimming

They would be ashamed to say the things you have said. No, no!" she cried, laying her hand on his arm as he made a little uneasy mov

itterly," he

ing and trusting every one, and giving my full free heart and confidence to every one who offered his best to m

, bitterly, and t

ing people forever. It's in my

he, troubled at this passion so much beyond

. Any number of people will do anything

said simply, but

cruel and hard and cold, and I'll never care for anybody in any way. My nature has been hardened

she took her hands from her eyes and smiled. In the distress of his sympathy Bennington

rson," she said, "but I told you I was a myst

t of the new horse. She was much interested, inquiring of

tion some day. I have a pony too. We will fill up our saddlebags and c

" put in Bennington, "and th

d a trifl

't we seeing a good

, by all means put it off!" cri

at it. "I'm not tired then, so please you; and

ter you? What ti

s see. You watch for me, and I'll ride b

d's going to practise in town t

t I promised Jim

im

m F

t this as a di

very well?" he

him very much. He is a fine

," said Benni

I want to stay here for a while." "No," as he open

s impatiently. "It is silly!" she assured herself. As before, the shadow o

murmured wistfully at last. "Almo