Dorothy's Triumph

ide toward the valley. The suggestion was eagerly accepted by Aurora, Dorothy, Molly and Jim. Aunt Betty agreed that sh

sallied forth with the hand-ax, the result being that in a s

away from his mistress during their absence, they soon were o

e class to this outing," said Gera

with Jim as escort

grandeur of the Rockies is missing, to be sure, but there is something fascinating about

ed Jim. "This is a very modern gatheri

thoughts than blank verse,

ank verse to me,

ts as these. If you do not experience the same sensatio

ly too practical-too prosaic-for this old world of ours. We simply must have a li

sorry I spoke. Go ahead, Molly; sing abo

suggest

ng you wish;

and we all know i

go as far as the vi

boys?" Gerald

uded in the da

dare," said Molly. "That vill

rt way down the valle

miles, at le

, c

e very deceptive in thi

ided to keep on until the girl realized that she

t know Doro

oad which followed the bank of a stream. Somehow, whe

however. But the others exch

r will she eve

at bend in the road, where lay a fa

ating herself on the fallen tree. "

urora, dropping

too," drawled Jim, as he langu

morning, and the work I did in camp, I don'

too, s

her friends, an amused

ll were mountain climbers, and great believers in exercise on a large scale. But I see I

did so, the others burs

," she said. "But perhaps that is be

ow stubbornly you give up a little whim. Nobody wanted to g

t, at all, Gerald," protested the girl,

er, and tire yourself and ourselves completely out, so that we would have to

s looking out over the stream where the water ran gently between the roc

s, I've heard," said Jim. "Say we get some poles

the back of the machine. I have also four poles in sections, each fitted with a fine reel and silk

hy was thankful that they had not gone to the village, realizing the truth of Gerald's w

And a fine supper it was, too-fine for camp life. When it was spread on the ground before them a short time

Nature unfolded themselves. Before they realized it, almost, the day was gone-their first day in camp-and night was upon them. A gray light, mingling with the faint afterglow of twilight, showed clearly the outlines of the distant

that in making the stars, nature was bent on atoning in the

about when a wee child are these hills

don't, Jim will soon be chid

s Dorothy does-a sensation I've never experienced before, though I've traveled through the

happens that you have never thought of the wonders of nature in quite the same way in which you have had them brought home to you to-

e air that makes me feel

indulge yourself,

te," said Molly. "I c

ut in in a regretful voice. "But Gerald has a fine tenor voic

rranged, Dorothy bei

t shall we sing?"

ld thing,"

t must be something with

medley of old Southern

hraim was so delighted at the suggestion that

e air, started off into

utiful, as, with those clear young voices ringing out on t

pon the Su

he old fol

nd finally "Home, Sweet Home," that classic whose luster time never has or never will dim,

while Jim and Gerald whistled "Turkey in the Straw," and kept time with their hands. The old negro's agility was surprising, his legs and feet being as nimble, app

read on the ground, covered by sheets, and with rough pillow

, the watch-dog of the camp, who prided himself that no suspicious

ght, as, with the tent flaps thrown back, to allow the clear passage of t

ight from farther down the mountainside-a cry so appealing in its pathos that Ephraim was on his feet, listening with open mouth, before t

Won't someone please

rnful wail sent a thrill of pity through

oo, felt the appeal of the voice, as she

again at sh

it be?" so

eir way," said Jim, as he and Gerald

superstitious fears the passing years had failed to disl

lost soul. And stop that sort of talk, Ephy. No matt

" asked Dorothy, peeking out fr

when a voice appeals to you l

out who it is," Ger

"No telling what will happen to you. No, no; you stay here and answer t

ant him in camp," sai

o is meet him half way,"

argument would be useless, particularly as Ge

urora. "It is nothing short of suicide t

ning to Jim. "But we'd have a hard time finding anything to shoot in the dark, s

d, and searching these out, the boys bade Ephraim not to leave the women under any circumstan

voice again, like a p

ep bass voice which went echoing and re-

ck response. "Come t

moving in your direction. We'll find yo

seemed but a few yards away. The boys realized, however, that voices carry a great distan

ere scattered in places, letting a few beams of moonlight seep through, though the dark

, as Jim called out again in an encouraging tone to know whom they were addressing, a form came staggering toward

sting the person away as his instinct seemed to bid him, he threw his arms about

form of a young lad, not more than twelve years old. Jim was astonished, and readily perceived why

. You're with friends." He turned to Gerald: "It's

alone on the mount

ge, bu

underst

ay from home. In either case, the best we can do

something of himself, but his only answer was m

you alone?"

a hastil

es

ant to go

n't l-l-leave m-

We have a camp near here a

is arm supporting the little fellow at his side, fo

tion, of course, those at the camp would not allow any lights, so the boys were forced to p

hey were forced to go around them. They paused frequently to rest on account of the young boy, who seemed all but exhausted. The frightened lad continued

d inquired, suddenly, after they had clim

f light; but as he looked this resolved itself into sky. C

thoughts of the boy, and the fear that he had not

ast, they were able to get their bearings, for the mountain to the east, the first one they had

ce from this mountain, the boys decided t

. "We might have been at camp twenty minutes ago

" Gerald responded; "we'l

sand, was plainly visible in the moonlight, in spite

rmur of voices. The girls and Aunt Betty were no doubt discussing their protracted absence. Probably suspecting that

cried Geral

wded around the boys with eager questions. Ephy struck a light and by its fitful gl

r trip," said Jim, as he

ed Aunt Betty. "Who hav

ed to death. He won't talk. He's been hysterical all the way back. Perhaps after

cried the symp

arms about his neck and drew him to her-an ac

nd Jim again sought their sleeping quarters

When they pressed him to know how he came to be alone so far from home, he shook

before again closing their own eyes. Then, tired from the exertions of the day