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so integral a portion of his nature that it had drawn him from the
banks and wholesale groceries to the woods。 After a while he sat
down on a log and lit his pipe。 Ahead the ground sloped upward。
Dimly through the half…fronds of the early season he could make out
the yellow of sands and the deep complementary blue of the sky above
them。 He knew the Lake to lie just beyond。 With the thought he
arose。 A few moments later he stood on top the hill； gazing out
over the blue waters。
Very blue they were； with a contrasting snowy white fringe of waves
breaking gently as far up the coast as the eye could reach。 The
beach； on these tideless waters； was hard and smooth only in the
narrow strip over which ran the wash of the low surf。 All the rest
of the expanse of sand back to the cliff…like hills lay dry and
tumbled into hummocks and drifts； from which projected here a sawlog
cast inland from a raft by some long…past storm； there a slab； again
a ship's rib sticking gaunt and defiant from the shifting； restless
medium that would smother it。 And just beyond the edge of the hard
sand； following the long curves of the wash； lay a dark； narrow line
of bark fragments。
The air was very clear and crystalline。 The light…houses on the
ends of the twin piers； though some miles distant； seemed close at
hand。 White herring gulls； cruising against the blue； flashed white
as the sails of a distant ship。 A fresh breeze darkened the blue
velvet surface of the water； tumbled the white foam hissing up the
beach； blew forward over the dunes a fine hurrying mist of sand； and
bore to Orde at last the refreshment of the wide spaces。 A woman；
walking slowly； bent her head against the force of this wind。
Orde watched her idly。 She held to the better footing of the smooth
sand； which made it necessary that she retreat often before the
inrushing wash； sometimes rather hastily。 Orde caught himself
admiring the grace of her deft and sudden movements； and the sway of
her willowy figure。 Every few moments she turned and faced the
lake； her head thrown back； the wind whipping her garments about
her。
As she drew nearer； Orde tried in vain to catch sight of her face。
She looked down； watching the waters advance and recede； she wore a
brimmed hat bent around her head by means of some sort of veil tied
over the top and beneath her chin。 When she had arrived nearly
opposite Orde she turned abruptly inland； and a moment later began
laboriously to climb the steep sand。
The process seemed to amuse her。 She turned her head sidewise to
watch with interest the hurrying； tumbling little cascades that slid
from her every step。 From time to time she would raise her skirts
daintily with the tips of her fingers； and lean far over in order to
observe with interest how her feet sank to the ankles； and how the
sand rushed from either side to fill in the depressions。 The wind
carried up to Orde low； joyous chuckles of delight； like those of a
happy child。
As though directed by some unseen guide； her course veered more and
more until it led directly to the spot where Orde stood。 When she
was within ten feet of him she at last raised her head so the young
man could see something besides the top of her hat。 Orde looked
plump into her eyes。
〃Hullo！〃 she said cheerfully and unsurprised； and sank down cross…
legged at his feet。
Orde stood quite motionless； overcome by astonishment。 Her face；
its long oval framed in the bands of the gray veil and the down…
turned brim of the hat； looked up smiling into his。 The fresh air
had deepened the colour beneath her skin and had blown loose stray
locks of the fine shadow…filled hair。 Her red lips； with the
quaintly up…turned corners； smiled at him with a new frankness； and
the black eyesthe eyes so black as to resemble spotshad lost
their half…indolent reserve and brimmed over quite frankly with the
joy of life。 She scooped up a handful of the dry； clean sand from
either side of her； raised it aloft； and let it trickle slowly
between her fingers。 The windgth appeared a tiny
black insect； struggling against the rolling； overwhelming sands。
With great care the girl scooped this newcomer out and set him on
the level ground。 She looked up happily at Orde； thrusting the
loose hair from in front of her eyes。
〃I was convinced we ought to dig a hole；〃 said she gravely。 〃Now；
let's go somewhere else。〃
She arose to her feet； shaking the sand free from her skirts。
〃I think； through these woods；〃 she decided。 〃Can we get back to
town this way？〃
Receiving Orde's assurance； she turned at once down the slope
through the fringe of scrub spruces and junipers into the tall
woods。 Here the air fell still。 She remarked on how warm it
seemed； and began to untie from over her ears the narrow band of
veil that held close her hat。
〃Yes；〃 replied Orde。 〃The lumber…jacks say that the woods are the
poor man's overcoat。〃
She paused to savour this； her head on one side； her arms upraised
to the knot。
〃Oh； I like that！〃 said she； continuing her task。 In a moment or so
the veil hung free。 She removed it and the hat； and swung them both
from one finger； and threw back her head。
〃Hear all the birds！ 〃 she said。
Softly she began to utter a cheeping noise between her lips and
teeth； low and plaintive。 At once the volume of bird…sounds about
increased； the half…seen flashes became more frequent。 A second
later the twigs were alive with tiny warblers and creepers； flirting
from branch to branch； with larger； more circumspect chewinks；
catbirds； and finches hopping down from above； very silent； very
grave。 In the depths of the thickets the shyer hermit and olive
thrushes and the oven birds revealed themselves ghost…like； or as
sea…growths lift into a half visibility through translucent shadows
the colour of themselves。 All were very intent； very earnest； very
interested； each after his own manner； in the comradeship of the
featherhood he imagined to be uttering distressful cries。 A few；
like the chickadees； quivered their wings； opened their little
mouths； fluttered down tiny but aggressive against the disaster。
Others hopped here and there restlessly； uttering plaintive； low…
toned cheeps。 The shyest contented themselves by a discreet；
silent； and distant sympathy。 Three or four freebooting Jays；
attracted not so much by the supposed calls for help as by
curiosity； fluttered among the tops of the trees； uttering their
harsh notes。
Finally； the girl ended her performance in a musical laugh。
〃Run away； Brighteyes；〃 she called。 〃It's all right； nobody's
damaged。〃
She waved her hand。 As though at a signal； the host she had evoked
melted back into the shadows of the forest。 Only the chickadee；
impudent as ever； retreated scolding rather ostentatiously