Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1912-Jan 1913)

THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE countryside, which held somewhere the illicit still. Jim, as a matter of fact, was returning to the still after a hasty visit to his shack. He was bashful to the point of rudeness. But it did not take him long to discern the bond between them in their mutual love for little Ted. The next thing Jim knew, he was head over heels in love with Amy Hayes ! Ted served as an excuse for everything, and soon he was paying an almost daily visit to the girl, between his hours of vigil at the still. As for Amy, she almost forgot the object of her visit to Hemlock Ridge. Her thoughts were delightfully occupied with Ted — and Jim. She was polishing them with a' woman 's gentle touch and sympathies. Ted picked flowers for Amy by the hour, and Jim saw that she got rare flowers, too, from the heart of the wood that he daily penetrated. The village was talking, and calling the girl most unsavory names, and looking upon Jim as the veriest fool. No word of love had passed between Amy and Jim, but the tenderness of tone, and gentleness of touch, and constant desire for each other 's presence, told the tale. At length, Amy received a rather urgent letter from her chief, demanding action. Action meant separation to her. For as soon as she could send the authorities detailed information as to the location of the still, personal safety dictated that she depart instantly. With a multitude of sighs, she set about the now distasteful work. Jim, too, felt that by working harder he could sooner complete the fund for little Ted's treatment. A new regard, too, for his future had begun to make him uneasy. Within ten days of the time Amy had received word from headquarters, she made a discovery, by means of her tiny telescope, that enabled her to make all but a positive report. She saw a man walk thru a distant clearing, carrying a gun and two demijohns. The following Sunday, she and Jim set out for a long walk. With a woman's intuition, she felt that the man by her side was going to declare his love. Then it flashed over her, filling her soul with a mingled torrent of joy and sadness, that she loved this big, handsome woodsman. As iQY Jim, his demeanor was troublous. For a long while they strolled along in silence. They came to a fallen tree, forming a natural bridge across a stream. He seized the girl in his arms and carried her safely across. On the other side he held her a moment in a crushing embrace before setting her down. "You're an awfully rough man," she pouted, on receiving no apology or acknowledgment. "I'm a fool," he replied, almost fiercely. ' ' I didn 't mean to do it ! " "Oh, didn't you?" she asked, looking at him half disappointedly. Then he sprang toward her and caught her up again. "Yes, I did— yes, I did, Amy," he cried ; ' ' and I cant stand it any longer. I want you, and I've got to have you ! ' ' ' ' Jim, ' ' was all she said, and he put her on the log as gently as a child. "Kin I kiss you, Amy?" There was such a mournful expression in his wrought face, that the girl chuckled in her own joy. "Yes, just one, Jim — now." And Jim, without even trusting himself to touch her with his hands, leaned over restrainedly and pressed his lips with hers. "Now give me your hand, Amy, and let's walk along that way — jest you and me. Walk and walk and walk." "Just us two," echoed, the girl, dreamily, and they strolled thus in sweet oblivion for nearly an hour. At length the girl heard some one hallooing. "There's some one calling nearby, Jim." "Callin' me?" He sprang away from her in dismay. She looked at him in alarm for a moment before she spoke. ' Listen ; there it is again. There 's smoke rising. Dont that seem odd?"