The Lucky Piece: A Tale of the North WoodsPaine, Albert Bigelow
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The Lucky Piece: A Tale of the North Woods
Paine, Albert Bigelow
Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Love stories
During the drive across the open farm country which lies between Lake
Placid and Spruce Lodge he had confided certain of his impressions to
his companion--a pale-haired theological student, who as driver of the
Lodge hack was combining a measure of profit with a summer's vacation.
The enthusiasm of his passenger made the quiet youth responsive, even
communicative, when his first brief diffidence had worn away. He had
been awarded this employment because of a previous knowledge acquired on
his father's farm in Pennsylvania. A number of his fellow students were
serving as waiters in the Lake Placid hotels. When pressed, he owned
that his inclination for the pulpit had not been in the nature of a
definite call. He had considered newspaper work and the law. A maiden
aunt had entered into his problem. She had been willing to supply
certain funds which had influenced the clerical decision. Perhaps it was
just as well. Having thus established his identity, he proceeded to
indicate landmarks of special interest, pointing out Whiteface, Colden
and Elephant's Back--also Tahawus and Algonquin--calling the last two
Marcy and McIntyre, as is the custom to-day. The snow had been on the
peaks, he said, almost until he came. It must have looked curious, he
thought, when the valleys were already green. Then they drove along in
silence for a distance--the passive youth lightly flicking the horses
to discourage a number of black flies that had charged from a clump of
alder. Frank, supremely content in the glory of his surroundings and the
prospect of being with Constance in this fair retreat, did not find need
for many words. The student likewise seemed inclined to reflect. His
passenger was first to rouse himself.
"Many people at the Lodge yet?" he asked.
"N-no--mostly transients. They climb Marcy and McIntyre from here. It's
the best place to start from."
"I see. I climbed Whiteface myself ten years ago. We had a guide--an old
chap named Lawless. My mother and I were staying at Saranac and she let
me go with a party from there. I thought it great sport then, and made
up my mind to be a guide when I grew up. I don't think I'd like it so
well now."
"They have the best guides at the Lodge," commented the driver. "The
head guide there is the best in the mountains. This is his first year at
the Lodge. He was with the Adirondack Club before."
"I suppose it couldn't be my old hero, Lawless?"
"No; this is a young man. I don't just remember his last name, but most
people call him Robin."
"Um, not Robin Hood, I hope."
The theological student shook his head. The story of the Sherwood bandit
had not been a part of his education.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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