ld evening with a heavy snow on the ground, so there could be
small comfort in loitering. Yet when the figure reached its evident
destination, instead of knocking or making an effort to enter, it
hesitated, stopped, turned and walked away for a few steps and then
came back again. The second time, however, summoning a sudden courage,
the arm shot forth, and there was a single rap on the door. The rap
was so imperative that in spite of the rival noises inside, the door
opened quickly. Then the newcomer entered and for another moment stood
hesitating in even greater bewilderment.

The great room seemed to be twinkling with a hundred bayberry candles,
sending forth a delicious woodland fragrance. The walls were covered
with pine branches and the big fireplace was piled as high with burning
fagots and pine cones as safety permitted. A long table standing in
the center of the room was beautifully and yet oddly decorated, and
upon it dinner was just about to be served.

Resting in the middle of its uncovered surface were three short and
slender pine logs of the same general height and size and crossed at
the top, while swinging from this trident was a brightly polished
copper kettle, piled high tonight with every kind of fruit and with
giant clusters of white and purple grapes suspended over its sides.
Encircling the centerpiece, made not of real wood of course but of
paper bonbons, were three groups of logs representing the insignia of
the three orders of the Camp Fire, the wood-gatherer's logs having no
flame, the fire-maker's a small one, while the torch-bearer's flame of
twisted colored paper seemed to glow as though it were in truth of
fire. The mats on the table were embroidered in various Camp Fire
emblems--a bundle of seven fagots, a single pine tree, or a disk
representing the sun. And at either end of the long table three
candles had lately been lighted, while standing up around it at their
appointed places were about twenty guests, the girls dressed in their
ceremonial costumes, the young men as Boy Scouts.

The effect of the entire scene was so brilliant and so unusual that
there was small wonder that the latest comer was overwhelmed. He
fumbled awkwardly with his hat, cleared his throat, his face so
crimsoning with embarrassment that actual tears were forced out of his
eyes. And then just as the young man was praying that the earth might
open and swallow him up, a girl came forward from the indetermina