Andy came walking meditatively up the path, his hands clasped behind him, his blond head bowed in deep thought. Not finding Donald at the dam, he walked up the hill to enter the meadow just as Donald clasped Connie in his arms. For an instant the little Australian stood rigid, his eyes bulging, then retreated hastily to the shelter of the trees. Anyone seeing Andy at that moment would have thought him suddenly gone mad. He whirled about in a wild dance, hugging himself in an ecstasy of joy. Ceasing his mad gyrations, he dashed his hand across his eyes and bolted like a runaway down the hill.
Gillis and his “redshirts” sat sunning themselves on the steps of the dining-room. They sprang to their feet as Andy came tearing down the hill. Breathlessly Andy told them of the scene he had witnessed. “We’ll give them a blinkin’ good reception when they come down,” he panted. He issued several sharp orders and the men scurried happily to execute his commands.
The train that was to carry the excursionists to the Coast was being made up on the siding. While they were awaiting this, the visitors watched with curious interest the mysterious preparations being made by the loggers.
At this moment, hand in hand, Donald and Connie turned the corner of the building. As they did so they came to a sudden halt and stared at the odd scene before them. The men stood in two orderly rows. The ground between was carpeted with wild flowers, and each logger held a mass of blooms in his hand. At the far end of this lane of men stood Andy, a wide smile on his droll face. Connie lowered her eyes in confusion. Donald shook his fist at Andy. “You little beggar! You are responsible for this.”
Andy chuckled. “Come on, Donnie, be a sport,” he coaxed.
With flushed faces Donald and Connie walked down the aisle, while the men pelted them with flowers. The crowd of visitors clapped their hands in appreciation of this beautiful scene. As they neared the end of the gauntlet, Andy sprang to a stump.
“Three cheers for the ’appy couple!” he yelled. A roar of cheering followed. “A tiger!” shouted Andy. And again the air trembled to the hoarse shout of brawny throats.
Donald led Connie straight to his mother. “Mother,” he said bashfully, “meet your future daughter.”
Quick tears came to his mother’s eyes as Donald made this announcement. “My dear,” she said tenderly, as her arms folded about Connie, “you are all love and tenderness.”
The train’s whistle screeched its warning and the crowd moved down to the station.