AT GORDON'S CAMP 37 



After my return from Maine the attitude of my 

 friends toward the story changed somewhat. When 

 they had heard of the incident before I set out on 

 my quest, they had ridiculed the idea. They would 

 not believe that any woman would take care of a 

 bear in that way. The thought of such a thing was 

 repellent to them. 



"Why!" they exclaimed, "you couldn't take a 

 photograph of such an occurrence ; and even if you 

 should take one, you never could show it to anyone, 

 for no one would care to see it." 



To this argument I had replied that I would not 

 cross the bridge until I came to it. If the thing was 

 being done, it was unusual enough to warrant an 

 investigation. I wanted to get the truth, if for no 

 other reason than my own satisfaction. 



Now, when my critics understood the motive 

 behind Mrs. Weldon's deed of compassion, and 

 when they saw her "pictures and looked upon her 

 kindly face, they realized that their position was 

 wholly wrong. Here was a humble woman, whose 

 sympathetic heart was torn by a cry of distress 

 from the wilderness, a call that her gentle nature 

 could not resist. Alone with her loving family, with 

 no thought or care for what the world outside 

 might think, she did the natural thing and obeyed 

 her impulse to save a life. All honor to her for her 

 compassion ! 



