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 ! 
