The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-03

10 40 OVfollilS II All upG
lg The question came from her impu
sively, and somehow she felt sorry IL
B. moment she asked it.
y Poor Bobl
Vt He had not deliberately lied to he
Ie but he hadn't told the whole truth: an
she had given uUterance to the yer
IS question that was in his own mind.
It Il think could easily find my way b
Q landmarks if the cloud would lift,h h
S answered evasively.
n She suspected now that he was con
e cealing the truth from her, and her TEN
s per and courage rose with the crisis
8 She said energetically:
1t is very unfair of you, Mr.. Barker
0 to conceal any danger from me. | an
entitled to know it. am not baby"
: He stopped and turned upon he
9 abruptly
+; ''The storm may last two or thre
4 hours, the snow get very deep and tn
, cold intense. | can stand it, no doubt
because | am strong, but you-you-'
t the deep voice was little uncertain here
and the two hands, that had involuntari
ly grasped her arms as he had turned
tightened cOnvulsively-''you are deli
; cate, you know"
He did not finish, but before he turned
: his head away the same look came int
his eyes again-the same, only a littl,
different this time. There was no mis-
taking it. He mightas well have said il
so many words: ~ love youri
Madge's heart gave great bound, anC
then there came a rush of tenderness to
ward the man who, as she had Just dis
covered, would lay down his life to save
hers. His strange mood was all clear tC
her now. And her own feelings were a
revelation that almostshocked her The
hours that she had spent with him were
the shortest and sweetest she had ever
known. She recalled the sense of secur-
ity and of restfulness that his voice and
presence always gave; the trutlfulness
and earnestness of his character; his
constant and watchful devotion to her,
which she had carelessly overlooked as
mere gallantry; his exclamation and
strange conduct that mOonlit night upon
the veranda when she had dropped her
engagement ring and he had first guess
ed that she was pledged to another. And
it was inevitable that with the swiftness
of thought she should compare him with
that other one in the East, with his boy
ish face, effeminate manner, and super
cilious, and she felt guilty.
These thoughts hurried through her
brain as she stood waiting while Bob
was endeaving to discover through the
whirling whiteness some familiar land
mark. Somehow she could not feel very
much alarmed with him by her side after
all, Notwithstanding his words. She
realized now, however, that she was very
cold and very faint, and that the pres
sure about her chest was growing heavier.
The wind had risen again and the snow
was beating angrily against their faces
as though it wished to blind them.
Barker was by nature hopeful, persist
ent, and pugnacious, with cool, quick
brain in any physical emergency and
with increasing resistance to increased
obstacles But he could scarcely see his
hand before his face. The trail had
long since been Obliterated, and he was
utterly at loss what direction to take
or what to do-eXcept that Miss Cham
berlain must be kept moving, if possible,
to keep off that deadly chill until help
should come or the storm should lift.
His own teeth would have been chatter
ing as hers were but for his indomitable
will He knew that she relied upon him
and did not realize the danger But
would it not be better to impress the
truth upon her? Would she not rise to
the emergency and fight to the bitter
end?
Her action at the moment decided him
instantly. She had YEARLY sank upon a
long and was resting her face upon her
hands. He sprang TO her and said with
decision:
'Miss Chamberlain, you must not give
way like that. You must realize that
we are in great danger and that if we let
the cold benumb us we are lost"
Her pleading answer sent great throb
of fear through his heart, for it made
plain to him that she was already under
the influence of that awful spell which,
like the charming of the snake, makes
the approach of death seem like dream.
81 am not cold now, but so tired The
storm will soon be over and they will
come for us. Please wait here!'
Action was needed now He had his
vest left. without a word he wrenched
that off-lifted her to her feet-unbut-
toned the coat that was around her-took
it off--forced the vest upon her, not
needing the feeble motion with which
she waved it away-fastened it-replaced
the coat, and hurried her forward thro'
the storm - anywhere anywhere, he
cared not where. But they went only
short distance, when she tottered, STUN
bled, and almost fell, clasped her hands
convulsively to her bosom and uttered
an exclamation of pain. He put his arm
closer around her, her head dropped
heavily upon his shoulder and her voice
came in whisper:
81 can hardly breathe. am too weak
to walk. Leave me here, and if you can
not get help, save yourself"
All restraint was gone now. He
pressed her close to him with both arms
and kissed her again and again.
Leave you, Madge, when l brought
you here? Leave all care for on earthp
love you, love you child! God for
give me for saying so, but can not help
It."
She drew herself back from him an in
slant, the color famed again into the
white face, the big eyes looked full into
his, then closed slowly as she put out
her arms like tired child and was taken
back into his embrace. He bent down
closer to catch the words:
"And | love you, Robert. Surely there
can be no harm in confessing it now,
with death so near. was not sure un-
til this afternoon. God cannot blame
me for telling you so. We win soon be
before Him and He will Judge. Kiss me
goodbye, dear. am so tiredl"
He covered her long, dark eyelashes-
her cold, blue lips-her moist hair-her
marble-like cheeks and forehead with
passionate kisses. Her feeble clasp
about his neck strengthened a little, and
she smiled gently.
The swirling snow and the wailing
wind were nothing to him now. He
raised his head, and underneath the 10y
GUS triumph in his eyes there was des-
perate glitter as he glanced about him.
Deathl Who talked of death? They
should not die there like rats in hole.
Life was sweet to him now. The future
was bright She loved him and she was
his by right. Was there no escape from
this biting cold and pitiless snow? He
would shout The wild wind swept il
away with mocking burst of laughter
1t was like shouting over the sea.
His voice was almost gone. If he only
had his revolver with him he might
make himself heard. Fool! fool to leave
everything behind that would have been
useful Robbins always carried revol-
ler. Surely they would try to signal.
Harkl what was that? Only the roll of
the distant thunder.
When the storm came up it was from
the west and the wind was blowing to-
ward the lake. Yes, he remembered
that. The wind hadn't changed, and all
he had to do do was to follow it. WHY
hadn't he thought of this before? There
was hope yeti He would carry herl
He lifted her in his arms and staggered
forward a few feet. He had to give it
up. His legs and arms were icy cold and
his joints stiff. He must get his blood
into circulation first He would scrape
away the snow and place Madge against
that shelving rock. She seemed to be
sleeping now. She was protected some
,yl,at from, fbo mind fh.ro ~. ~