The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-28

ing2 In Dawsou2 A month, in fact,
and glad TO get away. The arctic male
is elemental. you know, and somewhat
strenuous in his feelings.
Bound to be when he gets right
down 10 the soil. He leaves conven-
ton with the spring bed at home. But
you were wise in your choice Of time
for leaving. You'll be out Of the cOun-
try before mosquito season, which is
a blessing your lack of experience viii
not permit you to appreciate"
Il suppose not. But tell me about
yourself, about your life. What kind
OF neighbors have you? Or have you
any?'
II did have some" he replied. Mis-
sourian chaps, and a couple of Cor
nish1nen. but they went down TO Edo
RADIO to work at wages for d grub
stake"
Mrs. Sayther cast a look OF specu-
lative regard upon the girl. But, Of
course, there are plenty Of Indians
abOut?'
Every mothers son of them down
TO Dawson long ago. Not a native IN
the whole country, barring Winapie
here. and she's a KOyokuk Iass-comes
from a thousand miles or so down the
river
Mrs. Sayther felt suJdsaIy faint, and
though the smile Of interest in no wise
waned, the face Of the man seemed to
draw away to a telescope distance and
the TERED loss Of the cabin to whirl
drunkenly about.
You do not ask why came north %
she asked. surely you know" They
had moved back from the table, and
David Payne had returned 10 his ak
handle. Did you get my letter."
a last one? No. I don't think so.
Most probably it's trailing around the
Birch creek country, OF lying in some
traders shack on the Lower river. The
way they run the mails in here is
shameful No order, no system, no"
Don't be wooden, DaYei Help me-"
She spoke sharply now, with an as
sumption OF authority which rested
me about MYSELF About those we
knew in the old times? Have you no
longer any interest in the woTld2 Do
you know that my husband is dead?"
Indeed, I am sorry. How long"
David" She was ready to cry with
vexation, but the reprOaCh she threw
into her voice eased her.
Did you get any Of my letters? You
must have got some Of them, though
you never answered
Wei, I didn't get the last one, an
AtAttNiitHs ENiuEitAFs lit QCaAn u eoul
husband. and most likely others went
astyoy; but I did get some. Ter
read them aloud to Winapie as a warm
ing--that Is, you know, to impress upon
her the wickedness Of her white sis
ters. And I-er-think she prohted by
it. Don't you
She disregarded the sting and went
on: I'm the last letter, which YOU did
not receive, l told, as YOU have guessed,
of Colonel Sayther's death. That was
a year ago. also said that if you did
not come out to me ] would 90 in to
YOU And as 1 had often promised, I
came"
Il know Of no promise"
'In the earlier letters
Yes. You promised. but as I neither
asked ncr answered. it was rmTatified
SO do not know Of any suCI promise
But I do know OF another, which YOU
too, may remember. It was very long
ago. He dropped the ax-handle to
the floor and raised his head. 'It
was SO very long ago. yet I remem-
Der is distinctly. the day, the time
every detail. We were in a rose gar
den, You and Your mothers rose
garden. All things were budding, bios
sOming, and the sap Of spring was in
our blood And I drew you overt
was the first-and kissed you full on
the lips. Don't You remember"
Don't go over il, Dave: dent.
know every shameful line Of IT,. How
often have I weptr If you only knew
how 1 have suffered"
You promised me then-ay. and a
/ thousand times IN the sweet days that
followed. Each look of your eyes. each
touch Of your hand. each syllable that
feH from your lips, was a promise.
And then-hoW shall I say?-there
came d man. He was old-old enough
TO have DegOtten y0u-and not nice to
look upon. but as the world goes. clean.
he had done no wrong. followed the
( letter Of the law. was respectable. Fur
Their. and TO the point, he possessed
some several paltry mines-a score; il
does not matter and he owned u few
/ miles Of lands, and engineered deals
and clipped coupons. He"
But there were other things" she
interrupted, 81 told you. Pressure
money matteTs-want-Iny people
trouble. You understood the whole sit
nation. ] could not help it. 1t-was not
my Will 1 was sacrificed, or I sacri-
feed, have il as You wish. But. my
Gcdl Dave. ] gave you up, You never
did me justice. Think what L have
gone through
"It was not your win2 Pressure?
Under high heaven there was no thing
10 viii you 10 this mans bed or that"
But I cared for you all the time,
she pleaded. Il was unused to your
way Of measuring love. I am stiu un-
used. I do not understand"
We were speaking of the man you
saw ut 70 marry. What manner OF
man was he? Wherein did ne charm
your soul? What potent virtues were
his? True, he had a golden grip-an
almighty golden grip. He knew the
odds. He was versed in cent per cent
BY social measure he was not a bad
man. But by your measure. Karen. by
mine, by our Of the rose garden, what
was he?"
Remember, he IS dead"
'"The fact is not altered thereby.
What was ne? A great, gross. mate
rial creature deaf to song. blind to
/ beauty, dead to the spirit He was tat
with laziness. and habby-cheeked. and
the round Of mis- belly Witnessed his
gluttony
But he is dead It is we who are
nOw-n0Wi now, Don't YOU hear2 As
you say, ] have been inconstant. ]
have sinned. Good. But should not
you. too. cry peccavi2 II have brOk-
en- promises, have uot you? Your love
OF the rose garden was o. ali time, or
50 you said. Where is 1t now?"
1T is here! Now" he cried, striking
his breast passionately with clenched
hand. 1t has always been"
And your love was a great love;
there was none greater she contin-
ued; cor so you said in the rose gar
den. Yet it is not fine enough, large
enough, to forgive me here. crying at
your feet2"