The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-14

beynntEI ] hhu f0Fpotten ffiht DO1si-
bIlity. And when got there what ex-
cuse shall make for being thereY'
Twilight was deepening, coming with
no g0rgeouSness OF sunset or altar
glow. for tho oyerhanging bougbs. with
their snowy covering. were all but I'm
penetrable. Little by little the tree
trunks turned from green and brown
10 black. Little BY little The snow
took BLUSH hue that darkencd into
the purple of the dropping boughs, and
the air grew raw and sharp with ~
tle night breeze TINT made lsose shlycr
M the glow Of heavy exercise depart
Cd with her first weariness.
Her course was now more difficult
An darkness seemed assured she con.
stantly atnnibled. but caught herself
each time. But the straInlDg told on
the thongs of her snowshoes. Bud
denly, she could not tell how the
faatcnings On one shoe gave way, and
she wns thrown violently forward.
Had the fnIl taken place In tho soft
snow Rose would have been unbartned,
but SHE had just arrived at the brow
or d slight slope almost wind swept OF
snow. Az the Rifl scrambled TO her
feet her left arm dangled uselessiy at
her side. With little moan she slip.
ped her other foot from It's snowsboe.
then stood for d moment, pain aud ter.
ror OF the darkness rendering her weak
and helpless.
Then her courage returned 10 her.
"Nonsense!" she thought. i've been
In the woods alone before. mustn't
get frightened even II II IL dark and ]
don't know where am"
She took from tho pocket Of her skirt
tiny ollakIn packet, John, the guide,
allowed no one In the lodge 10 be with.
out matches.
fi'il light fire. she said. "and camp
right here for the night"
Dizzy with pain and hunger. she
painfully gathered together some dead
branches and, kiDdlIng cheerful
blaze, sat down before II. The pain
Ia her arm was very great. and she
rolled back her sleeve and piled soft
handfnls OF snow on the flesh.
The Whispering Of the night through
the pines seemed very sad and lonely
70 Rose. II was only by watching the
beauty OF the scarlet fire glow on snow
and sweeping branches and murmur.
Ing over aud over TO herself that she
was not afraid that the girl kept her.
self from screaming with terror.
Then from out the darkness behind
her came the soft fuff iiuff Of hurrying
snowshoes. and Hugh, hot and breath.
less. stood before her.
"Rose,'' he cried. Rose. thought
had lost you!'
Rose looked up at him In amaze.
ment. "Iiow did you find me. Hughf"
Find youl Why, i've been follow.
Ing you ever since you left the lodge.
But Just nj dusk my snowshoe broke.
ana before I could patch it up you
were out OF sight"
Rose put another handful Of snow on
her arm. Hugh threw himself down
beside her. "oh. Rose" he cried. "what
have you done 10 yourselfi"
Rose looked up at him. Suddenly
she realized how she had been bclit-
tilng great thing In satisfying her
foolish pride Suddenly she saw that
this was best Of all; not that she keep
her girlish vanlties. but that their love
held true no matter who ordered or
who obeyed Suddenly she felt as II she
wanted things MS they had been at any
cost
Hugh" she said, II don't mind. Or.
der me about all You want TO; only
take care OF me and don't let me 90
away again."
Again the little bewildered look came
into Hugh's face az he gathered her
close.
II don't want to order you. Rosie"
he said. II was stubborn. and you
know what IN for your own best good
anyhow. All l want Ia you. and for
the rest you may do as you please"