The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
CHAPTER XIV.


winter. The great masses of snow yield
only to the burning suns of summer. and
the afr IS as sharp as a dagger as long as
the snow lasts Black cliffs. stern preci-
pices. and crevices holding cold and dark
ness, bar out the spring and turn stony
face toward her caresses So thought
Alicia March, as in the wintry dusk she
alighted from the train at the lonely
mountain station. All around her was
desoIation. The dusk was at hand. but
on the far-of horizon a pale green light
stil glowed upon the distant peaks. Be
low her lay the valleys, dark, somber,
and mysterious, with here and there a
light from some small homestead show
Ing In the twilight, and a waving line Of
sheep. hudding together as they were
driven toward the great sheepfold. The
only house in sight upon the mountain
side was an adobe hut upon a little
plateau. 1t was surrounded by melan-
choly cedars and dark and bare-limbed
lex trees.
Can you tell me" she said. going up
to the station master in his little box Of
an Office, where Roger March Hves?"
The station master, a phlegmatic person
in buckskn clothes, answered her by
jerking his thumb over his shoulder to-
ward the open door.
That's his house." he said-"over there
on the hill"
His eyes fell upon Alicia and his duh
mind, as little subject to curiosity, as in
terest was suddenly moved. The express
sion Of longing despair in her eyes pene-
trated him a little He then surmised the
question that Alicia would have asked,
but could not
Mr.. March is living. but in a pretty
bad way. so my wife says he is a heap
/ better than we ever thought he would be
/ Ny wife goes there every day or two to
I look after him He was mighty good TO
/ US when our shack was burnt"
/ Alicia, without another word, went out
and followed the rude path which led to
/ the little adobe house. The station mas
+ ter made no comment. he was accus-
toned 10 strange meetings and partings
in his remote world.
I The night had fallen when Alicia March
found herself outside the door Of the rude
little house where Roger March had hid
! den his broken heart. Long go the voice
( Of protest within Alicia had been silenced.
| She would have fought and struggled TO
/ have gone 10 her husband. She stood
/ trembling In the dusk outside, afraid 20
/ raise the latch. Close to her was an IN
/ cuTtained window. through which the
/ light Of a FIRE cleaned. She stole toward
I the window, and. looking in saw Roger
! March for the first time since he had
( repudiated her. He sat in a rough wooden
( chair. drawn UP TO the wide. low fire.
place; his face was white, like that OF q
/ dead man, and his shrunken figure was
I almost lost in his clothes His ewes alone
appeared 20 have life in them as he gazed
steadily at the fire. Sadness, hopeless
! ness and humiliation were in his gaze
but he was still sentient. living. breath
ing. The first thought that occurred u
. Alicia was that he yet had strength
( enough left 10 repulse her. The evening
/ had grown sharper. and she stood so long
{ outside the door that the cold penetrated
To the very marrow Of her bones. and il
was this. al last. which gave her the
/ courage 20 raise the hatch and enter. She
/ opened the door Of the room in which
! Roger March sat, and then closed il
Softly behind her. and going toward her
/ husband stopped on the other side Of the
| fireplace. some distance from him March
/ raised his eyes and started and shuddered
violently when his glance fell upon Alicia
almost as pale as himself. shivering with
cold and agitation and involuntariIy draw
ing near the blazing FIRE He attempted
/ 90 rise from his chair but feu back TN
equal 10 the effort As his head rested
against the back Of his chair. Alicia. with
downcast head. vet saw the marks Of ilI-
ness and age and grief in him. and II
brought a pang 10 her heart such as she
had never felt before IN her lifr Her ap-
partition. 50 strange and unexpected. asi-
! tated March more than he could bear
Alicia did not speak for some minutes
and then she said IN the low. deliciou,
voice which had not lost its charm for The
man who once adored her
I came because I couldn't help IL. ]
heard that YOU were ill., I know YOU hate
me. and I knew that I would lose all ]
had il I came, but something strongy!
/ than myself brought me. I don't excuse
/ what I have done. but-but I could not
keep away"
Marchs palIid lips formed one word.
"C0legrOve2'
Alicia answered In the same quiet
despairing voice.
/ He told me Of your Illness and re-
minded me that if ] tried 20 see you I
would lose everything. hut 7 scarcely
heard what he was saying 7 could not
keep away. He overlook me on the
/ journey yesterday morning and wished "a
make me promise If found you dead
that 7 would marry him-he is divorced.
I felt such rage against him" She
/ stopped and raised her hands and clenched
them with a gesture which implied a
/ hatred Of Colegrove greater than any
words could convey. 7 never was worthy
/ of you. but perhaps If 1t had not been
for Nicholas Colegrove l should not have
wrecked and ruined YOU as / have done.
/ so il is only just that 7 should be
wrecked and ruined too Then she came
nearer TO him and suddenly burst into
sObs. and clasping her hands. cried:
Let me stay-let me stay. if only for
this one night. 1t IS so cold outside.
and I know not where 10 go. I never
wronged you with Nicholas Colegrove
( except about money Let me stay,
Would you drive me out like a houseless
dog?"
She had not yet ventured near enough
! to her husband 10 touch him March
put his thin hands over his face. his
features were convulsed, but he said no
word. Then Alicia. laying her hand on
the arm Of his chair, cried:
You haven't told me TO go away You
can't do Il. I Will go after while, when
you are well. but even il you send me
away I sha'n't- 20 very far. and some
thing viii always drag me back to you. -
March remained silent. The wind out
side steadily rose and hOwled woIhshIy
around the little house. An lex tree
which overhung the roof, was beating
fiercely upon ii. and its strong branches
tore at the little house like the claws
of a wild beast seeking to destroy il.
''No, he could not turn her out ike a
b0useipse dogi"