The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-09-10


whiffs of wind from the north, accom-
panied by flying particles OF fee an(
snow, grim warning that winter had
not yet renOunced its sway In the
northland.
Floyd Jordan, striding down the steer
mountain trial, halted irresOlutely neaI
the abrupt turning at FaTel's blunf
He appeared to be meditating deeply
Suddenly he threw up his head, squared
his shoulders and hurried on, not in
the direction of the boarding house In
the gulch, but toward Farrell's cabin.
Farrell's cabin consisted of two log
houses Joined together and chlnked
with mud. There were other cabins of
the same simple architecture scattered
over the mountain side and nestled in
the gulehes, but white curtains hung
at the Farrell windows, and the wind
ward side of the living room was hung
with gay Navajo blankets.
The brown fur of a mountain bear
was on the floor, and its mate was
spread luxuriously beneath the red pill
lows of couch. And set like torch
in the south window, geranium,
potted in a brilliant Indian basket,
lifted its scarlet bloom.
But Jordan felt without seeing this
harmony. He was looking into the
face of the girl who had opened the
door. 1t was a face of light and shade
which spoke the swift thought before
the voice found words. n face to hold
a mans glance in n crowd Closing
the door, she resumed her seat by the
fire without replying to Jordan's genial
greeting.
He seemed to fill the room. Six feet
two and broad shouldered, he looked
even larger in the clumsy canvas coat,
corduroys and high laced boots of the
prospector. He whipped his hat
against his knee, evidently discon-
certed by the girls hostile attitude.
THAT you, Floyd Jordan?" inquired
voice from the inner room.
'Yes, Mrs Farrell. How're you feel
ingT
"some better, Pm glad to say. Set
down and warm yourself. Floyd.
'Tain't to be wondered at that people
have rheumatism In land where
there is ten months winter. If you'll
shut the door, Loreny, I'll get up and
dress"
Lorena closed the door.
"Floyd Jordan, what are you coming
here again for?" she burst out sud
denly.
Wouldn't be very neighborly not to
drop in with your mother sick and
your dad away, would it?"
Didn't l tell you that never would
speak to you again and that | never
wanted to see you?" she said fiercely,
taking II few steps toward him. Even
in that critical moment, with her eyes
blazing unjust and. unreasonable anger,
the miners heart throbbed acknowl-
cdgmcnt Of the tall, plant. reedlike
grace before him.
Eyes, Lorena, but l have Just lit
tie hope that you don't always mean
what you say"
Don't you think mean 1t when !
tell you I've heard how you Dragged
to the boys at the store that you could
take me whenever you got good and
ready?"
Il never said it in that way. Some
one has garbled my words to suit their
own purpose. Why. I've loved you
from the first time | ever set eyes on
you. I've been thinking of building q
cabin on my clalm--lf you'll have me,
Lorena. II you won't I'll sell out and
so to the States"
"You can't go any too quick to suit
me-" answered the girl, her voice tense
with scorn. "And you can tell them
loafers at the store that I'm not to be
taken so easily. I'd rather die than
marry you, Floyd Jordan"
Il reckon that settles It," said Jor-
dan, rising and buttonlng his coat.
please tell your mother goodby for
lc, anu he WIS gone.
"Loreny Farrell, what have you
been and doneT demanded her mother,
limping into the room in her stocking
feet. "You knows well as | do that
Floyd never said nothing to nobody
about you! The Blake girls made 1t
all up, jealous cause you'd caught the
likeliest young feller In the camp.
You've driven him away for good this
time. Hell keep his word-he always
does-and go to the States"
She re-entered the bedroom for her
shoes, and Lorena stealthily opened the
door and looked afteV her lovers re-
treating figure. He had almost reached
the bluff. If he passed it she knew
she would never see him again. Some
thing stirred in her throat. The long
stretch of trail that ran away through
the dreary landscape seemed like her
life, and Floyd was going out of 1t.
Her heart yearned for him. What
would her life be without him2
"Loreny, where are you" called Mrs.
Farrell, emerging from the bedroom
fully shod. The girl was not in the
room. Her mother opened the door and
looked out, but a wall of whirllng
white met her vision.
MY God" she gasped. "The child's
gone after him"
She knew the risk. All morning the
storm had been brewing, and now 1t
shundered by, veritable blizzard, the
sort that swoops down on the northwest
territory as late as June and as early
as August. 1t compels the settler to
string wire from house to stables; 1t
sets men circllng in the snow; it catch
es little children coming home from
school and buries them in monstrous
drifts.
A knock sounded on the door, ard
Floyd entered, noisily stamping the
snow from his feet.
Thought I'd come back and have an
other talk with Lorena," he began.