The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-28

just wanted him, and wanted him. to
take me, but now that he Is mine I
love him more than l thought. He is
so dear to me that 1 can't drag him
down. can't-I can't!" She went to
the open door and stood leaning
against the casing, facing the cool out
er darkness, her face hidden from
them, her form sagging YEARLY, as If
the struggle had sapped her whole
strength.
Allnna crept to h tracer ana IooK-
ed up at him eagerly, whispering:
"This will end in a little while, John.
She is young. She al go back to the
mission tomorrow. She will soon for
get"
Forget! Do you think she can for
get"
ANY woman can forget. Only men
remember"
ut is the red blood in you-lying.
You know you lie"
ut is to say your life" she said.
:" know, but it's no use." To Necia
he said, you needn't worry, little
daughter" But her ears were deaf.
You needn't give him up, I say. This
will end all right"
Seeing that she gave no sign Of heed
ing, he stepped closer and swung her
about till she faced him.
Cant you trust ME this one time?
lou always have before, Necia. I say
he'll marry you, and it will come out
right"
She raised her hopeless eyes and
strove gamely to meet him, then, fail
ing, broke away and turned back to
the door. 81 knew you couldn't under
stand. Ito God, l love him sol"
| With a cry like that of a wounded anil
NAL she fled out into the night, where
she could give vent to her anguish IN
seen, for she had never wept before
her father, but always crept away and
hid herself until her grief was spent.
Gale would have started after her, but
Alluna dragged him back fiercely.
| "No, no! 1t means your life, John.
| Let the secret die, and she will for
get. She is so young. Time will cure
her. Time cures everything. Don't
tell her, don't tell any one, and, above
| all, don't tell that soldier. He would
not believe, nor would she. Even /
have doubted"
"YouT"
eyes. John. And, if l don't believe,
what is a stranger to say?. No man
knowing you would believe the tale
without proof. Suppose she doubted.
Have you ever thought of that? Would
you not rather have her die still low
ing you than live and disbelieveY
Eyes. yes. Ofcourse live thought
OF that, but woman, you're worse
than a r~attlesnaker'
"Even If he knew, he might not
marry her. You at least are clean,
and that other man was a devil. A
brave mans life is too great a price to
pay for a grief that will die in a year."
Alluna was speaking swiftly in her
own language, her body tense, her
face ablaze, and no man seeing her
could ever again have called her peO-
pie stolid.
"You think time will cure a love like
that?' he said.
Eyes, yes"
"That's all you know about it. Time
may act that way perhaps in cities and
such places, but out in the hills 1t is
different. When you've got the breath
Of the forest in you, l say it is differ
ent. Time! Why, I've lived fifteen
years in the open with a living mem
DRY. Every night I've dreamed it over;
every day I've lived it through. In e
cry campfire I see a face, and every
wind from the south brings a voice
to me. Every stormy night a girl with
eyes like Necia's calls to me, and /
have to follow. Every patch of moon
light shows her smiling at me, just
beyond, just in the shadows edge.
Love! Time! Why, Alluna, love is
the only thing in the world that never
dies, and time only makes 1t the more
enduring"
He took up the white SLOUGH hat he
had thrown down when he came In
and stepped to the door.
where are you going?" inquired the
squaw fearfully.
"To the barracks to give myself up!'
She flung herself at him, with a great
cry, and seized him about the waist.
You never loved me, John, but ]
have been a good woman to you, al
though 1 knew you were always think
ing of her-and had no thought of me.
I have loved this girl because you
loved her. l have hated your enemies
because you hated them, and now ]
remember, while you forget"
Forget! What do you mean?"
stark"
The man paused. II did almost for
get him-and after fifteen years."
Let us Kill him tonight; then We
will 20 to the soldier together, side by
side. I am your woman. Necia will
look after the little ones.
Gale stared at her, and as he gazed
the red pigment underneath her skin
the straight hanging, manelike hair
the gaudy shawl she never went with
out, the shapeless, skin shod feet, the
s~lovenly, Ill fitting garb of a miscas'
woman vanished, and he saw her al
-, rrcc ~ a dow long mast a slim