The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-14
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
HeIen's act. was strange, and de-
mands a word Of explanation. If
she had thought the steamboat was
a strange vessel, she would have
lighted the bonfire; IL she had
known her father was on board, she
would have lighted It with joy. But
Hazel, whose every word now was
gospel, had said 1t was Arthur
Wardlaw In that boat, searching
for her.
Still, so strong is the impulse in
all civilized beings to get back to
civilization, that she went up that
hill as honestly Intending to light
the bonfire as Hazel intended IL to
Be lighted. But, as she went, her
courage cooled, and her feet began
to go slowly, as her mind ran
swiftly forward to consequence
upon consequence. To light that
bonfire was to bring Arthur Ward
law down upon herself and Hazel
living alone and upon intimate
terms. Arthur would come and
claim her to his face. Could she
dfsallow his claim? Gratitude
would now be ON his side as well
as good faith. What a shock to
Arthur! What torture to Hazel!
Torture that he foresaw, or why
the face of anguish, that dragged
even now 1t her heartstrings? And
then 1t could end only in one way;
she and Hazel would leave the is
land in Arthur's ship. What a voy-
age for all three! She stood trans
fixed by shame. Then once more
Hazel's face rose before her; poor,
crippled Hazel! her hero and her,
patient. She sat down and sighed,
and could no more light the fire
than she could have put it out If
another had lighted 1t.
She was a girl that could show
you at times she had father al
well as a mother; but that evening
she was all woman.
They met no more that night.
In the morning his face was bag
gard. and showed q mental strug-
gle; but hers placid and quietly
beaming, for the very reason that
she had made great sacrifice. She
was one Of that sort.
And this difference between
them was a foretaste.
His tender conscience pricked
him sore. To see her sit beaming
there. when, if he had done his own
duty with his own hands she would
be on her way to England! Yet
his remOrse was dumb; for, If he
gave 1t vent, then he must seem
ungrateful to her for her sacrifice
She saw his deep and silent COM
junction. approved it secretly; said
nothing, but smiled, and bean1ed,.
and soothed. He could not resist
this; and wild thrills Of joy and
hope passed through him, visions
of unbroken bliss far from the
world. ~ i
But THIS sweet delirium was fol-
lowed by misgivings of another
kind. And here she was at fault.
What could they be?
1t was the voice of conscience
telling him that he was really win
ming her love, once inaccessible;
and. If so, was bound to tell her
his whole story, and let her Judge
between him and the world, before
she made any more sacrifices for
him. But it Is hard to stop great
happiness; harder to stop it and
ruin 1t. Every night, as he lay
alone, he said. Tomorrow l will
tell her all and make her the
Judge But In the morning her
bright face crushed his purpose by
the fear of clouding 1t. His limbs
got strong and his heart got weak;
and they used to take walks, and
her head came near his shoulder;
and the path Of duty began to set
thicker than ever with thorns, and
the path of love with primroses.
One. day she made him sit to hsE
for his portrait; and. under cover
of artistic enthusiasm, told him hl1
beard was godlilSe. and nothing In
the world could equal 1t for beauty.