New-York tribune., 1910-05-08

soft bed IN the alcOve which had been 5uilt for
her Lars made a screen Of fu-s for IT, The
men slept IN blankets behind the t1re The
two were IN the open a good deal exploring and
hunting; but generally they vent on their
wav separately All dav Petrlal-a br.gisd
herself at her household task, stretching them
out as long as she could She walked alone
OF with one of the dog for company.
At first the three spoke but little They
were watching one another and TOR the rest
they lived and thought alone After time
thew felt that silence was -1tn.--aJ--. thev
must speak to save their sense Thew -Iaved
at cards and spoke over the game. Then thev
fell into speech about thlrgs IN Carson and
sometimes PetronIlLa and Matthews liked
about life in Seattle. But always II Ha- rer-
functory talk, with no life. no meaning.
Matthews avoiding Lars, would have 1een
glad TO turn To Petr1nIlla buy always She held
him Oft Lars never tried % -pesS % her
alone. but he wondered deeply what was gong
on behind that unsrniling b.arl, face the dead
mask of PetrOnIlla-
The weeks went BY the terri Pre- weeks of the
North which test the physical strength Of men
their patience and their souls. The North
sends an eating cold that never tops that
carries with it the implacabie e1mitv ~ ages.
that promises ages more of bitter warning
When the winds rose they were deadlIer than
all the crowded dangers OF a city, and when The
silence fell its broodIng held more menace than
the challenge OF the storm The North was
Matthews was the first O. fail. He became
petulant quarreled over cards. found fault with
the food with the blankets and always with
the terrible dead mOnOtOnv. And PetrOnIa
and Lars watched him till BE- cursed their
ewes, and then wept and asked their pardon
saving he was ILL., Day after Iav he broke
out into weeping and cursIng. Sometimes he
ran up and down the SHOWS. rtVl-g- AGAIN
he would remain silent for h0ur- with his face
turned southwark. Toward these et-sc h Lars
showed tolerance while Petronilis -ame,irneS
tried To- sOOthe Matthews with talk II the
coming spring
1t seemed then aS II she was breaking under
the strain. for she fell into silence and would
give no sign that she heard when -prsen %.
Then Lars talked to her by the haa---long
long mOnOlOgueS, stories Of the wonders % the
courts where he had once lived. but never
tale with love IN it.
ONE dav when Petronill4 went Q. walk
~ Matthews stealthiIy watched her and then
followed her. Far out on the frozen ground
thev went, two black dots on tnr uercleSS
white. When he overtook her. he fell N the
ground at her feet and begged her r peak TO
him. He said he was going mad with the
terrible silence and lonelIneSS- She a1swered
nothing, only watched third u.ack dot
hurrying toward them.
Il came here for you.' ~all l---lewS
left Seattle, lett all that for YOU. Vow save
me-"
IN speak 10 YOU. then she said md her
voice came ruStilv from her lips pped
because-I don't know. Wha- does ralh
matter here-our kind
He loves YOU Vet" said Matthea He
won't hurt Us. whatever YOU do L-.a,rg 70
me iSr't enough PetronIlIa I --. ru III
run mad If this life goes on All and he
rose to his feet, for silently Lars hal -eachet
them.
Go on" said PetronilIa- AS Won say.
he won't hurt Us
L ant stand this. said lIa1r--.e- s.-Der-
ately- I'm losing my brain You "e me
something. Petronilla. But for v.- III be
happy now IN Seattle Marry me -.E- We
can find priest when the sn1v- break.
must be saved /"
She turned aside We must Na She
said We can't stand still IN this
They turned toward the cabin - then
Matthews caught wildly AT the arm ~
IN let YOU keep her. he cried r1u .
spare ME dogs enough u get back surely !
could start now. Surely its warm e-.
Its March. said Lars.
'' ! could start now. ! tell vou. -.r-r
see her again. never trouble either or v- IN.
If only You'll let me GO
Let US g. L. the cabin. said Lars. ---
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