Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08


hunting; but generally they went their
way separately. All day Petronilla busisd
herself at her household tasks, stretching them
out as long as she could. She walked alone
or with one of the dogs for company.
At first the three spoke but little. They
were watching another, and for the rest
they lived and thought alone. After time
they felt that silence was intolerable; they
must speak to their senses. They played
at cards and spoke over the game. Then they
fell into speech about things in Carson, and
sometimes Petronla and Matthews talked
about life in Seattle. But always it was per-
functory talk, with no life, no meaning.
Matthews, avoiding Lars, would have been
glad to turn to Petronilla; but always she held
him off. Lars never tried to speak to her
alone; but he wondered deeply what was going
on behind that unsmiling blank face the dead
mask, of Petronilla.
The weeks went by, the terrible weeks of the
North which test the physical strength of n,
their patience and their souls. The North
sends an eating cold that never stops, that
carries with it the implacable enmty of ages.
that promises ages more of bitter warning.
When the winds rose they were deadlier than
all the crowded dangers of city. and when the
silence fell its broOdlng held more menace than
the challenge of the storm. The North was
testing souls in that bleak ultimate place.
Matthews was the first to fail. He became
petulant quarreled over cards, found fault with
the food, with the blankets, and always with
the terrible dead monotony. And Petronilla
and Lars watched him till he cursed their
eyes, and then wept and asked their pardon,
saying he i'll. Day after day he broke
out into weeping and cursing Sometimes he
ran up and down the SHOWS. raving. Again
he would remain silent for hours, with his face
turned southwark. Toward these attacks Lars
showed tolerance, while Petronila sometimes
tried to soothe Matthews with talk of the
coming spring.
1t seemed then as if she was breaking under
the strain for she fell into silence and would
give no sign that she heard when spoken to.
Then Lars talked to her by the hour-long,
long monologues. stories of the wonders of the
courts where he had once lived; but never
tale with love in it.
ONE day when Petronilla went to walk
~ Matthews stealthily watched her, and then
followed her. Far out on the frozen ground
they went, two black dots the merciless
white. When he overlook her, he fell on the
ground, at her feet and begged her to speak to
him: He said he was going mad with the
terrible silence and loneliness. She answered
nothing, only watched third black dot
hurrying toward them.
Il came here for you" said Matthew's
left Seattle, left all that for YOU Now save
mel
IN speak to you. them" she said. and her
voice came rustily from her lips. - stopped
because don't know. What does talk
matter here-our kind?
He loves you yet" said Matthews. He
won't hurt us, whatever you do. Talking to
me isn't enough, Petronilla. l tell you I'll
run mao IL tn1S HE goes on. An! ana ne
rose to his feet; for silently Lars had reached
them
go on" said Petronilla. LAS you say,
he won't hurt u.s.
Il can't stand this" said Matthews desper-
ately. I'm losing my brain. You owe me
something. Petronilla But for you I'd be
happy now in Seattle. Marry me now. We
can find a priest when the SHOWS break. /
must be saved. L"
She turned aside. I'VE must walk" she
said. I'VE can't stand still in this cold"
They turned toward the cabin and then
Matthews caught wildly at the arm of Lars
III let you keep her." he cried, if you'll
spare me dogs enough to get back. Surely
could start now? Surely it's warm enough?"
Its March, said Lars.
Il could start now. l tell you, I'll never
see her again. never trouble either of you again,
if only you'll let me go"
Let go to the cabin" said Lars. Its
too cold here"
They walked on in silence for time and
then Petronilla said suddenly:
mo, not that cabin. not that cabin where
l have had to live with him all the winter Let
us talk here, out here in the white silence,
which, as you said, Lars, has been my teacher
and my master. Let him go, Lars. No
take him to Carson. l owe him his life. as he