The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-08-30

ItdOy lOT MS journey, udu toih hiihr
self away from her presence and had
plunged down the giant stair. He had
done everything that mortal man could
do for her comfort; wood enough to
last her for two weeks had been taken
from the cave and piled in the kitch-
en- and everywhere so as to be easily ;.
accessible to her; the stores she al
ready had the run of. and he had fit-
ted stout bar to the outer door
which would render II impregnable to
any attack that might be made against
IL, although he saw no quarter from
which any assault impended.
Enid had recovered not only her
strength. but good deal OF her nerve.
That she loved this man and that he
loved her had given her courage. She
would be fearfully lonely. OF course.
but not so much afraid as before. The
month Of immunity in the mountains
without any interruptions had dissi-
pated any possible apprehensions on
her part. II was with sinking heart.
however, that she saw him go at
last
bttH 30 luutH ttkelutt
In that month: they had learned what
love was. When he came back Il
would be different he would not come
alone. The first human being he met
would bring the world to the door OF
the lonely but beloved cabin in the
mountains-the world with It's ques-
lions, its inference. It's suspicious. It's
IL ,tat
Some kind Of an explanation would
have to be made, some sort an an.
| swer would have to be given, some So
luton of the problem would have to
be arrived at. What these would be
she could not tell.
Newbold's departure was like the
end OF an era to her. The curtain
dropped: when II rose again what was
to be expected? There was no COM
fort except In the thought that she
loved him. So long as their affections
matched and ran together nothing
else mattered. With the solution OF II
all next to her sadly beating heart she
was still supremacy confident that
love. or God-and there was not 30
much difference between them rs to
make II worth while to mention the
one rather than the other-would find
| the way.
Their leave taking had been sIngu.
larry cold and abrupt She had real.
lied the danger he was apt to incur
and she had exacted reluctant prom.
Use from him that he would be careful
Don't throw your life away. don't
risk II even. remember that II In
mine." she had urged.
And just as simply as she had en-
Joined II upon him he had promised.
He had given his word that he would
not send help back to her but that he
would bring II back. and she had con.
fidence In that word. A confidence
that had he been inclined to break his
promise would have made II absolute
ly impossible. There had been a long
clasp OF the hands. a long look in the
eyes, long breath In the breast. a
long throb In the heart and then
farewell. They dared no more.
Once before he had left her and she
had stood upon the plateau and fol-
lowed his vanishing figure with anxi-
GUS troubled thought until II had been
lost In the depths OF the forest below.
She had controlled herself In this
second parting for his sake as well rs
her own. Under the ashes OF his
grim repression she realized the pres
ence OF live Goals which breath would
have famed into flame. She dared
nothing while he was there. but when
he shut the door behind him the ne
cessity for self-control was removed.
She had laid her arms on the table
and bowed her head upon them and
shook and quivered with emotions un-
relieved by a single tear-weeping
was for lighter hearts and less severe
| demands!
His position after all was the easier
OF the two. As Of old II was the man
| who went forth to the battlefield while
| the woman could only wait passiveiy
the issue of the tight. Although he
was half blinded with emotions he had
to give some thought to his progress.
and there was yet one task to be done
before he could set forth upon his
journey toward civilization and res
cue.
II was fortunate, as 1t turned out.
that this obligation detained him. He
was that type Of merciful man whose
mercies extended to his beasts. The
poor little burros must be attended 10
and their safety assured SO far as II
could be. for 1t would be impossible
for Enid Maitland to care for them.
Indeed he had already exacted a prom.
Use from her that she would not
leave the plateau and risk her life on
the icy stairs with which she was SO
unfamiliar.
He had gone &c the corral and shak-
en- down food enough for them which
| II II had been doled out to them day
by day would have lasted longer than
the week he intsnded to be absent: Of
| course he realized that they would eat