The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-07-19

even your mind need not stsgnate."
Il have looked at your books al
ready" said the woman. answering
his glance.
This was where she had round his
name, he realized.
You will have this room for your
own use and will take the other for
mine," he continued.
Il am loath to dispossess you"
Il shall be quite comfortable there,
and this shall be your room exclusive
ly except when you bid me enter, as
when bring you your meals. shall
hold It inviolate."
But" said the woman. "'there must
be an equal division Of labor. | must
do my share"
There isn't much to do In the win
ter except to take care OF the burros.
keep up the fire and prepare what we
have to eat"
Il am afraid should be unequal to
outdoor work, but in the rest l must
do my part"
He recognized at once that idleness
would be irksome.
so you SHALL" he assented heartily,
when your foot is well enough to
make you an efficient member of our
little society"
Thank you. and now"
rs there anything else before I get
support"
You think there is no hope Of their
searching for me here?"
The man shook his head.
III James Armstrong had been In
the party" she said refectively, II am
sure he would never have given up"
And who IL James Armstrong. may
! ask?" burst forth the other bluntly.
Why he-I-he is a friend OF my
uncle and an-acquaintance Of my
own"
"Oh," said the man shortly and
gloomily, as he turned away.
Enid Maitland had been very brave
In his presence. but when he went out
she put her head down on her arms
on the table and cried softly TO her
self. Was ever a woman In such O
predicament, thrown into the arms OF
a man who had established every con-
ceivable claim upon her gratitude.
forced to live with him shut up In q
two-room log cabin upon a lonely
mountain range, surrounded by lofty
and inaccessible peaks. pierced by ter.
rife gorges soon to be impossible
from the SHOWS? She had read many
stories OF castaways. from Charles
Reade's famous Foul Play" down to
more modern instances, but In those
cases there had always been an island
comparatively large over which to
reign with privacy, seclusion. opportu.
nifty for withdrawal: bright heavens.
balmy breezes, idyllic conditions.
Here were two uplifted from the earth
upon a sky-piercing mountain. They
would have had more range Of action
and more liberty OF motion II they
had been upon dcrelict In the ocean
And she realized at the same time
that In all those stories the two cast
Always always loved each other. Would
il be SO with them? Was II SO? And
again the hot flame within outvied the
fire OF the hearth as the blood rushed
TO the smooth surface OF her cheek
again.
What would her father say II he
could know her position. what would
the world say. and above all what
would Armstrong say. II cannot be
denied that her thoughts were terri.
bly, and Overwhelmingly dismayed,
and yet that despair was not without
certain relief. No man had ever SO
interested her rs this one. What was
the mystery Of his life. why was be
there. what had he meant when he
had blessed the Idle impulse that had
sent her into his arms?
Her heart throbbed again. She lift
ed her face from her hands and dried
her tears. a warm glow stole over her
and once again not altogether from
the fire. Who and what was this |
man? Who was that woman whose |
picture he had taken from her? Well.
she would have time to find out. And
meantime the world outside could |
think and do what 1t pleased. She
sat staring into the IRE light. seeing
pictures there. dreaming dreams She
was Al lovely as an angel to the man /
when he came back into the room.