The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-23

trail which had evidently been
passed and repassed daily In g few
moments he was at the top Of the
shelf. A hard trampled path ran be-
tween high walls of snow to a
door!
Behind that door what would he
find? Just what he brought to
usually find on the other side of
doors no more and no less than
we bring to our own sides. But what
ever was there there was no hesita-
ton in Armstong's course. He ran
toward it, laid his hand on the latch,
and opened it.
What creatures of habit we are!
Early In that same morning. after one
vain attempt again to influence the
woman who was now the deciding and
determining factor, and who seemed to
be taking the mans place. Newbold.
ready for his journey, had torn him.
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 1T
ted stout bar to the outer door
which would render 1t impregnable to
any attack that might be made against
it. although he saw no quarter from
which any assault impended.
Enid had recovered not only her
strength. but a 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. It was with sinking heart.
however. that she saw him go at
last
They had been SO much together
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 me.
would bring the world to the door OF
the lonely but beloved cabin In the
mountains-the world with its Ques
lions, its Inference, its suspicious. its
| denunciations and its accusations!
Some kind Of an explanation would
have to be made, some sort an an
swer would have to be given, some SO
Int ~ ha x<
be arrived at. What these would b.
she could not tell.
Newbold's departure was like the
| end of an era to her. The curtain
| dropped; when 1t 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 supremely confident thai
love, or God-and there was not &c
much difference between them as te
make 1t worth while to mention the
one rather than the other-would f1nG
the way.
Their leave taking had been singu
larry cold and abrupt. She had real
ICED the danger he was apt to Incur
and she had exacted reluctant prom
ise from him that he would be careful
Don't throw your life away, dom,
risk 1t even, remember that It ii
mine," she had urged.
And Just as simply as she had en-
joined 1t upon him he had promised
He had given his word that he woult
not send help back to her but that b.
would bring 1t back. and she had con
fidence In that word. A conf1denc,
that had he been inclined to break hi
promise would have made 1t absolute
~ impossible. There had been Q lonl