The Washington herald., 1912-06-23

OF the tent. he caught the silver CLINT
in the ireligh on heavy fur, the white
ness of a hand touching lightly the
flap of his tent, and then for an instant
he saw a face. In the instant he sat
as rigid as il he had stopped the beat
of his own life A pair of dark eyes
laughing in at him, a fash of laughing
teeth, low litter that was scarce more
than ripping throat-note, and the face
was gone, leaving him still staring into
the blank space where it had been.
With cough to give warning Of his
wakefulnesS, Steele flung off his blanket
and drew himself through the low open
ing of the tent On the extreme right
of the fire stood a man and woman,
warming themselves over the Goals.
They Strengthened from their leaning
posture as he appeared.
This is too bad, too bad. Mr.. Steele"
exclaimed the man, advancing quickly.
Il was afraid we'd make blunder and
awaken you. We were about to camp
on a mountain back there when we
saw your FIRE and drove on to it. I'm
sorry"
Wouldn't have had you miss me for
anything" interrupted Steele, gripping
the others proffered hand. You see,
I'm out from Lac Balm to meet Colonel
and Mrs. Becker. and" He hesi-
tated purposely, his white teeth gleam-
ing IN the frank smile which made
people like him immensely, from the
first
You've met them," completed the
laughing voice from across the FIRE.
Please, Mr.. Steele, will you forgive
me for looking in at you and waking
you up? But your feet looked so ter
ribly funny, and / assure you that was
all ! could see, though / tried awfully
hard. Anyway, / saw your name print
ed on the flap of your tent"
Steele felt slow FIRE burning in his
cheeks as he encountered the beautiful
eyes glowing at him from behind the
colonel. The woman was smiling at
him In the heat of the FIRE she had
pushed back her fur turban, and he
saw that her hair was the same shin
ing red gold that had come to him in
the letter, and that her lips and eyes
and the glorious color in her face were
remarkably like those OF which he had
dreamed, and of which waking vision
had come with the hyacinth letter to
hll him with unrest and homesickness.
that she would be young and that she
would have golden hair, but these 9TH
er things, the laughing beauty of her
face, the Turing depth of her eyes.
He caught himself staring.
II was dreaming" he almost stam-
mered. He pulled himself together
quickly. Il was dreaming of a face,
Mrs. Becker. Il seems strange that
this should happen-away up here, in
this way. The face that | dreamed OF
is a thousand miles from heSe, and it
is wonderfully like yours"
The colonel was laughing at him
when he turned. He was a little man.
as straight as a gun rod. pale OF face
except for his nose. which was nipped
red by the cold. and with a pointed
beard as white as the snow under his
feet. That part Of his countenance
which exposed itself above the top of
his great fur coat and below his thick
beaver cap was alive with good cheer,
notwithstanding its pallor
Glad you're good humored about It. !
Steele" he cried with an immediate tone
of oomradeship. We wouldn't have
ventured into your camp if it hadn't |
been for lsobel She was positively in |
sistent, sir. Wanted to see who was |
here and what it looked like. Eh, Iso-
bel, my dear, are you satisfied"
i surely didn't expect to find Tt !
asleep at this time of the day." said |
Mrs. Becker. She laughed straight in
to Philips lace, and so roguishly sweet |
was the curve of her red lips and the !
light in her eyes that his heart quick
ened its beating, and the flush deepened |
in his cheeks.
ITS only SIX" he said. looking at
MS watch. Il don't usually turn in
his early. was tired to-night-though
am not, now," he added quickly Il
,ould sit up until mlOrning-and talk.
Ne don't often meet people from out
ide, you know. Where are the 9TH
rs?
Back there" said the colonel, wav-
ng an arm into the gloom. "Isobel
made EN- sit down and be quiet, dogs
nd all, sir. while we came on alone
There are Indians, two sledges, and
ton of duff"
Call them" said Steele There's
DOM for your tent beside mine. colonel,
lose against the face OF this rock It's
5 good as a furnace"
The colonel moved a little out into
he gloom and shouted to those behind.
'hilip turned to find Mrs. Becker look I
1g at him in a timid, questioning sort {
t way, the laughter gone from her {
yes. For a moment she seemed to |
e on the point OF speaking to him,
len picked up a short stick and began 5
oying with the Goals.
you must be tired, Mrs. Becker" he
aid. Now that you are near a FIRE. l
'ould suggest that you throw off your
eavy coat You will be more COM
ortable. and l will bring you a blanket c
, sit on"
He dived into his tent and a moment I
ter reappeared with a blanket, which ?
e spread close against the butt of Q
g spruce within half a dozen feet of I
le fire. When he turned toward her,
lie colonePs wife had thrown off her
,at and turbin and stood before him,
slim and girlish figure, bewitchingly L
-etty as she smiled her gratitude and Il
estled down into the place he had pre- I
lred for her. For a moment he bent t
'er her, tucking the thick fur about o
r feet and knees, and in that moment n
: breathed from the heavy coils of 4
It shining hair the fower-like sweet
IS which had already stirred him to n
e depths of his soul. l
Colonel Becker was smiling down a
)on them when he Strengthened up, v
I'd at the humorous twinkle in his a !.
es, as he gazed from one to the other, a
teele felt that the guilt of his own :