The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-07-26
CHAPTER XIV. (contInued).

Having little else to do, she studied
the man, and she studied him with q
warm desire and an enthusiastic pre-
disposition to find the best in him.
She would not have been a human
girl II she had not been thrilled to
the very heart Of her by what the
man had done for her. She recognized
that whether he asserted It or not, he
had established an everlasting and
indisputable claim upon her.
The circumstances OF their first
meeting, which as the days passed
did not seem quite SO horrible to her,
and yet a thought of which would
bring the blood to her cheek still on
tho instant, had in some way turned
her over to him. His consideration
of her, his gracious tenderness to-
ward her, his absolute abnegation. his
evident overwhelming desire to please
her, to make the anomalous situation
in which they stood to each other
bearable In spite of their lonely and
unobserved intimacy, by an absolute
lack of presumption on his part-all
those things touched her profoundly.
Although she did not recognize the
fact then perhaps, she loved him from
the moment her eyes had opened in
the mist and rain after that awful
battle in the torrent to see him bend
ing over her.
No sight that had ever met Enid
Maitland's eyes was so glorious, SO
awe inspiring. so uplifting and mag
h. MI from, tho
Of the cliff in the sunlight of some
bright winter morning. Few women
had ever enjoyed such privileges as
hers. She did not know whether she
liked the winter crowned range best
that way, or whether she preferred
the snowy world. glittering cold in the
moonlight: or even whether 1t was
more attractive when 1t was dark and
the peaks and drifts were only light
ed by the stars which shone never SO
brightly as just above her head.
When he allowed her she loved to
stand sometimes In the full fury of
the gale with the wind shrieking and
sobbing like lost souls In some icy
inferno through the hills and over the
pines. the snow beating upon her. the
sleet cutting her face II she dared to
turn toward the storm. Generally he
left her alone In the Quieter moments.
but In the tempest he stood watchful.
on guard by her side. buttressing her,
protecting her, sheltering her. Indeed
his presence then was necessary.
without him she could scarce have
maintained a footing The force of
the wind might have hurled her down
the mountain but for his strong arm.
When the cold grew too great he led
her back carefully to the hut and the
warm fire.
All, yes, life and the world were
both beautiful to her then. In night,
IN day. by sunlight. by moonlight, In
calm and storm. Yet 1t made no DIFF
ference what was spread before the
woman's eyes. what glorious picture
vas exhibited to her gaze. she could
not look at 1t more than a moment
without thinking Of the man. With
the most fascinating panorama that
the earth's surface could spread be-
fore human vision to engage her at
tention, she looked into her own
heart and saw there this man!
Oh, she had fought against It at
Arst, but lately she had luxuriated
in II. She loved him. she loved him!
And why not! What 10 It that wom-
On love in men! Strength Of body?
She could remember yet how he had
carried her over the mountains in the
midst Of the storm. how she had been
90 bravely upborne by his arms to his
heart She realized later what task
that had been. what feat Of strength.
The uprooting Of that sapling and the
everturning Of that huge Grizzly were
child's play to the long portage up
the almost impossible canon and
0ountain side which had brought her
o this dear haven.
Was Il strength q character abe
sought resolution. dstsrminatioo?
~ - haA deliberately withdrav1