The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-22

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
90 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 it impregnable to
any attack that might be made against
it, although he saw no quarter from
which any assault imbended.
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. 1t 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 it
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 its ques-
lions. its inference, its suspicious, It's
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.
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 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 affection!
matched and ran together nothing
else mattered. With the solution Of Il
all next to her sadly beating heart sh.
was still supremely confident tina
love, or God-and there was not u
much difference between them as tt
make it worth while to mention tn,
one rather than the other-would flint
the way.
Their leave taking had been singu
larly cold and abrupt. She had real
lied the danger he was apt to incur
and she had exacted a reluctant prom
Use from him that he would be careful
Don't throw your life away, DOM
risk it even. remember that it Il
mine," she had urged.
And just as simply as she had en-
Joined it upon him he had promised
He had given his word that he would
not send help back to her but that be
would bring 1t back. and she had con
fidence in that word. A confidence
that had he been inclined to break bis
promise would have made 1t absolute
ly impossible. There had been long
clasp of the hands, long look in the
eyes, a long breath in the breast, q
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 it had been
lost in the depths Of the forest below
She had controlled herself In this
second parting for his sake as well as
her own. Under the ashes of his
grim repression she realized the pres
ence of live Goals which breath would
have famed into fame. She dared
nothing while be 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-weepine
was for lighter hearts and less severe
demands!
His position after all was the easier
Of the two. AS of old 1t was the man
who went forth to the battlefield while
the woman could only wait passively
the issue of the fight. 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
tourney toward civilization and res
cue.
It 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
moor little burros must be attended tt
and their safety assured so far as II
could be, for it would be impossible
for Enid Maitland to care for them
Indeed he had already exacted prom
ise from her that she would moi
leave the plateau and risk her life or
the icy stairs with which she was sc
unfamiliar.
| He had gone to the corral and shak
on down food enough for them which
If il had been doled out to them day
nv day would have lasted longer thar
tho week he intended to be absent; O.