Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28

animal which ceased nibblng piece of dry cheese to
look up her nquiringly. But she afraid and
quietly passed round the other side of the table, with
gentle "Shoo! shoo." whereupon the animal trotted
into the kitchen and out the back door.
THINKING of Ketchum Jack, Clara passed to
window that overlooked the lake. distant point
of light the gathering dusk marked the site of the red
mans cabin where doubtless his squaw, old Plated
Hair, preparing supper. By the clrcultous
Shore the distance three four miles; straight
across scarcely half mile
She had noticed pair of woman's skates hanging
the kitchen wall She remembered that the club main
tanned guest chamber in Jacks cabin for the enter
tainment of very small parties of sportsmen-four or
less-when it not worth while open the lodge.
Why not cross over? She knew the ice must be very
thin; for the winter had been exceptionally open and the
larger lake Mapewood frozen all yet. The
inch of would mask cracks and air holes ad-
ding to her danger But what of it? If the ice held all
right; if not-well Gals road to freedom would be the
shorter.
After bucking the skates, she closed and secured
the door with that scrupulousness for details which
often crops out people who no longer have anything
to lose gain thereby,solders going into desperate
charge, condemned criminals dressing for the galows,
suicides writing FINS in the book of life Then she
hobbled down to the shore
She wet one leg to the knee before gaining the main
sheet of ice 1t cracked ominousy under her weight.
She smiled-for the first time in weeks it seemed-and
struck gaily her partners laughing
and women at skating fete instead of the silent,
watchful, invisible emissaries of death.
SUDDENLY, when about halfway across she halted
abruptly A vision, it were, vouchsafed her.
She the little den at home in which, chairs side by
sde before open fire. she and Cal had spent many
winter evenings together during the first years of their
married life. 1t was the room to which Cal had
first led her bride the night of their return from the
honeymoon journey, the in which, hand in hand,
they had daydreamed often, gazing with reverie-
filmed eyes down to the rosy sunllt vista OF the future
CAL in her vision, sitting there now dressed for
dinner. One elbow the arm of his chair his
smoothshaved chin rested in the palm of his white hand
His eyes were fixed in thought upon the glowing
bers while upon his face that look Of wistful sad
that had haunted Clara for months,the outward
sign, which not strong could hide, of the
tragedy of being mated with whom he had ceased
to love-
Their golden dreams had turned to ashes. The
sacred flame borrowed from the altar fire had been
snuffed out like talow dip. And now, like outcast
Hagar she stood with her face to the widerness-only
she led no little Ishnael by the hand
Stricken with sense of unutterabe loss and woe,
Clara lifted her eyes heavenward. What mattered her
sufferngs? He too suffered and if she loved him.
only the angels above knew how much!-why not
him by single mastery stroke? Why daily with the
conventions and opinions Of men?
20 God, show me the wayl'
The pitiful wall assembled sharp, penetrating, and
clear buge call until the wofsh north wind pounced
upon it and throtted it. Standing in hearkening at
titude, she caught the simmer of open water,
toward the south Shore where Duck Creek entered the
lake. Was it to her prayer? She took it as
such. With sob she struck out skated at top speed
until she neared the fatal spot and then shut her eyes
THE water that closed over her might have been
boiling hot instead of icy cold from the way it
burnt her lungs She sank swiftly lump of lead
or so it seemed-down, down, down.
The depth astonshed her. But still more astonsh-
ing, presently the of pain, the quoting of
the thunder in her At this she ventured to open
her eyes, The water was crystal clear and as intangible