New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

quietly passed round the other side of the table with
gentle "Shool shoot" whcrcupon the animal troted
into the kitchen and out the back door.
THINKING OF Ketchun Jack. Clara passed ON to a
window that overlooked the lake distant point
of light in the gathering dusk marked the site of the red
mans cabin, where doubtless his SQuaw old Plated
HAIR was now preparing supper BY the circuitous
shore, the distance was three four miles; straight
across, scarcely half a mile
She had noticed a pair of womanS skates hanging on
the kitchen wall She remembered that the club main
tanned guest chamber in lacks cabin. for the enter
tanment of very small parties OF SportSmen or
le>S-whcn 1t was not worth while to open the lodge
Why not cross over? She knew the ice must be very
tMn for the winter had been exceptionally open and the
larger lake at Mapowood not frozen all yet The
inch of would mask cracks and air holes adj
ding to her danger But what OF it? If the ice held all
right; not-wcll, Gals road to freedom would be the
shorter.
After huCking the skates she closed and secured
the door with that ScrupulouSncSS for details which so
often crops out in people who longer have anything
70 lose or gain thereby going into desperate
charge condemned criminals dressing for the gallows,
suicides writing Fins in the book OF life Then she
hobhlcd down TO the shore
She wet one leg to the knee before gaining the main
sheet of ice. Ii cracked omnouSly under her weight.
She Smied-for the first time in weeks it seemed-and
struck out as gaily if her partners laughing
and women at skating fdtc instead OF the silent,
watchful, invisible cuiSStrcS OF death
SUDDENLY, when about halfway across, she halted
abruptly A vision as it were was vouchsacd her.
She the little den home in which, chairs side by
side before an open fire. she and Cal had spent many
winter evenings together during the first years of their
married life. 1t was the same room to which Cal had
first led her bride the night Of their return from the
honeymoon journey, the room in which, hand in hand,
they had daydrCamed often, gazing with rcvCrie-
filmed eyes down the rosy, Sunt vista of the future
CAL in her vision, sitting there now dressed for
dinner One elbow the of his chair; his
SmoothShaved chin rested in the palm of his white hand
His eyes were fixed in thought upon the glowing
hers, while upon his face that look of wiStful sad
ness that had haunted Clara for mOnthSthc outward
sign, which even strong could hide, of the
tragedy of being mated with whom he had ceased
;o love.
Their golden dreams had turned to ashes The
sacred flame borrowed from the altar fire had been
-outcd ont ike a ;alow dip. And now, like outcast
HaSar she stood with her face to the wderness-only
She LED no little Ishmacl by the hand.
Stricken with sense of unutterable loss and woe,
Clara lifted her eyes hcaycnward. What mattered her
offerings? He too suffered; and if she loved him.
.r,y the angels above knew how much,-why not save
him by single mastery stroke? Why daily with the
inventions and opinions Of men?
~O God show me the way"
The pititul wall assembled sharp, penetrating, and
clear as buglc call until the woish north wind pounced
.o,0 j, and throtcd it. Standing in hearkenng at
..u5c. she caught the simmer OF open water, over
warl the south shore where Duck Creek entered the
lake. Was il an answer to her prayer? She took it as
such With q sob she struck out, Skated at top speed
until She ncarei 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 1t
burnt her lungs She sank swiftly lump Of lead
.. .urro'