The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-09

valley. saw the outcastS divide their
slowly decreasing store OF provisions
for the morning meal. 1t was one OF
the peculiarities of that mountain eli
mate that fits rays diffused a kindly
warmth over the wintry landscape, as
If in regretful commiseration OF the
past But it revealed drift on drift
of snow piled high around the hut-a
hopeless. uncharted. trackless sea OF
white lying below the rocky shores
to which the castaways still chung.
Through the marvelously clear air the
smoke of the pastoral village of Poker
Flat rose miles away. Mother Shipton
saw it and from a remote pinnacle OF
her rocky fastness hurled in that direc-
ton a final malediction. 1t was her
last vituperative attempt. and perhaps
for that reason was invested with a
certain degree of sublimity. 1t did her
good. she privately informed the
Duchess. "Just you. go out there and
cuss and see." She then set herself to
the task of amusing 1.-The child" as
she and the Duchess were pleased to
call Piney. Piney was no chicken. but
it was soothing and original theory
that she didn't swear and wasn't i'm
proper.
When night crept up again through
the gorges the reedy notes of the ac-
Gordon rose and fell in fitful spasms
and long drawn gasps by the pickering
campfire. But music failed to fill en-
tirely the aching void left by INSULT
cient food. and a new diversion was
proposed by Piney-story telling. Mel
Their Mr. Oakhurst nor his female COM
panions caring to relate their personal
experiences, this plan would have fall
ed too. but for the Innocent. Some
months before he had CHANGED upon a
stray copy of Mr.. Pope's ingenious
translation of the "Iliad." He now
proposed to narrate the principal Incl
dents of that poem-having thoroughly
mastered the argument and fairly for
gotten the words-in the current YER
nacular of Sandy Bar And so for the
rest of that night the Homeric demi-
gods again walked the earth. Trojan
bully and willy Greek wrestled in the
winds. and the great pines in the can
yon seemed to bow to the wrath of the
son of Peleus. Mr.. Oakhurst listened
with quiet satisfaction. Most especial
~ was he interested in the fate Of
Ash heels" as the Innocent persisted
in denominating the swift footed
Achilles"
So with small food and much Of Ho-
mer and the accordion a week passed
over the heads of the outcasts. The
sun again forsook them. and again
from leaden skies the snowhakes were
sifted over the land. Day by day
closer around them drew the snowy
circle until at last they looked from
their prison over drifted walls Of daz-
zling white that lowered twenty feet
above their heads. 1t became more
and more difficult to replenish their
fires. even from the fallen trees beside
Them. now half hidden in the drifts
And yet no one complained. The low
ers turned from the dreary prospect
and looked into each others eyes and
were happy. Mr.. Oakhurst settled him.
self coolly to the losing game before
him. The Duchess. more cheerful than
she had been. assumed the care of
Piney. Only Mother Shipton-once the
strongest of the party-seemed TO sick
en- and fade. At midnight on the tenth
day she called Oakhurst TO her side.
querulous weakness. but don't say
anything about it. Don't waken the
kids. Take the bundle from under my
head and open it" Mr.. Oakhurst did
so. 1t contained Mother Symptoms "a
lions for the last week. untouched.
'Give 'em to the child" she said, point
ing to the sleeping Piney. You've
starved yourself" said the gambler.
'aThat's what they call it" said the
woman ENORMOUSLY as she lay down
again and, turning her face to the wall,
passed quietly away.
The accordion and the bones were
put aside that day, and Homer was
forgotten. When the body of Mother
Shipton had been committed to the
snow Mr. Oakhurst took the Innocent
aside and showed him a pair of snow
shoes, which he had fashioned from
the old pack saddle. There's one
chance in hundred to save her yet, !"
he said, pointing to Piney. but It's
there" he added, pointing toward
Poker Flat IF you can reach there in
two days she's safe" .And your" ask
ed Tom Simson. "I'll stay here" was
the curt reply.
The lovers parted with long en-
brace. You are not going, tooT' said
the Duchess. as she saw Mr.. Oakhurst
apparently waiting to accompany him.
'As far as the canyon" he replied. He
turned suddenly and kissed the Ouch
ess, leaving her pallid face afiame and
her trembling limbs rigid with amaze
ment.
Night came, but not Mr.. Oakhurst
1t brought the storm again and the
whirling snow. Then the Duchess,
feeding the fire, found that some one
had quietly piled beside the hut enough
fuel to last a few days longer. The
tears rose to her eyes, but she hid
them from Piney.
The women slept but little. In the
morning, looking into each others
faces, they read their fate. Neither
spoke, but Piney. accepting the posi-
ton of the stronger, drew near and
placed her arm around the Duchess
waist. They kept this attitude for the
rest of the day. That night the storm
reached its greatest fury. and, rending
asunder the protecting pines. invaded
the very hut.
Toward morning they found them
selves unable to feed the fire. which
died away. AS the embers
slowly blackened the Duchess crept
closer to Piney and broke the silence OF
many hours, "Piney. can you pray?'
mo, dear" said Piney simply. The
Duchess, without knowing exactly
why, felt relieved, and. putting her
head upon Piney's shoulder. spoke no
more. And so reclining, the younger
and purer pillowing the head of her
soiled sister upon her virgin breast,
they fell asleep.