The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-01


lions for the last week. untouched.
Give 'em to he child" she said, point
ing to the sleeping Piney. you've
starved yourself" said the gambler.
That's what they call it." said the
woman ENORMOUSLY as she lay down
again and. turning her face to the wal,
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 a long en-
brace. You are not going, too?' 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 palIid face aflame and
her trembling limbs rigid with amaze
ment.
Night came. but not Mr.. Oakhurst.
It 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 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 Pineys 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
gradually 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.
The wind Iulled as If it feared to
<5-sS
shaken from the long pine boughs, flew
like white winged birds and settled
about them as they slept. The moon
through the rifted clouds looked down
upon what had been the camp. But all
human stain. all trace of earthly ira
vail. was hidden beneath the spotless
mantle mercifully flung from above.
They slept all that day and the next,
nor did they waken when voices and
footsteps broke the silence of the camp.
And when plying fingers brushed the
snow from their wan faces you could
scarcely have told from the equal peace
that dwelt upon them which was she
that had sinned. Even the law Of
Poker Flat recognized this and turned
away. leaving them still locked in each
others arms.
But at the head of the gulch, on one
of the largest pine trees. they found the
deuce of clubs pinned to the bark with
bowie knife. 1t bore the following,
written in pencil in a firm hand:
Beneath This Tree
Lies the Body
of
JOHN OAKHURST,
Who StrucX Streak of Bad Luck
on the 23d of November, 1850,
and
Handed In His Checks
on the It'll December. 1850.
And pulseless and cold. with Der
ringer by his side and a bullet in his
heart. though still calm as in life, be-
meath the snow lay he who was at once
the strongest and vet the weakest of
the outcasts of Poker Flat.