Gilpin observer., 1916-07-27
The Red Death.
CHAPTER xxxa.

mighty pyre of the jumbled peaks.
Only the forbidding spine Of the Hog
Back. running like a great thin blade
high between the red surf creeping at
its base. carried passage out of the
roaring death. Siletz had planned
that the splendid black should make
II first.
Now she turned back to the two
men she loved-the Preacher, silent
under the shielding ferns with his
Bible and his flute. Sandry prone upon
the earth, his face in the pine nee
dies. She passed him and knelt beside
the other Her eyes were dim with
the old look OF emotion. She barred
the white face and gazed long upon
It The call of blood had ever held
her to this man mysteriously. though
both were ignorant of the vital tie
between them. the Preacher because
of the dreamy blank in his mind since
the tragedy of that far-off day, ,Siletz
because Kolawmie. wise beyond his
generation. had seen how blood takes
to its own. even at its cost. He had
loved her mother and had tried to
make her Indian, though she was
white. q waif Of the old frontier, and
he had seen her break her heart and
die.
Therefore, after silent hours by the
Great Waters he had accepted the
mandate Of Destiny and had taken the
babe of the Broken Sign and given
her to the only white woman he would
trust, Ma Daily. who took her with
few questions when she saw he would
not tell her history. SO now Siletz
looked for the nrst and last time con-
sciously upon her own. Presently she
leaned over and kissed him softly. re-
placed the ferns and rose.
Beside Sandry she stopped. stood .
moment gazing around at the pine
boles that loomed like fearful ghosts
in the smoke. and sat down beside
him. tucking her feet with the age-old
motion of the blanket-wearers beneath
her skirt. 30 deeply had she absorbed
the ways Of the dusky people whom
she loved.
She did not speak.
When at last the man, his face
drawn out Of all semblance to itself.
rAised his eyes to her she was calm
- the hills before the are. He looked
ae her. raising himself ON his elbow.
locked long while Knowledge was
born In him.
30 this was the West, the world he
had once thought 10 unbearable, this
was the Wild. the untaught, the crude
this aim forest creature who served
him without question because he had
bought her with . kiss, who asked
nothing. who stayed by him to die be-
cause abe loved him! Who still be-
nsved In him despite that others dec
laration that she was his promised
wife! And yonder went his world,
MS cultured. polished East, riding
down to life and safety. her love for
gotten In the face Of danger! Yonder
went what he had thought the best
blood OF the landl"
Nay. he had been wrong! II was
here beside him. its feet tucked under
II in meekness. the savagery hidden in
IT. dim black eyes! The last barrier
went down In Walter Sandry, the last
last strand Of prejudice broke with a
snap. He rolled near and caught the
hem OF her ragged skirt
Little S1etx!" he said brokenly.
oh. Little Sletx! What am that YOU
should have done this thinR!"
She looked down at him and the
rare smile curled up the corners of the
lips above the sign.
you are my man." she said softly.
the king Of the whole world! You
are the light on the waters, Sandry.
the mist In the valleys, the oath To
the feet Of God! Only have lost nv
footing thereon"
tender wistfulness rang in b.r
voice. She fell silent, after her fash.
ION when great emotions stirred her
sandry's eyes smarted under blind.
ing tears. His chin was Quiverinx
with the mighty emotions that swelIed
his heart to bursting and his soorched
and blackened hands clung. TREMBLING
70 Silsts' skirt.
See. little onel come At last to
your God above the seal Take NV
hand that We may 20 together, and
pray"
s S~e eus AeAsou cain race to
the unspeakable heavens face In
which all struggle had been stilled.
whore there was neither hope nor fear.
only great content.
NO." she said. Il cannot pray for
have no soul. have lost II % the
price Of love-"
The man could not speak and she
answered the look In his face.
I'VE will 20 together. You have had
no God. have forsworn mine. We
win 70 to hell-it II the right law
the sure and Just wage Of sin," she
was falling into the stately Bible Ian
Guage. taking ON the simple dignity Of
the Preachers way and manner, but
We will 20 together. give my soul
to you"
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