The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-05-06

He tried his utmost to put her out
OF his mind, yet as he plodded on his
snowshoes, along his fifteen-mile trap
line, either actively or subconsciously
his thoughts were OF her. He could
no longer imagine himself feeling any
thing more than q mild interest In
any other woman. He loved her with
the same concentration OF affection
that he had loved his mother.
Bruce had formed the habit Of won
dering what she would think Of this
and that-of imagining how she would
look-what she would say--and 30 oil
through the summer she had been
associated with the work. He had
anticipated the time when he should
be showing her tho rapids. with tho
moonlight shining on the foam, the
pink and amber sunsets behind the
umbrella tree, and when the wind
blew among the pines of listening
with her TO the sounds that were like
Hawaiian music In the distance.
Now, try as he would. he could not
rid himself OF the habit, and as he
pushed his way among the dark I'M
derbrush OF creeks he was always
thinking that she. too. would love
that 'woodsy" smell; that she. too.
would find delight In tho frozen
anu tIle aWeSOtuc 0IlllueSh
OF tho snow-laden pines.
But just so often as he allowed his
Imagination rein, just 80 often he
came back to earth doubly heavy
hearted, for the chance that she
these things seemed TO grow more
remote as tho days went by.
Bruce had bull, himself a shelter
at the end OF his trap-line that con-
sisted merely OF poles and pine
boughs leaned against a rim rock.
Under this poor protection, wrapped
In blanket. with his feet toward
the fire at the entrance and his back
against the wall. he spent many u
wrctched night, Sometimes he dozed
n little. but mostly wide-eyed, no
counted the endless hours waiting for
the dawn,
During the summer when things
had continually gone wrong Bruce
had found some comfort In recount
ing the difficulties which his hero OF
the Calumet and Hocla had gone
through in the initial stages Of tho
development Of that great mine. but
that time had passed, for, while Alex
ander Agassiz had had his struggles
Bruce told himself with a shadowy
smile, hs never had been up against
deal Ike this! there was no record
that he ever had had to lie out under
rim-rock when tha Thermometers
stood twenty and twenty-five below.
In the long. soundless nights that
had the cold stiffness Of infinite space,
Bruce always had the sensation OF
being the only person In tho universe.
lie felt alone upon the planet. Facts
became hazy myths. truths merely
hallucinations, nothing seemed real,
actual. except that IL no slept too
long and the fire went out he would
freeze to death under tho rim-rock,
one day three deer camo within
thirty feet of him and stared.
II suppose" he unused, they're
wondering what | am? Dog gonc!"
with savage cynicism. I'm wonder
ing that myself"
Whatever small portion OF his
spirits no had recovered by exercise
and success at his traps always dis
appeared again on his return down
BIG Squaw Creek To pass tho head
gate and the humo gava him an acute
pang, while the high trcstlo which
represented SO much ton and sweat
hurt him Tx" sab. II seemed UNI
bcliovable that he could fan after all
that work!
When no passed the power house,
with It's nailed windows and doors. no
turned his head the othag way. I,