Gilpin observer., 1917-06-21
H0nOrs Easy

They went ON roped, Reeston still,
first.
It seemed to Oakley at one time
that his companion was seized by a
sort of mild convulsion. 1t was as If
he wished to sneeze, yet could not.
He had several such attacks.
Anything the matter, Sam?" Oakley
asked.
The other checked himself and look
ed round with smile.
Nothing, old man-simply nothing.
To tell you the truth, was laugh
Ing"
"What about?"
"Ah, that's where you're driving al
a dead wall! l can't tell you, Dick.
It's impossible. The dir in these high
zones, you know, does strange things
with fellow. It makes some men
sick. You're not feeling anything of
it, 1 hopeg
Oakey's face showed surprise,
tinged with just little skepticlsm. AS
boy, Reeston had had mysterious
sides. AS a man, Oakley had long
learned that there were certain bar
riers about his character which he
could never get beyond. They were
picturesque barriers. Oakley had often
wished he could hedge himself in with
walls Of like quality. They them
selves alone commanded respect. There
was no defining them, yet there they
were.
But this familiar use of his name
also warmed Oakley like sudden
breath of fire.
"Were you laughing, SAM" he asked.
Certainly. Why not?"
'"Oh, nothing!S Only I could envy
you. haven't had a good honest
laugh since-since-well, you can
guess, can't you?"
All the smile left Reeston's lips and
eyes as he gazed at his friend.
"Poor chap!" he murmured. "But
never mind. One can't properly do two
things at the same time. I'm not 60
ing to guess. Let's make another mile,
then We'll refresh. 1 wish your fa-
ther was with u.s."
"wish the bishop was here, Sam!
Why"
ITO give us his blessing, old man
absolutiOn first and a blessing to crown
the feast, like chartreuse. Come
along"
Much agitated, Oakley followed again.
OF course, ReestOn was only sarcas-
tic; but what weird coincidence that
he should thus. even at hazard, seem
to divine what was in his mind! How
enviably strong and self-restrained he
was!
In this moment Of almost chivalrous
admiration Of the man he had
wronged so brutally, he could even
find some fault with Ruby herself.
What was she made of that with such
comparative ease she could be per-
suaded to resign ReestOn for man
like him? Just one week of moderate
anguish, and then she was ripe for his
woOing. Though they had been
brought up together from childhood,
Oakley was not prepared to be well
coined with such ease as a substitute
for a lover like Reeston.
He shivered little as a deadly
thought protruded itself.
If Ruby was of nature to absorb
calumny so readily might not another
calumny wreck the married happiness
which he dared to hope for?
Was this the Nemesis that lay In
wait for him. one year, two, three, or
ten years hence?
What an awful thought!
His feet were fast in this dreadful
vision when suddenly Reeston shouted
and sank "a foot or so.
"Quick! After mew he cried, and
the rope drew out as he leaped.
He landed on firmer snow even as
that from which he sprang slid under
Oakey's boots. His nerves shattered
in a moment, Oakley made n wild at
tempt to follow, jumped short, and
slipped with the snow itself into a
black abyss. And there he hung.
He fell a little lower, then a little
lower still. I'm goingl" he groaned.
1t seemed long time ere Reesron
gave him word of encouragement,
and then 1t came but family.