Catoctin clarion., 1917-12-06
added sorrowfully. my heart feels

added sorrowfully. my heart feels
for you."
He placed Marta as carefully among
the sleigh robes as though she were
some grand lady. It took five hours
to reach Danby's. In double hut be-
longing to an old, decrepit Indian they
found the old man. dying, indeed The
Indian had partitioned off one corner
of the dreary, shedlike structure with
skins, kept smoky oil lamp going for
heat and was dispensing to his doomed
patient decoction Of herbs.
"Um-good medicine" he told the
newcomers, "but him not live. Fire
water poison him think" and he sol
emnly tapped his head.
Lew KinyOn was nearing the col.
lapse of the faculties he had weakened
with liquor. He recognized his STEP
daughter but raved and raved, his
mental agony superseding his physical
pain and convulsions. All his thoughts
seemed to be on the life he had vast!
ed. Some wild idea had filled his MIND
that If he could get to q church and
at its holy altar pray, that his sins
might be forgiven and he could pass
away peacefully amid the holy calm
Of the sacred place.
"He will not live" Dale told Marta,
who tried to do all she could for the
sufferer In busy ministrations, VI shall
not leave you"
Her wistful, longing eyes SILENT!
thanked him. Her stepfather never
ceased amid his shrieking delirinm to
cry out for forgiveness for his wasted
life. The altar of mercy alone should
save his soul! He pictured out men
tally a church scene In the tar past
where he had made new resolutions al
the altar, alas! only to break them.
The anguish Of remorse was consum'
ing him.
II have something to do," spoke
Dale, after pityingly watching the suf'
ferer for some time. He beckoned to
the Indian and, leaving Marta alone
at the side Of her stepfather, went past
the hanging skins into the cheerless
untenanted portion Of the big hut. Dale
searched among his traps. 1t was to
bring to light q case Of his old clay.
modelling tools. He had always kept
them with him. He paid the Indian
some money. who assisted him In
bringing into the hut from the outside
half a hundred baskets full Of snow.
Then, on this mere fringe Of civiliza.
ton the artist piled his calling for
strange purpose.
At length he had the snow altar com.
pleted, a perfect replica Of one he had
seen in marble. even to the two angel
sentinels at its side, and skilled work
showed the perfection Of a genius. He
placed half score OF thick candles
provided by the Indian about the altar
and lighted them.
They lifted Lew Kinyon on his rude
couch past the skin curtains and In
front of the altar. In moment the
wild rawlings ceased. Across the worn
face there stole q smile of ineffable
relief.
His fevered hand rested repOsafully
In that Of Marta, and, babbling OF
green ueluS anu int buppy lo"'b A'>
passed away in peace.
"Will you come with me-friend.
sister,? asked Rigby Dale gently the
next day, after they had buried her
stepfather. ut is many miles. there
are dangers, perls, but we must reach
another world than this"
Marta broke down utterly. She sank
to snow hummOck, and he beside heI
held her in his arms, soothing her. pa
tient, plying. until she had cried out
her grief. Then, strong. reliant. as
became a daughter Of the far North
she placed both hands confidlngly IN
his own.
He led her along the slant to where
the dogs and sledge were waiting. To
gether they went down the steep In
cline, hand in hand-went down to
face the thousand miles of wilderness,
comrades true as steel, one to the
other, went down to fight the battle
Of the ice trail together, hopeful. true
children Of the heart.
One month later, at the final verge
Of civilization, man and wife, made
strong through an abiding love, those
two faced new world, unafraid Of Its
cares and ups and downs, while they
were together to battle the same.