The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-07-12


ening, packing, and making all effort
increasingly difficult. 1t was welI-nigh
impossible to head the horses into the
storm, and De Spain looked with ever
more anxious eyes at Nan. After halt
an hours superhuman struggle to re-
gain trail that should restore their
bearings, they halted, and De Spain
riding up to the wagon, spoke to Nor
gan, who was driving: "How long is
this going to last?"
"All day and all night" Nan leaned
I closely over to hear the curt question
and answer. Neither man spoke again
for a moment.
( Well have to have help" said De
Spain after pause.
"Help?' echoed Morgan scornfully.
where's help coming from?
De SPANS answer was not hurried.
"one of us must go after it," Nan
looked at him intently.
Duke set his hard jaw against the
HURTING stream of ice that showered
on the forlorn party. "Pn go for it,"
he snapped.
NO" returned De Spain. Better
for me to 60"
GO together" said Nan.
De Spain shook his head. Duke
Morgan, too, said that only one should
go; the other must stay. De Spain,
while the storm ratified and shook at
the two men, told why he should go
himself. TITS not claiming you are not
entitled to say who should 60 Duke Z"
ne said evenly. Nor that our men,
anywhere you reach, wouldn't give you
the same attention they would me.
And 1t isn't saying that you're not the
better man for the job-youve trav-
eled the sinks longer than have. But
between you and me, Duke, it's twenty
eight years against fifty. I ought to
hold out a while the longer, that's all.
Let's work farther to the east"
Quartering against the mad hurr1-
cane, they drove and rode on until the
team could hardly be urged to further
effort against the Infatuated elements
DE Spain riding at intervals as far
TO the right and the left as he dared
IN vain quest of a landmark. When
ne halted beside the wagon for the
last time he was a mass of snow and
ice; horse and rider were frozen to
each other. He got down to the
ground with visible effort, and in the
singing wind told Duke his plan and
TT
He had chosen on the open desert a
hollow falling somewhat abruptly
from the north, and beneath its Shout
der, while Morgan loosened the horses,
he scoOped and kicked away a mass of
snow. The wagon had been drawn
just above the point of refuge, and the
two men, with the aid of the wind,
dumped it over sidewise, making of
the body windbreak over the hollow, !
n sort of roof, around which the snow, |
driven by the gale, would heap itself /
in hard waves. Within this shelter the
men slowed Nan. The horses were /
driven down behind it, and from one /
Of them De Spain took the collar, the
-ugS and the whifilerees. He stuck a
litching strap in his pocket, and while /
Morgan steadied the Lady's head, De |
Spain buckled the collar on her,
doubled the tugs around the whifiie-
rec and fastened the roll at her side
n front of the saddle.
Nan came out and stood beside him
Is he worked. When he had finished
he put her hand on his sleeve. He
ieId her close, Duke listening, to tell
Ter what he meant to try to do. Each
new it well might be the last moment
ogether "One thing and another
AVE kept us from marriage vows,
Nam" said De Spain. beckoning at
ength to Morgan to step closer that
e might clearly hear. Nothing must
eep us longer. VIII you marry me?"
She looked up into his eyes. Eve
rOmised you l would. 1 will promise
very time you ask me. 1 never could
ave but one answer to that, Henry
t must always be yes!''
"Then take me, Henry" he said
lowly. here and now for your welded !
usband. Will you do this, Nan?"
Still looking into his eyes, she an p,
wered without surprise or fear: Hen +
Y, do take you"
"And l, Henry, take you, Nan, here
nd now for my welded wife, for bet