The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-04-05

bumped tail to the driving wind, stol-
idly enduring. She s%huddered with
something besides the cold. And then
Bill spoke absently, his eyes still on
the smoldering heap.
give feet Of caked snow on top Of
every blade Of grass" she heard him
mutter. 'They can't browse on trees,
like deer"
He had stuck his rifle butt first in
the snow. He walked over to 1t; Hazel
followed. When he stood, with the
rifle slung in the crook of his arm, she
tried again to break through this silent
aloofness which cut her more deeply
than any harshness Of speech could
have done.
"Blll, I'm so sorryl" she pleaded.
"It's terrible, l know. What can we
do?"
DO? Huh" he snorted. "If l ever
have to die before my time, l hope II
will be with a full belly and my head
in the air-and mercifully swift"
Even then she had no clear idea
Of his intention. She looked up at him
| pleadingly, but he was staring at the
horses, his teeth biting nervously at
his under lip. Suddenly he blinked,
and she saw his eyes moisten. In the
same instant he threw up his rifle. At
the thin, vicious crack of 1t, SILK col
lapsed.
She understood then. With her hand
pressed hard wei her mouth to keep
back the hysterlcal scream that threat
ened, she fed to the house. Behind
her the rife spat forth Its staccato
message of death. For a few seconds
the mountains flung whlplike echoes
back and forth In a volley. Then the
slbllant voice of the wind alone broke
the stiffness.
Numbed with the cold, terrified at
the elemental ~ruthlessness of 1t all, she
! threw herself on the bed, denied eve
the relief Of tears. Dry-eyed and heavy
hearted, she waited for her husbands
coming, and dreaded it-for the first
time she had seen her Bill look on her
with cold, critical anger. For an In
termlnable time she lay listening for
the click of the latch, every nerve
strung tight.
He came at last, and the thump OF
his rifle as he stood 1t against the wall
had no more than sounded before he
was bending over her. He sat down
on the edge Of the bed, and putting
his arm across her shoulders, turned
her gently so that she faced him.
"Never mind. little person." he whls-
pered. TITS done and over. I'm sorry
I slashed at you the way l did. That's
a fool mans way-if he's hurt and
sore he always has to jump on some
body else"
"D-don't, Bill I" she cried f~oriornly.
IT know it's my fault. I let the fire
almost go out, and then built II up
big without thinking. And l know
being sorry doesn't make any differ
ence. But please-I don't want to b.
miserable over it. I'll eve be care
less again."
"AlI right: I won't talk about IL
hon." he said. II don't think you win
v e be careless about @uch things
again. The North won't let us get
away with It. The wilderness is big
ger than we are, and it's merciless II
we make mistakes"
"I see that" She shuddered invol
unfairly. Its a grim country. II
frightens me"
"Don't let IT," he said tenderly. $50
long as we have u health and
strength we can win out, and be
stronger for the experience"
"How can you prospect in the spring
without horses to pack the outftr' she
asked. after a little. "How can we get
out of here with all the STUFF Wen
haveT'
sweTl manage IT," he ASSURED light
ly. "weTl get out with U furs and
gold. all right. and we won't 60 hun
cry on the way. ven II we have no
pack train. Leave II to me"