The Snowflake herald., 1918-05-10

or to disillusiOn?
He took care to see that she did
not tire. Presently he stopped and
held out his hand to say good-by.
"Will you come back this wayg she
asked.
"Yes. ought to get here soon after
dark. Will you meet me?"
She gave him quick, shy little nod,
turned without shaking hands, and
struck out for the cabin. All through
the day happiness flooded her heart.
While she waited on Holt or helped
Mrs. Olson cook or watched Swiftwa-
ter while he put up the tent In the lee
of the cabin, little snatches of song
bubbled from her lips. Sometimes
they were bits Of old Irish ballads that
popped into her mind. Once, while
she was preparing some coffee for her
patient, it was q stanza from Burns
TIL a. the seas gang dry, my dear.
And the rocks melt WI the sun;
I will love thee STILL my dear.
While the sands O. life shall rum
She caught old Gideon looking at
her with a queer little smile on his
weather-tanned face and she felt the
color beat into her cheeks.
81 haven't bought wedding present
for twenty years." he told her pres
emily, apropOs Of nothing that had
been said 81 won't know what's the
proper thing to get, Miss Sheba."
Ao1
go out and talk to Mr.. Swiftwater
Pete" she threatened, blushing.
Old Gid folded his hands meekly.
"I'll be good-honest / will. Let's see.
1 got to make safe and sane conversa-
ton, have I? HIM! Wonder when that
lazy, long-legged, gOod-fOr-nothing
horsethief and holdup that calls him
self Gordon Elliot will get back to
camp"
Sheba looked into his twinkling eyes
suspiciously as she handed him his
coffee. For a moment she bit her lip
to keep back a smile, then said with
mock severity:
"Now, 1 am going to leave you to
Mrs. Olson"
When sunset came it found Sheba
on the trail saltwater Pete had Of
fered to go with her, but she had been
relieved of his well-meant kindness by
the demand of Holt.
"No, you don't, Pete. You amt
a-goin' off gallivantin' with no young
lady. You're a-gOin' to stay here and
fix my game leg for me. What do you
reckon Miss Sheba wants with fat,
lop-sided lummox like you along with
her?"
Pete grew purple with embarrass-
ment. He had not intended anything
more than civility and he wanted this
understood.
limp! Amt you got no sense
a-tall, Gid? If Miss Sheba's bent on
goin' to meet Elliot, 1 allowed some one
ought to go along and keep the dark
often her. Course there amt nOthin'
going to harm her, unless she goes and
gets lost"
Sheba's smile cooled the heat of the
stage driver. (Which she isn't going
to do. Good of you to offer to go with
me. Don't mind Mr.. Holt Everybody
knows he doesn't mean half of what
he says. I'd be glad to have you come
with me, but it isn't necessary at all.
So I'll not trouble you"
Darkness fell quickly, but Sheba still
held to the trail. There was no sign
of Elliot, but she felt sure he would
come soon. Meanwhile she followed
steadily the tracks he had made ear
lier in the day.
She stopped at last. It was getting
much colder. She was miles from the
camp. Reluctantly she decided to re-
turn. Then, out of the darkness, he
came abruptly upon her, the man
whom she had come out to meet.
Under the magic of the Northern
stars they found themselves again in
each others arms for that brief mo-
ment of joyful surprise. Then, as 1t
had been in the morning, Sheba drew
herself shyly away.
"They are waiting supper for u.s."
she told him irrelevantly.
He did not shout out his happiness
and tell her to let them wait. For
Gordon, too, felt awed at this wonder
full adventure of love that had befal-
len them. It was enough for him that
they were moving side by side, alone
in the deep SHOWS and the biting cold,
that waves of emotion crashed through
his pulses when his swinging hand
touched hers.
They were acutely conscious Of each
other. Excitement burned In the eyes
that turned to swift, reluctant
meetings. She was a woman, and he
was her lover. Neither of them dared
quite accept the fact yet, but it filed
the background of all their thoughts
with delight.
Sheba did not want to talk of this
new, amazing thing that had come into
her life. 1t was too sacred a subject
to discuss just yet even with him. So
she began to tell him odd fancies from
childhood that fingered in her Celtic
hQart tales 0f tho Glitf1o foIIzU fhof