The Lamar register., 1918-04-10

idly enduring Sne siIud0ered 49,
something besides the cold. And then
Bill spoke absently, his eyes still on
the smoldering heap.
"Five 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 rife butt first in
the snow. He walked over to It 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.
"BIn. I'm so sorryi" she pleaded.
'Its terrible. know. What can We
dor
"Do7 Huh ~ he snorted. 'If ever
have to die before my time. I hope It
will he with full belly and my head
in the nir-and mercifully swift"
Even then she had no clear idea
of his Intention. She looked up at him
pleadlngly. but he was staring at the
horses, his teeth biting nervously at
his under lip. Suddenly he bllnked.
and she saw his eyes moisten. In the
same instant he threw up his rife. At
the thin, vicious crack Of 1t. Silk col
lapsed.
She understood then. With her hand
pressed hard over her mouth to keep
back the hysterical scream that threat
ened she fled to the house. Behind
her the rifle spat forth its staccato
message of death. For a few seconds
the mountains flung whipllke echoes
back and forth in a volley. Then the
sibilant voice of the wind alone broke
the stiffness.
Numbed with the cold. terrified at
the elemental ruthlessness of It all, she
threw herself on the bed. denied even
the relief Of tenrs. 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
terminable time she lay listening for
the click of the latch. every nerve
strung tight.
lie came at last. and the thump OF
his rifle ms he stood II 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 fated him.
"Never mind. little person." he whis-
pered. ats done and over. I'm sorry
slashed at you the way did. That's
fool mans way-lf he's hurt and
sore he always has to jump on some
body else"
"D-don't. Bllll" she cried forlornly.
"I know It's my fault. let the fire
almost go out. and then built It up
big without thinking. And I know
being sorry doesn't make any differ
ence. But please-I don't want to be
miserable over 1t. I'll never be care
less agaIh'
"All right; I won't talk about 1t.
hon" he said. 81 don't think you will
ever be careless about such things
nCaln. 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"
81 see that" She shuddered inyol-
unfairly. ITS a grim country. 1t
frightcns me-"
b'h itt IT. he S'iu ieuueriy. 80
long rs we have our health and
strength we can win out, and be
stronger for the experience.v
"How can you prospect in the spring
without horses to pack the outfit7" she
asked, acter a little. How can we get
out of here with all the stun wen
have?'
"We'll manage It," he assured light
ly. "We1l get out with our furs and
gold. all right, and we won't go hun
cry on the way, even If we have no
1ack train. Leave 1t TO me-"
(Copt{p,,ad Noxf W~ekl