The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-04-11


menr. He nad 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, 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
70 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 ali.
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 woman, and he
was her lover. Neither of them dared
quite accept the fact yet, but it filled
the background of oil 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 subject
to discuss just yet even with him. So
she began to tell him odd fancies from
childhood that fingered in her Celtic
heart, tales of the "little folk" that
were half memories and half imagin-
ings, stirred to life by some old asso-
citation of sky and stars: She laughed
softly at herself us she told them, but
Gordon did not laugh at her.
Everything she did was for him d.
vinely done. Even when his eyes were
on the dark trail ahead he saw only
the dusky loneliness of curved cheek,
the face luminous with a radiance
some women are never privileged to
know, the rhythm Of head and body
and slender legs that was part of her
individual heaven-sent charm.
The rest finished supper before Cor
don and Sheba reached camp, but Mrs.
Olson had hot meal waiting for them.
II fixed up the tent for the women
folks-stOve, sleeping bags, plenty OF
wood. Touch a match to the fire and
; it'll be snug rs bug in rug" ex.
, planned saltwater to Gordon.
Elliot and Sheba were to start early
for Kusiak and later the rescue party
would asrive to take care Of Holt and
, Mrs. Olson.
"Time to turn in" Holt advised
! 'You better light that stove, Elliot
! The young man was still in the tent
arranging the sleeping bags when She
: ba entered. He tried to walk out with
out touching her, intending to cal
: back his goodnight. But he could no
do it. There was something flame,
!, about her tonight that went to hi.
l head. Her tender, tremulous littl,
4 smile and the turn Of her buoyan
. little head stirred in him a lover!
j rhapsody.
: 'Tt's to be long trail we cover to
e morrow, Sheba. You must sleep. Goos
g night"
8 "Good night-Gordon."
t There was a little flash Of audacit,
e In the whimsical twist of her mouth
r It vas the first time she had eve
4: called him by his given name.
Elliot threw away prudence an,
caught her by the hands.
"My dear-my dear!" he cried.
She trembled to his kiss, gave heI
It self to his embrace with innocent pas
8 sion. Tendrils of hair, fine as sill
e brushed his cheeks and sent strang
thrills through him.
It They talked the incoherent languag
J. Of lovers that is compounded Of mul
d murs and silences and the touch o
e lips and the meetings Of eyes. Their
were to be other nights in their live
II as rich in memories as this, but neve
# another with quite the same delight.
Presently Sheba reminded him wit
'. smile of the long trail he had mer
e. toned. Mrs. Olson hustled into the ten
A. and her presence stressed the point.
1T "Good night, neighbors," Gordo
lg called back from outside the tent.
n Sheba's "Good night" echoed soft
to back to him.
The girl fell asleep to the sound {
es the light breeze Shaping the tent an
Is to the doleful bowling Of the huskies