Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-06-14

Upon the load he put his companion.
well wrapped up in furs.
Two miles up the road Gordon stopped
his team sharply. He had turned a
bend in the trail and had come upon
an empty stage buried In the snow.
The fear that had been uppermost
in Elliot's mind for twenty-four hours
clutched at his throat. Was 1t trag-
edy upon which he had come after
his long journey?
Holt guessed the truth. "They got
stalled and cut loose the horses. Must
shelter"
ITO Smiths Crossing?" asked Cor
don.
Expect So" Then, with a whoop,
the man on the sled contradicted him.
self. mo, by Moses. to Dick Fiddler's
old cabin up the draw. That's where
saltwater would aim for till the bliz-
card was over"
"Where is it," demanded his friend.
"Swing over to the right and follow
the little gulch. I'll wait till you come
back"
Gordon dropped the gee-pole and
started on the instant. Eagerness.
anxiety, dread, fought in his heart. He
knew that any moment now he might
stumble upon the evidence Of the sad
story which is repeated in Alaska
many times every winter. 1t rang In
him like bell that where tough,
hardy miners succumbed a frail girl
would have small chance.
He cut across over the hill toward
the draw. and at what he saw his pulse
quickened. Smoke was pouring out Of
the chimney of a cabin and falling
groundward, as 1t does in the Arctic
during very cold weather. Had Sheba
found safety theref
AS ne pushed forward the rising sun
flooded the earth with pink and struck
million sparkles of color from the
snow. The wonder Of 1t drew the eyes
Of the young man for a moment toward
the hills.
A tumult Of Joy flooded his veins.
The girl who held In her soft hands
the happiness Of his life stood looking
at him. 1t seemed to him that she
was the core Of all that lovely tide of
radiance. He moved toward her and
looked down into the trench where she
waited. Swiftly he kicked off his
snOwshoes and leaped down beside her.
The CLEAN of tears was in her eyes
as she held out both hands to him.
During the long look they gave each
other something wonderful to both of
them was born into the world.
When he tried to speak his hOarse
voice broke. "Sheba-little Sheba
Safe, after all. Thank God, you
you" He swallowed the lump in his
throat and tried again. IF you knew
God. how / have suffered! l was
afraid dared not let myself think.
A live pulse beat in her white throat
The tears brimmed over. Then, some
how. she was in his arms weeping. Hel
eyes slowly turned to his, and he me,
the touch of her surrendered lips.
Nature had brought them together BY
one Of her resistless and unpremedi
tated impulses.
A stress Of emotion had swept bel
into his arms. Now she drew away
from him shyly. The conventions ir
which she had been brought up assert
ed themselves. An absurd little feaI
obtruded itself into her happiness. Ha(
she rushed into his arms like q love
sick girl. taking 1t for granted that h
cared for herr
"You-came to look for usr sh,
asked, with the little shy stiffness Of
embarrassment.
For you-yes."
He could not take his eyes from her
1t seemed to him that bird was sing
ing in his heart the gladness he coult
not express. He had for many hour'
pushed from his mind pictures Of he
lying white and rigid on the snow. In
stead she stood beside him, her dell
cate beauty vivid as the flush Of ,
flame.
ibid they telephone that we wer'
lostT
Eyes. was troubled when tn,
storm grew. I could not sleep. So
called up the roadhouse by long dis
lance. They had not heard from tn
stage. Later I called again. When
could stand it no longer. I started"
mot on foot7"
mo, with Hollis dog team. He 4
back there. His leg is broken. /
snow-slide crushed him this mornin
where we camped."
Bring him to the cabin. I will tel
the others you are coming"
"Have you had any foodT" he asked
A tired smile lit up the shadows o
WEAKNESS under her soft, dark eyes
Boiled oats. plum pudding and choco
lates," she told him.
1--WE have plenty of food on the slet
I'll bring 1t at once"
She nodded. and turned to 60 to tn
cabin. He watched for a moment tn
lit in her walk. An expression fror
his reading jumped to his mind. Me
lodious feet! Some poet had said thai
hadn't he? Surely it must have bee
Sheba Of whom he was thinking, thi
girl so virginia. Of body and of mint
free and light-footed as a caribou O
; the hills.
Gordon returned to the sled an
drove the team up the draw to tn
cabin. The three who had been ms
3 rooned came to meet their rescuer.
2 "YOu must "a come right throug