Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-04-24

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<copyright by william Macleod Raine)
Sheba turned to the old miner i'm
pulsively. III you could be knowing
what am thinking Of you, Mr.. Holt
how full our hearts are Of the graft
nude" She stopped, tears in her
voice.
"Shol No need Of that, miss. BE
dragged me along" His thumb jerked
toward the man who was driving. "Tve
seen better dog punchers than Elliot,
but he's got the world beat at routin'
.old-timers out Of bed and persuadin'
them to kick in with him and buck a
blizzard. Ne, O. course, I'm an old fool
for comm"
The dark eyes OF the girl were like
stars in frosty night 'Then you're
the kind Of fool I love, Mr.. Holt. I
think it was just fine of you, and I'll
never forget it as long as live"
Mrs. Olson had cooked too long In
lumber and mining camps not to know
something about bone setting. Under
her direction Gordon made splints and
helped her bandage the broken leg.
Sheba cooked an appetizing breakfast.
The aroma Of coffee and the smell OF
frying bacon stimulated appetites that
needed no tempting.
Holt. propped up by blankets, ate
with the others. For a good many
years he had taken his luck as it came
with philosophic endurance. Now he
wasted no time in mourning what
could not be helped He was lucky
the ice slide had not hit him in the
head. A broken leg would mend.
While they ate, the party went into
committee Of the whole to decide What
was best to be done. Gordon noticed
that in all the tentative suggestions
made by Holt and saltwater the
comfort of Sheba was the first thing
in mind.
The girl, too, noticed 1t and smil-
ingly protested, her soft hand lying
for the moment on the gnarled one Of
the old miner.
1T doesn't matter about me. We
have to think of what will be best for
Mr.. Holt, of how to get him to the
proper care. My comfort can wait"
The plan at last decided upon was
that Gordon should make a dash for
Smiths Crossing on sn0wshOes, where
he was to arrange for relief party to
come out for the injured man and Mrs.
Olson. He was to return at once with
out waiting for the rescuers. Next
morning he and Sheba would start
with Hollis dog team for Kusiak.
Macdonald had taught Sheha how to
use snowshoes and she had been an
apt pupil. From her suitcase she got
out her moccasins and put them on.
She borrowed the snowshoes of Holt,
wrapped herself in her parka, and an
nounced that she was going with Ell
lot part Of the way.
Gordon thought her movements a
miracle Of supple lightness. Her lines
had the swelling roundness Of vital
youth, her eyes were alive with the
eagerness that time dulls in most
faces. They spoke little as they swept
forward over the white snow wastes.
The spell of the great North was over
her. Its mystery was stirring In her
heart, just as 1t had been when her
lips had turned to his at the sunrise.
As for him, love ran through his veins
IKE old wine. But he allowed his feel
ings no expression. For though she
had come to him Of her own accord for
that one blessed minute at dawn, he
could not be sure what had moved her
30 deeply. She was treading world
primeval, the wonder of it still in her
eoft eyes. Would she waken to love
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 way?" she
asked.
Eyes. I ought to get here soon after
dark. VIII you meet met"
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
dubbed 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 a stanza from Burns
TIL a. the seas gang dry, my dear.
And the rocks melt WI the sun:
will love thee still. my dear.
While the sands O life shall run.
She caught old Gideon looking at
her with queer little smile on his
weather-tanned face and she felt the
color beat into her cheeks.
II 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