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

lady. You're a-goin' to stay here ana
az my game leg for me. What do you
reckon Miss Sheba wants with fat
lop-sided lummox like you along with
herY
Pete grew purple with embarrase
ment. He had not intended anything
more than civility and he wanted this
understood
''Hmp! Amt you got no sense
a-tall, Gid? If Miss Sheba's bent on
goin' to meet Elliot, allowed some one
ought to 60 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 60 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 Nil.
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
Her 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 it
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. 1t 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 filled
the background Of MI their thoughts
with delight.
Sheba did not want to talk of this
new, amazing thing that had come into
her life. It 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 '1ittle folk" that
were half memories and half imagin-
lngs, stirred to life by some old asso-
citation of sky and stars. She laughed
softly at herself as she told them, but
Gordon did not laugh at her.
Everything she did was for him di.
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 heayen-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 match to the fire and
It'll be snug as bug In rug" ex-
planned saltwater to Gordon.
Elliot and Sheba were to start early
for Kusiak and later the rescue party
would arrive to take care Of Holt and
Mrs. Olson. IS.
'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 call
back his goodnight. But he could not
do 1t. There was something fancy
about her tonight that went to his
head. Her tender, tremulous little
smile and the turn of her buOyant
little head stirred in him a lovers
rhapsody.
'It's to be long trail we cover to-
morrow, Sheba. You must sleep. Good
night"
"Good night-Gordon."
There was little flash of audacity
in the whimsical twist Of her mouth.
It was the first time she had ever
called him by his given name.
Elliot threw away prudence and
caught her by the hands.
"My dear-my dear!" he cried.
She trembled to his kiss, gave her
self to his embrace with innocent pas
sion. Tendrils Of hair, fine as silk,
brushed his cheeks and sent strange
tnrllIS through MIN.
They talked the incoherent language
Of lovers that is compounded of MUIR
murs and silences and the touch Of
lips and the meetings Of eyes. There
were to be other nights in their lives
as rich in memories as this, but never
another with quite the same delight.
Presently Sheba reminded him with
a smile Of the long trail he had mem
toned. MrsA Olson hustled into the tent,
and her presence stressed the point.
"Good Msh5idReighbors," Gordon
called back, from outside the tent.