Middletown transcript., 1918-06-22

In all the days ~ had been viii
him she had never seen him hook like
that. That wesry, hopeless expression
the wry, twist of his lips, wrung hel
heart and drew from her a yearninl
little whisper.
"Bill!"
He came out Of his chair like pan
Their. And when his eyes beheld he'
in the doorway he stiffened in hii
tracks, staring, seeing, yet reluctant te
believe the evidence Of his vision. His
brows wrinkled. He put up one hand
and absently ran it over his cheek.
IT wonder if I've got to the point Of
seeing things" he said slowly. "Say
little person, is it your astral body, OF
Is it really your
"Of course it's me-" she cried tremu.
lousy, and with fine disregard fol
her habitual preciseness Of speech.
He came up close to her and pinched
her arm with gentle pressure, as II
he had to feel the material substance
Of her before he could believe. And
then he put his hands on her sh0ul-
ders. as he had done on the steamer
that day at Bella Coola, and looked
long and earnestly at her-looked till
a crimson wave rose from her neck to
the roots of her dark, glossy hair. And
with that Roaring Bill took her in his
arms, cuddled her up close to him, and
kissed her. not once but many times.
You really and truly came back,
little person." he murmured. Lord.
Lord-and yet they say the day of
miracles is past"
you didn't think I would, did your
she asked, with her blushing face snug
gled against his sturdy breast. "Still,
you gave me a map so that I could
find the place."
'That was Just taking q desperate
chance. No, I never expected to see
you again, unless by accident" he said
honestly. "And I've been crying the
hurt Of 1t to the stars all the way back
from the coast. I only got here yes
terday. I pretty near passed up COM
ing back at all. I didn't see how I
could stay, with everything to remind
me Of you. Say, but it looked like a
lonesome hole. I used to love this
place-but I didn't love it last night.
It seemed about the most cheerless
and depressing spot I could have
picked. l think I should have ended
up by touching a match to the whole
business and hitting the trail to some
new country. don't know. I'm not
weak. But I don't think could have
stayed here long"
They stood silent in the doorway for
a long interval, Bill holding her close
to him, and she blissfuuy contented,
careless and unthinkfng Of the future,
SO filed was she with joy Of the pres.
ent.
do you love me much, little per.
SOM" Bill asked, after little.
She nodded vigorous assent.
"Why?" he desired to know.
"Oh, just because-because you're .
man, I suppose" she returned mischie-
vously.
1.-THE worlds chuck-full Of men,"
Bill observed.
Surely" she looked up at him. But
they're not like you. Maybe it's bad
policy to start in flattering you, but
there aren't many men Of your type,
Billy-boy; big and strong and capable,
and at the same time kind and patient
and able to understand things, things
a woman can't always put into words.
Last fall you hurt my pride and nearly
scared me to death by carrying me off
in that lawless, headlong fashion of
yours. But you seemed to know just
how I felt about it, and you played
fairer than any man ever knew
would have done under the same cir
eumstanees. didn't realize It Until I
got back into the civilized world. And
then all at once found myself longing
for you-and for these old forests and
the mountains and all. So I came
back"
"Wise GIRL" he kissed her. you'll
never be sorry, hope. It took some
nerve, too. It's long trail from here
to the outside. But this north coun-
try-it gets in your blood-if your
blood's red-and I don't think there's
any water in your veins, little person.
Lord! I'm afraid to let 60 of you for
fear you'll vanish into nothing, like a
Hindu fakir stunt"
mo fear" Hazel laughed. 1--WE got
a pony tied to tree out there, and
four. Siwashes and a camp outfit over
by Crooked lake. If I should vanish |
I'd leave a plain trail for you to fol-
low"
"Well," Bill said, after short 81
lence, 'it's hundred and forty miles |
to a Hudson's Bay post where there's |
a mission and a preacher. Let's be on |
our way and get married. Then we'll |
come back here and spend our honey
moon, eh?"
She nodded assent.
"Are you game to start In half an
hour?" he asked, holding her of at
arms length admiringly.
"rm game for anything. or I wouldn't
be here" she retorted.
"All right. You just watch an ex-
hibition Of speedy packing" Bill de-
straightway fell to work.
Hazel followed him about, helping to
get the kayaks packed with food. They
taught the three horses, and Bill
stripped the pony Of Hazels riding
gear and placed pack On him. Then
ne put her saddle on Silk.
"He's your private mount hence