Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-03-09

VIVA, 'Acf can do until they are com
PEELED To try. and upon this. her second
journey northV ard, the truth of that
statement grew more patent with euch
passing day.
SO trailing north with old Iimping
George, his fat klootch, and two half
grown Siwash youths. Hazel bore
steadily across country driving as
straight as the rolling land allowed
for the cabin that Snrggled IN "A woodSv
basin close up TO the peaks that guard
Pine River pass.
There came a day when brief un.er.
tainty became sure knowledge af sigb+
of a L-Shaped body of water glimmer-
ing through the fire-thinned spruce.
Her heart tluttered for n minute. Like
a homing bird. by grace of the rute
map and Limping George. She had
come TO the lake where the lndiunS
had camped in the winter and she
could have gone blndfolded from the
lake 10 Roaring Bits cabin.
She urged her pony through the
light timber growth and across the
little meadows where the rank grass
and strange varicolored flowers were
s2ringing up under the urge of the
warm spring sun. Twenty minutes
brought her to the clearing. silk and
Satin and Niger, loating at the sunny
end of the stable pricked up their ears
at her approach, and she knew that
Roaring Bill was home again. She tied
her horse to a Sapling auG drew nearer.
The cabin door stood wide.
A brief panic seized her. She felt a
sudden shrinking "a wild desire for
headlong flight Put 1t passed. She
knew thrt for good or i'll she would
never turn back.
On the soft turf her footsteps gave
forth no sound. She gained the door
way ~ silently as shadow. Roaring
Bill faced the end of the long room. but
he did not see her. for he was slumped
in the big chair before the fireplace.
his chin sunk on his breast, staring
straight ahead with absent eyes.
In all the days she had been with
him she had never seen him look like
that. That weary, hopeless expression.
the wry twist of his lips, wrung her
heart and drew from her ycarning
little whisper.
"Bmr
He came out of his chair like a pan
ther. And when his eyes beheld her
in the doorway he stiffened in his
tracks, staring, seeing, yet reluctant to
believe the evidence of his vision. His
brows wrinkled. He put up one hand
and ahSently ran it over his cheek.
81 wonder if I've got to the point of
seeing things" he said slowly. "Say.
little person. is it your astral body. or
is it really yCIT
"Of course it's me-" she cried tremu-
louSlY and with fine disregard for
her habituaI preciseness of speech.
He came up close to her and piuchod
her arm with a gentle pressure. MS if
be had TO feel the material substance
of her before he could believe And
then he put his hands on her shout
derS, as he had done on the steamer
that day at Bella Coda, and looked
long and earnestly at her-looked tin
a crimson wave rose from her neck 10
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
"Y0u really and truly came back
lifttn - ho
Lord-and yet they say the day Of
miracles is past"
'You didn't think would did your"
she asked. with her blushing face snug
gled against his sturdy breast. "Shn
you gave me 6 map so that l could
find the place"
THAT was Just taking n desperate
chance. No. | 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. only got here yes
terday. / pretty near passed up com
ing back at all. | didn't see how
could stay, with everything to remind
me of you. Say, but it looked like
lonesome hole | used to love this
place-but l didn't love it last night.
1t seemed about the most cheerless
and depressing spot l could have
picked. ] think ! should have ended
up by touching match to the whole
business and hitting the trail to some
new country. l don't know I'm not
weak. But / don't think l could have
stayed here long"
They stood silent in the doorway for
a long interval Bill holding her close
to him, and she bissfully contented.
careless and unthlnking Of the future.
50 filled was she with JOY Of tbs pres
eat.
DO you love me much. little per
SOM BIZ asked, after a little
She nodded vigorous assent
why" he desired 10 know.
ION just because you're
man, suppose she returned mische-
vouslv.
"The worlds chucb-full Of men"
Bill observed
"Surely" she looked 30 NJ him. 'Put
they're not like you Maybe IT'S bad
policy TO start III naucrine You. bat
Al