Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1919-12-05
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

However, I hoped that the night
would restore my sight, and so, dis
missing the matter from my mind l
struggled up until at last l stood upon
the summit Of the hill. Far away, like
a thin, winding ribbon among the hills,
I saw the valley OF the Riviere dor.
Beneath me I saw JacquelIne wait
ing, tiny figure upon the snow. i
cast my eyes beyond her toward the
mist-wrapped tops Of the far Lauren
tians and the plains.
And a sense Of an inevitable fate
came over me as perceived far away
a tiny. crawling ant upon the SHOWS
Simon Leroux's dog sleigh.
went back to the little, patient fig-
ure that was waiting for me, and ]
took up my pack again and told her
nothing, She stepped bravely out be-
side me, frozen, fatigued. but willing
because 1 babe her. She did not ask
anything OF me.
The sun dipped lower. and far away
I heard the howl of the solitary wolf
again.
1 gripped my pistols as we strobe
along.
We went on and on. The afternoon
was wearing away; the sun was very
low now and all its strength had gone.
Courage, Jncqueline," said, patting
her arm. "The huts ought to be here"
Her courage was greater than my
own. She looked up and smiled at me.
The wolf crept nearer, and its hewlS
rang out with piercing stroke across
the silence. My eyes ached so that
could hardly discern the darkening
land, and the snow came down, not
steadily but in swirling eddles blown
on fierce gusts of wind.
And suddenly raising my eyes de-
sparingly saw the huts. There were
five Of them, and they had not been oc
cupied for at least two seasons, for the
blackened timbers were falling apart,
and the roofs had been torn off all but
one Of them, no doubt for fuel. The
wind was whirllng the snow wildly
around them, and II whistled through
the broken, rOtting walls.
flung my pack inside the rooted
one, and began tearing apart the tim.
bers of another to make a fire.
JacQueline. opening the pack, began
the preparation Of our meal, which
consisted OF some biscuits left from
the night before. when we had made
q quantity on the wood ashes. We
made tea over the roaring flames, and
sat listening to the VOLTS call and the
wind that drove our fire in gusts of
smoke and fame.
I scooped out a bed for Jacqueline
inside the snOw-fllled hut and spread
II with the big sleigh robe. She lay
down in her fur coat, and wrapped
the ends around her. looked into her
sweet face and marveled at Its seren-
ity. Her eyes closed YEARLY.
A dreadful fear held me IN Its grip:
what II she never awoke? Some people
died thus In the snow. raised the
sleigh robe and saw that the fur coat |
stirred softly as she breathed.
At last, out OF the wild passions that |
fought within me. decision was born. |
I would go on. because she had hidden
me. And would be ready for Lee
.oux and let him act as he saw At. !
.oaded my pistols. ! could do no more
than fight for Jacquellne, and with God
be the issue.
"Pauli"
must have been half asleep, for I
came back to myself with a start and
sprang to my feet. J0cQuellne had
risen upon her knees; she flung her
arms out wildly, and suddenly abe
taught her breath and screamed, and
stood up and ran uncertainty toward
ne, with hands that CROPPED for me.
She found me; caught her, and she
pushed me from her and shuddered
ind stared at me In that uncertain
ioubt that follows dreams.
~ am here. JacquelIne," said.
With you-always. TIL you send me
away. Remember that even In dreams,