Jackson County journal., 1919-08-22
CHAPTER lX-Continued.

However, l hoped that the night |
would restore my sight, and so, dis
missing the matter from my mind, I
struggled up until at last 1 stood upon
the summit Of the hill. Far away, like
a thin, winding ribbon among the hills,
saw the valley of the Riviere dor.
Beneath me l saw Jacqueline wait
Ing tiny figure upon the snow. l
cast my eyes beyond her toward the
mist-wrapDed tops of the far Lauren
tians and the plains.
And sense Of an inevitable fate
came over me as 1 perceived far away
tiny, crawling ant upon the SHOWS
Simon Leroux's dog sleigh.
Invent back to the little, patient fig
ure that was waiting for me, and l
took up my pack again and told her
nothing. She stepped bravely out be-
side me, frozen, fatigued but willing
because bade her. She did not ask
anything Of me.
The sun dipped lower, and far away
I heard the howl Of the solitary wolf
again.
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, Jacqueline," 1 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 it's howls
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 eddies blown
on fierce gusts Of wind.
And suddenly raising my eyes de-
sparingly l 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 whirling the snow wildly
around them, and 1t whistled through
tne DrOken routing walls.
l 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
"a quantity on the wood ashes. We
made tea over the roaring flames, ant
sat listening to the VOLTS call and the
wind that drove our fire in gusts OF
smoke and flame.
/ scooped out bed for Jacquelint
inside the snow-filled hut and sprea(
1t with the big sleigh robe She la,
down in her fur coat, and I wrapped
the ends around her. looked into he
sweet face and marveled at It's seren
ity. Her eyes closed wearily.
A dreadful fear held me in it's grip
what II she never awoke? Some peopl
died thus In the snow. raised tn
sleigh robe and saw that the fur Goa
stirred softly as she breathed
At last out of the wild passions tina
fought within me, decision was borr
would go on, because she had bidde
me. And l would be ready for Ii
coux and let him act as he saw fit.
loaded my pistols. could do no NOR
than fight for Jacqueline, and with Go
be the issue.
"Paulv'
] must have been half asleep. for
came back to myself with a start an
sprang to my feet. Jacqueline ha
risen upon her knees; she flung he
arms out wildly, and suddenly ST
caught her breath and screamed, an
stood up and ran uncertainty towal
me, with hands that groped for me-
She found me; caught here and 81
pushed me from her and shudder,
and stared at me in that uncerta
doubt that follows dreams.
Il am here. Jacqueline," l sa
with you-always, till you send I
away. Remember that even in dream
Jhcqueline."
She knew me now, and she was
eeuin4 from me, out thPos1ph tha r