Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1919-12-06
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

However. | hoped that the night
would restore my sight. and 50. dis
missing the matter from my mind, I
struggled up until at last stood upon
the summit Of the hill. Far away like
a thin. winding ribbon among the hills.
] saw the valley of the Riviere dor.
ReneaJh me | saw Jacqueline wait
ing tiny figure upon the snow. |
cast my eyes beyond her toward the
miSt-wrapped tops Of the far Lauren
tians and the plains.
And SeTt<t, of au inevitable fate
came over me as I perceived far away
a tiny, crawling ant upon the SHOWS
Simon LcrouX'S dog sleigh.
went back 70 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, hut willing
because babe her. She did not ask
anything Of me.
The sun dipped lower, and far away
l 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." I said, patting
har srm The huts- npgh'- "a be here ' \,
Her courage was greater than my
ove She looked up ana Smiled at me,
The wolf cre8t nearer, and its bowls
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 hut in swirling eddies 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 We're 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 It whiS,led through
the broken. rotting walls.
I flung my pack inside the rooted
one. and began tearing apart the tim
hers 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. and
sat listening to the VOLTS call and the
wind that drove our fire In gusts Of
smoke and flame.
ScoOped out bed for JacqueIine
inside the snOw-filled hut and spread
It 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 ut it's SCREEN
fly. 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 hreathed.
n
fought within me, decision was horn,
] would 90 on. because she had hidden
ne. And ] would be ready for Lee
,oux and let him act as he saw At. l
.oaded my pistols. I could do no more
than fight for JaCqueline. and with God
be the issue.
"Paul"
must have been half asleep. for
came back to myself with start and
sprang to my feet. Jacquellne had
risen upon her knees: she flung her
arms out wildly, and suddenly she
caught her breath and screamed. and
stood up and ran uncertainty toward
me, with hands that CROPPED for me-
She found me caught her. and she
pushed me from her and Shuddered
and stared at me in that uncertain
doubt that follows dreams.
81 am here. Jacqueline" I said.
with you-alwayS. till you send me
away. Remember that even in dreams,
Jacqueline."
She knew me now, and she was re-
cOiling from me. out through the hut
door. into the binding snow. sprang
after her.
"JacqueIine! 1t is PAUL." cried.
And as l emerged from the hut's
shelter n red-hot glare from the east
seemed to scar and kill my vision. 1t
was the rising sun. | had thought 1t
night. and ii was already day. And /
could see nothing through my swollen
eyelids except the white light of the
shining snow.
1t was horrible, in that wild waste,
alone. l tried to gather my scattered
senses together.
Eastward, I knew. the river lay, and
that binding brightness came from