The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-08-21
CHAPTER Ix-centinusd.

However. hoped that the night
would restore my sight, and %. dis
missing the matter from my mind. I
struggled up untfl at last I stood upon
the summit Of the hill. Far away. like
q thin. winding ribbon among the hills,
I saw the valley II the Rivisre dor.
Beneath me I saw JacQueline wait
ins. . tiny ngurs upon the snow. I
east ny syss beyond her toward the
mist-wFappsd tops Of the far Lauren
dams and the plains.
And Q sense Of an inevitable fate
came over me - perceived far away
Q tiny. crawling ant upon the snows-
Simon Lsroux's dog slsigh.
11.st Ssek - Il. little. patient d.
urs that vas waiting for me. and
took up my pack again and told her
nothing. The stepped bravely out BE-
si6e ne. ffoeen. fatigued. but willing
because bade her. She did not AK
anything 4 me.
TAs sun dipped lower. and far away
heard the howl Of the solitary wolf
again.
srippsd ny pistols a. ws strobe
along.
We went o. and on. The afternoon
WAS wearing away: the sun was way
low now and an its strength had gone.
"Courage. Jaequelins." I said. pattinE
hsr arm. The huts ought b be here"
Her courage was greater than my
own. She looked up and smiled at me.
The wolf crept nearer. and its bowls
rang out with piercing stroke across
the Silence. Ny eyes aehsd % that I
could hardly discern the daFkening
land. and the snow came down, not
steadily but in swiriing eddies blown
on Aeres gusts Of wind.
And suddenly raising my eyes de-
sparingiy I saw the huts. There were
I'VE Of them, and they had not been oc-
cupied for at least two seasons, Tor the
blackened timbers were falling apart,
and the roofs had been torn OF all but
one Of them, no doubt for fuel. The
wind was whirling 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
beers of another to make drs.
Jacqueline, opening the pack, began
~ 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 IRE In gusts Of
smoke and flame.
scooped out q bed for JacQueline
inside the snow-filled hut and spread
It with the big sleigh robe. She lay
down in her fur coat, and I 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 awokef Some people
died thus in tho snow. raised the
sleigh robe and saw that the fur coat
stirred softly N she breathed.
At last. out Of the wild passions that
fought within me. decision was born.
would 90 on. because she had hidden
me. And would be ready for LIE
.oux and let him act ~ he saw nt.
.oaded my pistols. could do NO more
than fight for JacQueline. and with God
be the Issue.
"Pau1i"
I must have been half asleep, for
came back to myself with q start and
sprang to my feet. Jacqueiine 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.
II am here. Jacqueline," I said.
with yoa-aiways. I'LL you send me
away. Rensselaer, that even In dreams.
Jacqueliue."
0Ae knew NJ pow. and she was r.
49,