The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-01-22

-one Of them is to pay you; the otAse
Il to pay Cranston for the thing hs
said. Maybe the chance will never
come for the first Of the two; only I'll
prny that it will. Maybe It would be
kinder to you to pray that 1t wouldn't;
yet pray that It will Maybe I can
pay that debt only by being always
ready. always watching for a chance
to save you from any danger, always
trying to protect you. You didn't
come In time to see the fight made.
Besides-I lost. and little else mat.
tiers. And that debt to you can't be
paid until sometime fight again-for
you-and win." He gasped from his
weakness, but went on bravely. It'll
never be able to feel at peace, Snow
bird. until I'm tested in the fire before
your eyesl l want to show you the
things Cranston said of me are not
true-that my courage will stand the
test.
ut wouldn't be the same, perhaps,
with an Eastern girl. Other things
matter in the valleys. But I see how
1t is here; that there is only one
standard for men and by that stand
ard they rise or fall. Things In the
mountains are down to the essen
tails"
He paused and struggled for
strength to continue. "And ! know
what you said to him." he went on.
"Half-unconscious as l was, l remem-
Der every word. Each word just seems
to burn into me. Snowbird, and I'll
make every one Of them good. You
said I am a better man than he. and
sometime 1t would be proved-and it's
the truth! Maybe in month, maybe
in year. I'm not going to die from
this malady Of mine now, Snowbird.
I've got too much to live for-too
many debts to pay. In the end I'll
prove your words to him."
His eyes grew earnest, and the hard
fire went out Of them. cts almost as
If you were a queen, a real queen Of
some great kingdom" he told her,
tremulous with great awe that was
stealing over him. az mist steals over
water. "And because l had kissed
your fingers, for ever and ever I was
your subject, living only to fight your
fights-maybe with a dream in the
end to kiss your fingers again. When
you bent and kissed me on that hill
side-for him to sect was the same:
that I was sworn to you, and nothing
mattered in my life except the service
and love l could give you. And it's
more than you ever dream, Snowbird.
It's all yours. for your battles and
your happiness"
The great pines were silent above
them. Swallowed and dark. Perhaps
they were listening to an age-old
story. those vows of service and self
gained worth by which the race has
struggled upward from the darkness.
"But I kissed you-once before"
she reminded him. The voice was
Just whisper. hardly louder than the
stir Of the leaves in the wind. :
"But that kiss didn't count" he told
her. ut wasn't at all the same.
loved you then. think. but 1t didn't
mean what 1t did today"
"And what" she leaned toward
him. her eyes full on his. "does 1t
mean noww
"All that's worth while in life. all
that matters when everything is said
that can be said. and all Is done that
can be done And It means, please
God, when the debts are paid, that
may have such kiss again."
"Not until then" she told him,
whispering.
until then, make oath that
won't even ask It, or receive 1t II you
should give 1t. 1t goes too deep, dear
est-and 1t means too much"
This was their pact. Not until the
debts were paid and her word made
good would those lips be his again.
There was no need for further words.
Both of them knew.
In the skies. the gray clouds were
gathering swiftly. as always In the
mountains. The raindrops were fall
Ing one and one. over the forest. The
summer was DONE and fall had come
In earnest.
The rains fell increasingly for seven
days: not downpour but a constant
drizzle that made the distant ridges
smoke. The parched earth seemed to
smack It's lips, and little rivulets be-
gan to fall and tumble over the beds
Of the dry streams. All danger Of for
est fire was at once removed. and
Snowbird was no longer needed as a
lookout on old Bald mountain. She
went to her own home, her COMPANION