Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1921-03-25
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown 8 c.

COPYRIGHT iS1V, W Aitue, DroWu & 70.
| the mountain men are not saved by
their women without mourning obliga-
ton. She attempted no barren de-
malls. She made no effort to pretend
he had not incurred a tremendous debt
when she had come with her pistol. 1t
was an unavoidable fact. A life for
life is the code of the mountains.
| 1.-TWO things must do before | can
| ever dare to die" he told her soberly.
zone of them is TO pay you; the other
is to pay Cranston for the thing he
said. Maybe the chance will never
come for the first of the two; only I'll
| pray that it will. Maybe it would be
kinder to you. to pray that it wouldn't;
yet ! pray thar it will! Maybe 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.
| Besdes-I lost. and little else mat
tiers. And that debt to you can't be
paid until sometime fight again-for
/ JoO-onO VIII. 1T SdSpSu lIOII IlS
| weakness but went on bravely. "Tll
| never be able TO feel at peace, Snow
| bird, until Pm tested in the fire before
| your eyes! | 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 see how
| it 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 I 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 it would be prOved-and it's
| the truth Maybe in month. maybe
in a years I'm not going to die from
| this malady of mine now. Snowbrd.
| 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. Sits almost as
If you were queen. a real queen OF
some great kingdom," he told her,
| tremulous with great awe that was
stealing over him, as mist steals over
| water. sand because | had kissed
| your fingers, for ever and ever was
your subject, living only to fight your
| fights-maybe with 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 ] was sworn to you. and nothing
mattered in my life except the service
and love I 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 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. at wasn't at all the same.
loved you then. I think but it didn't
mean what it did today"
"Ands what" she leaned toward
him. her eyes full on his. ''dOes 1t
mean now"
"Al that's worth while In life, all
that matters when everything is said
that can be said and all is done that
can he done And 1t means, please
God, when the debts are paid. that
NAV have such kiss again."
"Not until Them she told him,
whispering.
until then. I make oath that !
won't even ask it. or receive 1t If You
should give it, IT goes too deep, dear
est-and it 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 hem 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.
GRO BE CONTINUED