The state herald., 1921-01-07

bird. II isn't enough Just to fight. In
a case like this. A mans got to win
I would have died II you hadn't come.
And that's another debt that have
to pay-only that debt owe to you. !"
She nodded slowly. The lives Of
the mountain men are not saved by
their women without incurring obliga.
ton. She attempted no barren de.
mails. She made no effort to pretend
he had not incurred tremendous debt
when she had come with her pistol. II
was an unavoidable fact. A life for
a life is the code Of the mountains.
"TwO things must do before can
ever dare to die" he told her soberly.
"One 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 1t Will. Maybe 1t would be
kinder to You to pray that 1t wouldn't;
yet I pray that 1t Will Maybe can
pay that debt only by being always
ready. always watching for 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
ters. 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. "Tll
never be able to feel at peace. Snow
bird. until I'm 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
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-unconsclous as was. remem-
Der every word. Each word Just seems
to burn into me, Snowblrd. and I'll
make every one Or them good. You
said ! am better man than he. and
sometime 1t would he prnved-and it's
the truth. Maybe In II month. maybe
In year. I'm moi going to die from
this malndy of mine now. Snowhlrh
I've got too much 10 1--we fnr-ion
many debts to pay In she end I'll
prove your words 10 him."
His eyes grew earnest and the hard
DIRE wen; out OF them Its almost ns
II you were queen. real queen Of
some great Kingdom" he told her.
tremnlous with a great awe that was
stealing over him, ms n mist steals over
water. "And because had kissed
your fingers, for ever and ever ! was
your Subject. living only to fight your
fiehts-maybe with n dream In the
end to kiss your fingers again. When
you bent and kissed me on that hill
him TO see-it was the same:
that ] was sworn TO you. and nothing
In my life except the service
and love could give you. And It's
more than yon ever dream. Snowbird.
It's MI yours. for your battles and
your happiness"
The great pines were silent above
Them. shadowed and dark. Perhaps
they were listening TO an age-old
story. those vows Of service and self
gained worth by which the race has
upward from the darkness.
"But | kissed you-once before"
she reminded him. The voice was
Just n whisper. hardly louder than the
stir of the leaves In the wind.
"But that kiss didn't count" he told
her. ut wasn't nj nll the same. !
loved you then. think. hut II didn't
mean what II did today"
"And what" she leaned toward
him. her eyes full on his. "docs It
mean nowT'
IAN that's worth while IN life. NIL
That matters when everything Is sald
that can be said. and all is done thas
cnn be done. And II means, pleGss
God. when the debts are paid. that :
may have such kiss again"
mot until then" she told him.
Until then. make oath that !
won't even ask It. or receive II II you
should give II. II goes too deep. dear
esf- and I, means TOO much"
This was their pact Not until the
debts were paid and her word mnde
good would those lips be his again.
There was no need Tor further words.
Both Of them knew.
In the skies. the grny clouds were
gathering swiftly. MS always In the
The rnlndrons were fnll-
Ing one and one. over the forest. The
summer was done and fall had come
In earnest.
The rains fell increasingly for seven
days: no, n downpour hut n constant
drlzzle that made the distant ridges
smoke. The parched earth seemed 10
smack It's lips md little rlvulcts he
gan TO fall md tumble over the beds