The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-02-25
Copyright. 1920. by Little. Brown & Co

~
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
a 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 1t will. Maybe it would be
kinder to you to pray that it wouldn't;
yet | pray that 1t will Maybe can
pay that debt only by being always
ready, always watching for Il 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 agan--for
you-and win" He gasped from his
weakness, hut went on brRvely. "Tll
never be able to feel at peace, Snow
bird, until I'm tested in the fire before
your eyes want 10 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, remem-
Der every word Each word just seems
TO burn into me, Snowbird, and I'll
make every one of them good You
said am better man than he and
sometime 1t would be proved-and It's
the truth! Maybe in month. maybe
in a year. Tn not going to die from
this malady of mine now, Snowbird.
I've got too much to live for-t0o
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. Its almost as
II you were a 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 a dream in the
end to kiss your fingers again, When
you bent and kissed me on that Hill
side-for him to see--it 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 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. at wasn't at all the same.
loved you then, think, but it didn't |
mean what Ii did today"
"And what she leaned toward |
him, her eyes full on his, docs It |
mean now7'
"All that's worth while In life. all |
that matters when everything Is said |
that can be said, and all is done tina: |
can be done. And II means, please |
God, when the debts are paid, that
may have such kiss again."
"Not until them" she told him,
whispering.
Until then. make oath that
won't even ask II. or receive II II YOU
should give II. II goes too deep. dear
est-aHd II 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.
ITO pu C0srT-TN-T-EnA