The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-06-16
Page Three

'One of them Is to pay you; the otnef
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 1t wouldn't;
yet 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
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. "In
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.
st 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
tials."
He paused and struggled for
strength to continue. "And know
what you said to him." he went on.
"Half-unconscious as was. remem-
Der every word. Each word just seems
to burn into me, Snowbird, and TIL
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. 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. tits almost as
II you were a queen, q real queen Of
some great kingdom" he told her,
tremulous with great awe that was
stealing over him. as mist steals over
water. "And 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-f0r 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 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. 1T wasn't at all the same. l
1 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 now?
"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 1t means, please
God. when the debts are paid. that ]
! may have such d kiss again"
/ 'sNot until them" she told him,
: whispering.
until then. make oath that
7 won't even ask It. or receive It II you
/ should give it. It goes too deep. dear
|. est-and 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 wert
: gathering swiftly. as always in thu
!. mountains. The raindrops were fall
1 Ing one and one. over the forest. Th'
i summer was done. and fall had com,
s In earnest.
( The rains fell increasingly for sever
s days: not a downpour but constan
~ lrizzle that made the distant ridges
smoke. The parched earth seemed t
a smack its lips. and little rivulets be
/ gan to fall and tumble over the bed
a OF the dry streams. All danger OF for
" est fire was at once removed. ant
Snowbird was no longer needed as
y lookout on old Bald mountain. Sh
went to her own home, her companio1
= back 70 the valley; and now that hi
= sister had taken his place as house
keeper, Bill had gone down to tn
= lower foothills with great part 9
- the live stock. Dan spent these rain
y DAYS ID toll on the hillsides, buildin
"a himself physically SO that he Nigh
e. pay his debts.
= It was no great pleasure. thes
q rainy days. He would have great
liked to have fingered In the sduai
nd mountain house. listening to the quiz
murmur OF the rain on the roof an
NO watching Snowbird at her househo'
M tasks. She could. as her father hs
~ said, make a biscuit. She could ali
Iii ~, cIoovnc nvor trim brown arm