The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-14

Il God, Whist are ;yoa going Is
do 70 pe?' he asked. v
Z Why, Harold, you are TO be our
little truck horBe," Virginia replied
as abe handed Bill more thongs,
It'Ypu are going to. pull the sled
and show the way down into Brad.
1sybuFy."
When the dawn came: full and
bright over Clearwater Bill and
his party were ready to start. (: Z, 4
When Harold had been thorough.
~ cowed and his fun instructions
given him, the thongs had been put
about his ankles and removed from
his wrists and he was permitted to
DO the packing.
That procedure was exceedingty
simple; all available blankets were
pied on the sled and made into d
bed for Virginia and the az, candles
and such cooking utensils as were
needed were packed in front. And
then they had a short but decisive
interview with Harold.
II won't go-T'll de first" he
cried to Virginia. Besides, yon
don't dare TO use force on me; you
don't know tho way and Bill can't
see. You know II you XIII me. you
will die yourself"
Fair enough" Virginia replied
lsweetly. "But' take just this little
word OF advice. Bill and were all
reconciled to dying when we
thought of yon-and We won't mind
ne now II we're sure you are going
along. And Bill will tell you that
can shoot straight. Perhaps you
learned that fact last night"
They heightened the thong that
tied his ankles together, giving
him room for full walking stem
but not enough to leap. orsrun.
They put on his hands a pair Of
awkward mtttens that had been
stitfened by mud and water, ami
dashed them to his wrists.
Then they slipped the thong Of
the sled across his shoulders and
under his arms like the loops OF q
kyack. They were ready TO go.
Il haven't much hope" Bill told
Virginia when she was tucked into
the bed Of the sled. "But it's the
only chance We have"
She smiled at him. "At least. Bill,
We'll have done everything we
could. Goodby, little cabn-where
found happiness. Sometime, per.
haps, Wen como back to youi"
The man bent and kissed her and
she gave the word for Harold to
start. .
AZ the end Of three bitter days,
Bill Bronson stood once more On
the hill that looked down upon
Bradleyburg. The twilight was
fgrowing in the glen beneath: al.
ready 1t had cast shadows In yir.
ginia's eyes. She sat beside hin,
on the sled. )
1t had been cruel hardship, the
three days Journey But fortune
had played them we'll in tllls-thcy
had found the food yosper aban
doned.
Virginia was on the rapid ROAD
toward recovery from her wound.
+ had not been severe; while, she
was lying still on the sled It hai
had every chance to heal. n
Bills sight had grown steadily
better as the. days had passed: al.
ready the Spirits fof Mercy had nor.
mitted him, at close range, to be.
| hold Virginia's face.
A half.mile. back, Just before they
approached the first fringe Of Tho
spruce forest, they had met a
ttrapper Just starting out on his
line: and no had gladly consented
to take Harold the rest Of the way
into town. He was to be lodged in
prison to face u charge OF attempt,
ed murder-a crime that IN the
psfthwest provinces is never re.
garded lightly.
"And you weren't drowned!" tho
trapper nlarveled when he had got
his breath. We've been R,ournfn'
You Tor dead-for months"
'Drowned-not a bit OF IT,. Wiz.
GINA answered gayly. "And don't
mourn any more"
Bill felt wholly able to follow the
broad snowshoe track the talf.mile
farther into town. The footsteps Of
the men had Grown faint and died
away-and Virginia and he were
! left tOre4hef m the, hfN
They saw the church spire, tall
and ghostly in the twilight, and
Bits strong arms pressed the girl
close: She understood and smiled
happily:
"of course, Bill" she told him,
There is no need to wait. In a few
days I'll DO strong enough to stand
beside you-at the altar"
THE END