The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-24

were out there IN that soft snow.
and he was here he'd lind something
to do about a. He'd como racing out
there 10 us--bringtng food and
blankets
'oh, he'd he heror' Harold
scorned Listen. Nirginia--ther,'s
nothing In the world To fear. The
Chinook sprang un at nine"
'oh. II was much later than that"
Il looked at my watch" the man
lied. lie was only well started then
he's wood~man enough 10 turn
around and come back IL there's dan.
ger. You may sec him here before
dark"
Il pray that I will And if--tf---
anything has happened 60 him"
All at once tho tears leaned to her
eyes. She couldn't restrain them any
more than the earth can constrain
the rain. she turned into her own
cuftalned-eff portion Of the cabin 80
that Harold could not see.
The afternoon that followed was
f, cndlessly long and lonely. Her heart
sank at every complaint OF the wind.
and she dreaded the fall OF the shad.
ows. Three times she thrilled with
tnexpressihl- JOY at a sound on the
threshold. but always Il was just the
wind knocking her distress.
She saw the sinister. northern
night growing between the spruce
trees. and she dreaded u as never
Z before. she cooked a msagrr supper
the supplies were almost gone---but
she had no heart 20 sit up and talk
with Harold. At last she went be.
hind her curtain, hoping to forget
her fears in sleep.
All thru the hours 81 early night
she slept only at intervals. doing.
I coming TO herself In starts and Jerks.
and dreaming nnir~ruhiy. The hours
passed. and still BIN did not return.
Her Imagination was only too
Vivid. In her thoughts she could
see this staiwart woodaman Of hers
camping somewhere In the snow.
drifts. blanketicss. staying awake
thru the bitter hight 20 mend the
fire. and perhaps in trouble. She
knew something Of IN. northern cold
that was assafilng him, lowering.
waiting for the single instant when
his fire should 20 down or when he
should drop orr 20 sincp. on. 4, was
/ patient. rcmoracirsH He was likely
( hungry. too. and deSpairing.
She wak~ned before dawn: and N.
/ icy. winter stars were pc~rinx thru
the cabin window. Surely Dni had
returned by now; yet IL would hardly
be like him 70 come In and not let
her know OF HIS safe return. Tie
had always seemed 30 wen TO under.
stand her fears. he was always 80
thoughtful Their vss 10. us- try.
ing 20 70 back to sie-p/untii she
knew for certain. She slipped from
her bed onto the floor OF the icy
cabin.
Sh- missed the cory warmth Of the
fire but. shsverfnr. she slipped quick.
| ~ into her clothes. Then she lighted
candle and put 90 her snowaAoer
She rnurhei across the little space
OF srow. 20 the mems cabin.
The east was just beginning 70
pale; the stars seemed lucid as ever
IN the sky. There was labyrinth
OF them. amounted millions that
CLEANED and twinkled in every little
I rift between the spruce trees. Even
I the stars ~ lesser magnitude that
I thru the smoke ~ her native city.
had never revealed themselves were
OUT In fun array tonight. And the
icy air stabbed Ike knives the IN.
slant she left the cabin door. 7,
was the coolest hour she had ever
known.
She knocked on Haroid's door. then
waited for reply. nut tho cabin
was ominously silent Her f~ars IN
creased: she knew that n Bnl were
present he would have Weakened n,
hoy slightest sound. lie would have
seernns 70 know insiincttveiy that shs
was there. She knocked again
louder.
WHO'S there" n sleepy volo> an
svered. Virginia felt a world OF i'm
patience al the dun. drowsy tones
Harold had been abic 20 sleep, Hs
wasn't worrying over Bills safety.
ITS T--virginis I'm up and
dressed. Did Birl come backg"
"Bills" No--and what In Cod,
earth are you M this early forg For
get about Bill and go back to bed .
Listen. Harold" she pleaded
Don't tell me TO go back 10 bed.
feci--T know something's happened
to him. He couldn't have gone on
clear 20 the cabin In that awful snow
he either started back or camped
!. In either case. he's in trouble--freez
ing or exhausted. And--and--f want
you 20 go out and look for him"
Harold was fully awake now. and
/ he had some difficulty In controlling
I his voice. In the first place he had
no desire 10 rescue Bill In the sec.
ond. he was angry and bitterly jeai.
Gus AZ her conceSn for him. you do.
eh--you'd like 10 send me out on n
bitter night like this on n FOOLS or.
rand such az that. Where IL there
I n cabin along the wny--you'd only
kill me without helping him"
( Nonsense. Harold You could taxi.
+ that big caribou robe and some food.
and n you had 10 camp out IL
wouldn't kin you. Please got up and
go. Harold" Her tone now was one
of pleading. "Oh. want YOU to-
"Go back 10 bedF But Harold 70.
membered. soon, that he wasn'ts talk
Z Ing 10 his sduaw. and his voice lost
It's impatient note. Don't worry
about BIN any more. Hen come In
all right I'm not going out on any
wild goose chase like that--on - day
such as today win he. Yon1l see
I'm right when you think about H."
Think she replied in scorn. "ff
n were Bin he wouldn't stop 10 think.
He'd just act. You won't go, them"
Don't he foolish. Virginia"
Angry words rose in her throat.
but she suppressed them. a daring
idea had suddenly filled her with
wonder. n came full.Rrown: that she
should start forth into the snow
deserts 10 find f,ill herself
Virginia lad not been trained 10
self reliance. Except for her north.
eru adventure she had never been