The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-27
Continued Prom Page q


vide a supply for the night. This
was their last day In Clearwater
and Virginia could hardly accept
the truth.
How untrue had been her gayety,
In all the white hes OF her past
all the little prctcnses that are "a
much a part Of life In civilization
as buildings and streets. she had
never been as false to herself as
part more cruel--that she could feel
Joy ut the prospect Of her depart
ure
She could deceive herself no
longer. Tho events of the previous
day had opened her eyes--ln n
small measure at least--and her
thoughts CROPPED In vain for a single
anticipation. q single prospect that
could tighten the overpowcring
hope that came TO her was that
strange sister OF dcspair-that hack
IN her old life. In her own city. full
forgetfulness might come 10 her.
Wasn't II true that she would say
good-by 10 the bitter cold and the
snow wastcsf Was there no Joy IN
thisF Yet those same solitpdes had
brought her happiness that tho POW
60 be blasted. had been a revelation
name or no triumphs of tho future
could equal The end OF her ad.
venturc-ant che felt II might as
well be the end Of her life. Three
little days Of bitter hardship. Bin
1amping at her stde-and then a
long. dark road leading nowhere ex-
erpt to barren old age and death.
Never again would she know the
winter forest the silence and the
ing with infinite sadness from the
hill The North Wind. n reality
now. would be . forgotten myth:
abe would forget that she had seen
the woodland caribou. quiyering
with irrepressible vigor against the
snowfields- The thrill the exhilar.
alton OF battle. the beat OF red blood
In her veins would Be strangers
soon. the whole adventure would
srem like some happy. impossible
dream. Never to hear q friendly
voice wishing her good morning.
never . returning step on the
ehreshold. the touch OF a strong
hand IN n moment OF fear. She
vas aghaxt and crushed at the real
1xation that this man was going out
OF her life forever. She would leave
him to his forcsts--thelr shadows
hiding him forever from her gaze.
She found II hard 10 believe that
sire could tit into her old niche.
Some way. this northern adventure
had changed the very fiber OF her
soul. She could find no JOY at the
thought OF the old gayeties shc had
once loved. the beauty and the
warmth. Was II not true that Har
old would 90 out beside her. the
hover OF her gfrihoodg His uncle
would start him In business. her
course with him would be smooth
But her hands were cold and her
heart sick at the thought
As the hours passed. the resiizar
e3on of her impending departure
seemed to grow. like n horror. In
her thoughts- She stiu made her
pathetic effort TO be gay. IL would
not do for these meu 20 know the
truth. SO she laughed often and her
words were Joyous She fought
hack the tears that burned in her
eyelIds- She could only play the
game, there was no way out
She could conceive Of no circum-
stances whereby her fate would be
naltered. She knew now. as wen as
she knew the fact OF her own life,
that she had been trapped and
snared and cheated by a sardonic
destiny. For the moment she
wished she had never fought her
way back TO the cabin with BIZ
after yesterdays adventure. but that
side by side In the drifts. they had
welded 10 the Shadow and the cold
Thru the dragging hours OF after
noon Harold seemed restless and IN
easy. He smoked impatiently and
vas nervous and distracted In the
hours OF talk. But the afternoon
died at last Once more the shad.
ows heightened over the snow, the
0usK grew ths irbtr pflsEt S,AFb
thrust thru the gray canopy above
them. Virginia went 10 the work
of cooking supper-the last supper
IN this little. unforgcttable cabin In
the snow.
Both BIN and Virginia started
With amazement at the sound Of
tapping knuckies on the door. Har.
eds eyes were cleaning
xxx
Hxrofd saw 1T TO answer The door
himself. He threw IL vide open;
vfrginias startled glance could just
,snake out two swarthy faces, singu-
larry dark and unprepossessing. In
the csndlelight. She experienced a
swift food OF fear that she couldn't
understand: then forced IT away as
an absurdity.
we've muslin, over 10 Yuga--
been over Bald Peak way" Joe said
sfumblingiy. Didn't know no one
was here Want a bunk here to