The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-28
dEulsai

W.
Forgetting Its masters master,
might turn on ihfmsei and the girl.
He had reached the Knife hit and
severed the ropes about the girls
wrists. fstey behind me- he eau.
toned. Don't move, a muscle
He saw Chan 20 down, seeming
~ In o single instant, and he
braced himself against attack.
Down, Fenrisin he shouted.
.Down-get dpwnl"
The sueat wolf started at the
voice, then stood beside the fallen,
gazing at Ben with fierce, lumin-
Gus eyes. Down. down, boy Ben
cautioned. In o softer voice. There
old fellow-doWn-doyn.s
When Ferris whined In answer,
ger to be feared. Ths .a.se lesser
and Ben knew that he was no I'm
wolves seemed startled, standing
in o nervous group, yet growing
sayagely and cycling him acoss the
dying fire, Feuris trotted slowly
toward Ben, but with the true in
stincts OF the wild his followers
knew that this was no afafIg OF
fangs and death. He came in love,
In q remembered comradeship,
Just as often he had led them to.
the mouth Of the cavern, and they.
did not understand. They slowly
backed away into the shadows, fad
Ing like ghosts.
Ben's arms, in unspeakable
gratitude, went about the should
ers Of the wolf. Beatrice, sobbing
uncontrolably yet swept with that
infinite thankfulness OF the re-
deemed, crept to his side. Ferris
whined and shiyered In the arms
Of his god.
Quietnde came. at last to that
Camp beside the lake, In the far,
hidden heart Of Back There.
The wolves had gone. FenrIs's
three brethren had slipped away,
perhaps wholly mystitled and deep.
~ awed by their madness OF q mo.
meng before; and from the ridge
top they had called for their leader
to join them. He had done his
work, he had avenged the base
blow that had seemed TO strike at
his own wild heart he had receiv.
ed the caress he had crayed-and
there was no law for him to stay.
The female called enticingly; tho
wild game was running for his
pleasure on the trails.
Ben had watched the struggle in
his fierce breast, and BeatrIce's
eyes were soft and wonderfully lua.
trous In the subdued light rs she
gave the wolf a parting caress. /;
He could not deny the call OF his
followers on the ridge, It was like
a chain. drawing him remorselessly
to them. Whining, he had sped
away into the darkness.
The fire had been built up, Beat.
rice had rallied her. spent strength
by full feeding Of the rich, dried
meat, and had done what she could
fort NELSON'S injury. Ben, exhaust,
ed, had, lain down In some OF the
blankets Of his, enemy's outfit.
Nelson was not mortality hurt. The
bullet had coursed through his
heart and lungs, and although he
was all but unconscious, they had
every reason to believe that q few
weeks Of rest would sec him we'll
again.
Beatrice bathed the wound, ban.
daged It the best she could then
covered him up warmly and let
him go to sleep. And the tins
came at last long past the mid.
night hour, that she crept once
more to Ben's side.
Take Wednesday Skyline
There was little indeed for them
to say, The stress Of the night had
taken from, them almost all desire
to talk. But Ben took her hand In
his feebly. and held It against his
"we're safe now" Beatrice told
him. her eyes still bright with
teams.
We've seen IT through, and
we're safe"
Presently she saw that he was try
ing to speak to her, whispering
trying TO draw her ear down to his
lips. She smiled, with an Infinite
tenderness. Dlmly though he
spoke, she heard him every word
II love you" he told simply. He
watched her face, as intently as
the three Wise Men watched the
East for a sign. And he saw It
clear and ineffa6ly wonderful, IN
the stars that same into her eyes,
II love YOU" she answered,
with equal simplicity, They lay a
while in silence, blisstul In this
wonder each had for the other
wholly content Just that their
bands and lips should touch
The same miracle was uron
them both; and the girls thought,
ranging far, seized upon q daep
and moving discovery. All this
belongs to us. she told him, In.
dic1ting with one movement OF
her ann the boundless solitude
about them. "Thls is our own
country, isn't II, Ben? We can't
eyer-go away"
The fire burned down. The
moon wheeled through the eky.
The tall spruce saw the dawn afar
and beckoned.
THE END.