The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-26

IGII O1A-
 Thread strained may be drawn taut again; but once broken, knots must be made, and try as you may they cannot be ignored. nor forgotten; for they are always refusing to pass through the needles eye. I wondered if happiness could really come DacK to two people who had once come to the actual parting of the ways. Words spoken at this time live in the memory to burn and scar the soul.
 Jarvis did not write again. Where he was, what he was doing. we had no way of knowing.
 As the days dragged into weeks and months, a co1dDess and heaviness crept through my veins like a hard ening of the arteries. The keen edge of pain wore off, and in it's place was a dull ever present ache. I got used to it as one gets used to physical pain.
 Pride forbade my writing my father that I was alone. He wanted me to come home on visit; but I put it off, knowing I could not dece1ve him.
 I read a, great deal and thought lit tie. I dared not look into the future, with it's years of stark aloneness-
 Bill must have quit worK ent1rery. He drove me to Douglas to see the
 
 there; Or to country dances always miles away. never wanted to go, but he $g aAFried me off. There were new mines to see; and he changed his plans about his house and began en- larging it into a regular mansion. Pretending to be in constant need or my advice, he would come for me on the smallest pretext. I saw through 1t; but accepted gladly any thing that would lift me out of the slough of my own wretchedness.
 'Do you think he'll come back, Bi11?" I asked.
 "I don't know, child; but I'd wait a littIe.''
 came to lean on him as had never leaned on Jarvis, nor any one. I had ruled my dear old father ana been mistress of his house since my mothers death. when I was but 12.
 A terrible Wyoming winter melted into the momentous spring of 1917. I felt that I could not have got through the first year but for Bill, strong and hig as a man, fine and tender as a woman; and over and over I found myself comparing Jar vfs' splendid 1oyousn ess, his fire and enthusiasm, with Bills calm sympa- thy and understanding; curiously neither suffered by this comparison.
 The thermometer had dropped 10 forty below, and a blizzard swept down the mountains.
 Bill came over to see if had plenty of wood cut, in case of a big snow We sat before a great base-burner, the wind bowling around my little house like a woIf-pack closing in
 ''NeH," he said gravely, hesrating after long silence. "do you think Jarvis will come back k?'
 NO, Bill I replied weari1y; "Tm sure he won't. Do you think ?"
 '1f I did, I wouldn't say what I'm going to say now" he answered.
 I looked at him inquiringly: What are you going to say. Bi1?''
 ''I-you-Ne11, will you come over to the new house my wffe?''
 couldn't, Bill" I replied.
 NO, I suppose not" he answered. Well. if you change your mind let me know-wil1 you?"
 'Yes, Bill, I'll let you know. You
 "No"
 We were silent after that. Ellen, the maid Bill had brought me, c1at- tered about her preparations for sup per, and the wind moaned fncreas- tngly. A sudden darkness sent us hastily to the door. Bill opened it and was flung violently back into the room An icy blast swept me almost off my feet Even as we looked. the snow came down in blinding fury as though the heavens had opened to drop all their burden at once
 Bill got the door shut. "I must go," he said calmly
 'You can't now"
 can't later. In half hour fr Will be too thick for my car to blow through"
 But you couldn't see your engine even now"
 I've a pretty good bump of loca- uon," he answered with a grin.
 Don't go. BiH,'' I begged. ..you couldn't make it."
 All the stories I had heard of men lost out there in the desert storm rushed to memory
 Nell" he returned In his ouiet way, If don't go now I may not ne aoIe 10 go for weeks. They know at the mines that I'm here, and folks In these parts, for all their vast free dom, are bound by conventions. AL ready our names are linked. They would wonder why we didn't marry. ana when folks can't understand a thing they think the worst.'
 cant let you risk your life for my reputation"
 It wouldn't be risking my life: there's about one chance in a hundred that I'd get 1ost''
 There's that one chance
 Bll laughed. 'And a woman al- ways forgets the ninety-nine where there's one chance against it''
 Men have been lost out there" I pleaded
 Don't you worry about me, child" He began pulling on his rur-iined overcoat
 went to him and caught his arm Please don't go."
 couldn't let him go; couldn't sit there Tor weeks wondering If he had got nome and now know; I could i'm ag1ne life here if he failed to return
 must Nell. I'm wanted at the nlines," he insisted.