The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-10
cHApTER IN

boy IN her gray shirt and breech-
os Eve continued on lightly
through the woods, her rifle over
her shoulder her eyes of gentlan-
blue always alert.
The morning turned warm; she
pulled on her soft felt hat. shool
out her clipped curls, Stripe
open the shirt at her snowy throat
where sweat glimmered like melt
the forest was loyelS in the
morning sunlight-lovely and
ave Tor the blue-1ays-for
the summer birds had gone and
only birds destined to a long
Northern winter now remained.
EYES tread was light on the
moist trail; her quick eyes missed
nothfng sot the dainty imprint
OF deer fresh made. nor the
sprawiing inslgnla, OF rambling
roctcons nor the big barrel owl
huddled on q pine limb overhead
nor. where the swift grayelly
reaches Of the brook caught sun
light, did she miss the swirl ant
Throwing aud milling Of painted
trout on the spawning beds.
IN her artridge-pouch she car
ried the Nat, sealed packet which
clinch had trusted to her. The
sack swayed gently as she rode oil,
siappIne her left hip at. every
step; and always her subeonsclous
mind remained on guard and
aware OF 1t; and now and then
she dropped her hand to feel OF
the pouch and strap.
From Star Peaks left flank an
icy stream clatters down to the lev.
eli door Of the woods, here; and It
was here that Eve had meant to
auench her thirst with a molthtdl
Of sweet water.
But as She approached the tiny
ford. YEARLY, she saw a saddled
horse tied to. a sapling and a man
seated ON Q NOISY log.
The trappings Of horse, the gray
green uniform OF the man, left no
room for speculation; a trooper OF
the State Constabulary was seated
there.
his cap was Oft; his head rested
ON his palm. Elbow on knee, he
sat there gazing at the water
watching the slim fish, perhaps,
darling up stream toward their brid
ai.beds hidden far away at the
headwaters. =
a detour was imperative. The
girl, rom the shelley Of a pine,
looked out. cautiously lat the troop.
er. me sudden sight Of him had
merely checked her; now the reco'
enition Of his uniform startled her
heart out OF its tranquil rhythm
and set the blood burning. in her
cheeks.
There was a memory of such a
man scared into the girls very
so,ii-a man whose head and shoul-
ters resembled this man's-who
had the same bright hair, the same
slim and powerful body-and who
moved too as this young man
moved.
The trooper stirred, lifted his
head to relight his pipe.
The girl knew him. Her heart
stood still, then heart and blood
ran riot and she felt her knees
trembie felt weak as she rested
against the pines huge trunk and
coseredther face with unsteady fin
rntti the moment, Eve had
neyer dreamed what the memory
OF this man really meant to her
NEVER dreamed that she had
capacity for emotion so utterly
Even now I. confusion, shame,
fear were paramount. All she
wanted was to get away-get
away and still her hearts wild
beating control the strange
tremor that possessed her, recover
mind and sense and breath.
She drew her hand from her
eyes and looked upon the man she
had attempted to ktll-upon tho
Young man who had wrestled her
oil her feet and handcuffed her
and who had bathed her bleed
ing mouth with sphagnum-and
who had kissed her hands
She was trembling SO that she
became frightened. : The racket
OF the brook in his ears safe
guarded her in measure. She
hent over nearly double, her rifle
At trail and cautiously began
the detours
When at length the wide circle
through the woods had been
safely accomplished and Eve was
moving out through the thlcken-
ing ranks OF tafiarack, her heart,
which seemed to suffocate her,
quieted: and she leaned against
shoulder Of rock, strangely
tired.
After while she drew from
her pocket his handkerchief, and
looked att. The square OF CAM
brio bore his initials, ]. S. Blood
from her lip remained on 1t. She
had moi washed out the spots.
She put It to her lips again,
mechanically. "A faint odor OF to-
bacco still chung to it.
BY every law of loyalty, pride
self respect; she should have held
this man her enemy. Instead, she
held his handkerchief against her
lips crushed 1t there suddenly,
closing her eyes while the color
surged and surged through her
slIln from throat to hair.
Then YEARLY, she lifted her
head and looked out into the gray
ind empty vista OF her life, wherL
the drears years seemed to stretch
ike mtiestones away. away into