The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-25

not move at first. She could only
stand and gaze. The heart In her
breast turned 20 ice. her blood
seemed 10 20 stiil In her veins. She
recognized this figure now. II was
biil, lying stili IN the frozen drifts
For endless hours. II seemed 10
her, she stood impotent with hor'
TOR. In reality. the time was not
an sppreciabis fraction OF a breath
Then. sobblng. she mushed fran
tically down toward him. She fair
iy raoed--with never mlaniep.
For all the ghastiy sickness that
swept over her. she held her body
In perfect discipline. She had no
doubt but that this man was dead
Likely he had lain there for hours.
and really only very short time
Of such cold as this was needed TO
take life. Already. she thought
the life had gone from his dark.
gentle eyes: the brave heart was
still. the mighty muscles hfelesH
clay.
No moment OF her life had ever
been frausht with such ovsrwheln-
ing bitterness as this. She hac
never known such fear. even In the
grip Of the wild waters or during
the grixziy's charge. This was
soneti lng that went deeper than
mere life, :, touched realms of her
spirit undreamed OF, and the blow
seemed more cruel and more dread
49, sss.et1 sssafAA
deal direct Go her. II hhe had
paused for one second OF seifanaiy.
sis. heaven knows what light might
have burst upon her apirit--~hat
deep aud wondroun realizstlons OF
her attitude toward ifiii might have
come % her. but ahe did not pause.
She only knew that she must reach
his side. Her only thought was
that Bill was dead, some from her
life ~ q flame goes from an en-
tinRulshed candle.
She knclt beside him. and with no
knowledge Of effort turned him
over and lifted hiss head and shout
dsrn into her arms, Ills syra we're
eiosed, his face capresnioniesa. bis
arms dropped Imply to his aide. A.
first she dared not dream but that
the cold had already taken away
his llfs. The dread Spirit Of the
North had lain IA ambush for him
Ions time. but Il had conquered
him at last
They made an unesrshiy picture
these two 70 silent In the drifts.
Endicns about them lay the snow
the winter forest was deep in It's
eternal silence. the little spruce trees
stood patient and lasrt ard queer,
under their heavy loads % snow.
Never a voice IN all the wastes.
never a tear of pity or stretching
hand Of meFcy--oniy thr cold. only
the silence. only the dread solitude
Of a land untamed--,hs unoonqusr.
abba Wild. Yet her sorrow. her
lneffahle derpslr ieft no room for
resentment against this dreadful
land. IL was only q lost fight In
an eternal war. only q little Incl.
dent In the vast and inscru,abie
schemes Of = remors.less Mature.
She knew life now. this giri Of
cities. She knew that In her past
life she had never really lived: sh.
had only moved IN q gentle dream
that an artificial civilization had
made possible. Tho sayctiss. the
culture. the iuxuries and the fash.
ions that had seemed 10 real and
20 essential before were revealed
In their true light. only as dreams
that would pass. deep III them she
had never heard the crash % arrnor
la the battlefield. without her bow.
life as II was. stark and cruel. re-
morseleas. pitiless TO the weak.
treachefoua 20 the strong. ever wax.
Ing war against all creatures that
dwslt upon the earth.
Ye, 40 easily could IL have been
redeemediS II this man were stand
inx stronS beside her. life would be
nothing TO fear. nothing 60 sppall
her spirit All the ancient persscu.
tons OF the siemsnts. all the pitfalls
of life and the oxigcncies Of fortune
could never bow their heads In.
stead they would know high adven.
turs and the erhilarstion OF battle.
even n Mt the days end they should
so down into death. II would he
with unbroken spirits and brave
hearts.
But she couldn't stand aionei She
needed the touch of bis hand. his
shoulder against hers. the commun.
Ion Of his spirit and his strength.