The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-03
Maybe m Do better soon.

80 ~ 4
Maybe m be better soon. And
your
"a little stift, not much. I'm
hard to damage. Miss fremont. But
I've oyerslept-apd there isn't an.
other second to be lost. rye got to
dress and go and locate Vosper and
Lounsbury."
Il suppose you'd better = right
away. They'll be terribly distregs.
ed-thtnktng we're drowned"
TIN not worrying about theft dis.
ttess," he told her. Il only want TO
be sure and catch them before they
give US up for lost-and turn back"
They'll be waiting for US, don.
fear that" the girl went on. But
how can We get across?"
THAT remains 10 be seen. II
they're there to help, with the
horses, we might find a way"
BIZ arose. stretched his sore AMI
stiff muscles, dropped his blanket
from his shoulders and went out for
firewood.
He left hurriedly, and as the door
opened the wind blew a handful OF
snow In upon her. shivering with
cold and aching in every muscle,
she got up and put on some OF her
clothing. Then, wholly miserable
and detected, she lay down again
between her blankets, waiting for
Bills return.
She couldn't interpret the expires.
sion on his face when she saw him
in the doorway. He was curiously
sober and intent, perhaps even
little pale. go to sleep, Miss Ire.
mont" he advised. "1'il make a fire
for breakfast"
He bent to prepare kindling. The
girl swallowed painfully, but shak.
en- with dread shaped her question
at last. "What-what did you find
out"
He looked squarely into her eyes.
Nothing that you'll want to hear,
Miss fremont" he told her sober.
y. y went to the river bank and
looked across. They-they-"
They are gomez" the girl cried.
They've pulled freight"
The tears rushed to the girls
%What does it means" she finally
IT We were on the other side Of
the river, and we had horses. we
could push through and get out
easy enough. But the river lays be.
tween. Besides the SHOWS have
come to stay. We could rig up
some kind of snowshoes, I suppose.
but until the snow packs we
couldn't make 1t down into town.
It's too long way and too cold.
Every way we look there's a block.
We're like birds, caught in a cage"
But the river will freeze soon."
Eyes. Even this cataract freezes,
but it likely won't be safe to cross
for some weeks-may be clear into
January or February"
"And It means-we're tied up
here for weeks = and maybe
THAT'S 1t. Just as sure as IL we
had had iron chains around our an.
Then the girls tears flowed
again. unchecked.
m be all right tomorrow" she
told him sleepily. "And maybe it's
for the best-after all. At least
It gives you a better chance to
find Harold-and bring him back
to me-"
Bill nodded, but he didn't trust
himself to speak.
~.
There is a certain capacity in
young and sturdy human beings
for accepting the inevitable. When
Virginia wakened the next morn.
ing, she pulled herself together,
stiffened her young spine, and pre-.
pared to make the best OF deplor.
able situation. She had come IN
here to find her lost beloved, ana
she wasn't defeated yet. This very
DEVELOPMENT might bring success.
Bill was already up, and the room
warmed from the fire. The noise Of
his az blows had wakened her. And
she took advantage Of his absence
to dress.
"You up? he cried in delight
when he entered His arms were
heaned with wood. I'm not sure
that you hadn't ought to rest anoth.
er day. How do you feel?"
"As good as ever, as far as can
day?"
"Eat2 Bill. I'm famished. But
first"-and her face grew instantly
soher-"whnt about supplies?"
well, We. have a gun at least:
you can see It behind the stove. It's
an odd thing, but It will still shoot.
And we've got at least one box Of
shells for it-aud not one OF them
must be wasted. They mean our
meat supply. I'm still wearing my
pistol, and I've got two boxes OF
shells for It. There are plenty OF
blankets and cooking utensils, mag.
aEines, for idle hours and, Heaven
bless US, an old and battered phono-
graph on the table.
There's cake OF soap on the
she'll" he went on, after the gorge.
Gus fact OF the photograph had time
to sink home, land another among
the supplies = but I'm afraid cold
cream and toilet water arc lacking.
! don't even know how you'll comb