The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-09


Drawing tho snow again. OF fight
ing her way down tho trap line In
tho bitter dawns Tho star she had
followed had fallen, tho flame of
her altar had burned out.
She knew now why she had ever
fought tho fight at all II was not
thru any love OF life. or any hope
% dellyernnco la tho end. II had
all been for Ned She had denied
Il before, but the ruth WAS plain
enough now. II was her love for
Ned that had kept her shoulders
straight under tho killing labor,
had sheltered her spirit from the
curse OF cold and storm. that had
borne her aloft out uf tho power
OF this savage land 10 harm. She
know now why she had not given
up long since.
Was that tho way 81 woman's
heart. TO sustain her thru thou,
sand unutterable mscrics only that
she might be crushed In the endi
Was lie no moro than thls7 She
had been content 60 live on. 60 en-.
durc an. Just TO bo near him and
watch over him 90 tho end. but
there was no need Of lingering
now. The fire In tho cabin could
burn down. and the FIRE OF her
spirit could flicker out IN the ever.
deepening cold.
She had tried 10 blind herself 20
the truth, yet always. In tho secret
plncca OF her soul. aha had known.
II was not that Aho ever had hope
Of Ned's love Lenoro would get
that: Ncd'a devotion 10 her had
mover hltered vet, But Il was
enough just 60 be near. 20 work
beside him. 10 care for him TO the
fun limit Of ltsT mortal power
She knew now that all tho tears
she had shed had been for him.
not for the lash OF cold on her
own body, but on his. not for her
own mlserieH. but those that had
so often brought Ned clear into the
shadow OF death And now tho
final blow had fallen. She could
lie atill on the Ice and let the wind
cry by In triumph above her.
She had loved every little mo.
mcnt with him. on tho nights o.
their rendezvous. She had loved
him even at frat before ever his
manhood came upon him. but her
love had been an Infinite. an in
effablo thing in these last few
weeks OF his greatness. She had
watched his slow growth. syory
one Of his victories had been vic.
tory 10 her. and Shs had loved
every fresh manifestation Of his
new strength. But Oh. she had
loved his hoyishncss. too, His queer.
crooked smile. his brown hair curl.
ms over hts brow. his laugh and
his oyes-ail had moved her and
gloritisd her beyond any power Of
hers to tell.
She called his name into tho
chnHm depths. and some measure
of saireontroi returned 10 her when
she heard the weird rolling echo.
Perhaps she shouldn't give up yot.
II wouldn't be Ned's way 20 Yield
TO despair until the last, faint flame
az hope had burned out. Perhaps
the croyioc was not Of such vast
depth as she had been taught 10
believe. Perhaps even now the
man she loved was lying. shattsrrd
but not dead, only a fow feet be.
low her In the darkness. She had
come swiftly. perhaps tho deadly
cold had not yet had time 10 claim
him. She called again. loudly as
she could.
And that cry did not go unhcnrd.
Ned had given up but few mo,
monts before Bcrs had come. and
her FUN voice carried clearly into
the strange. misty realm OF semi.
consciousness into which he had
drifted. And this manhood that
had lately grown upon him would
not lot him ahut his cars 10 this
sobbins appeal. Ills own voice.
sounding weird and hollow rs the
VOICE OF tho dead in that Immcaaur.
able abyss. came hack In answer.
Here am. Beas." he said
You'll have TO work quick"
xNVI
!, was bitter hard for Ned TO
fight his way back thru deaths
twilight. Tho cold had hold OF
him. It's triumph was near, and Il
would not lot him 20 without n
savage battle that seemed to wraok
the man In TWIN. So far m hlh