The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-19
xxxrv

Renfrfrc's dreams were troubled
after Ren's departure into tho forest
she tossed and murmurcd, secretly
aware that all was not well with Nor.
Yet IN the moment that she half
Weakened she a.crihed the vague
warning 20 nervousness only. failinE
Immediately Go sleep again. Wake
fulness came wildly 20 her only
with the beginnings ~ twilight.
She opened her eyes; the cavern
was deep with shadow. She lay rest
ing short time. adjusting her cyea
10 tho soft light. In an instant al
the dramatic events 81 the day were
recalled 10 her the TIN cup thar had
held the poison stiii lay against the
wall. and the liauor stiii stained the
sandy floor. or was e only n patch Of
deeper shadow
she wondered why Hen did no'
come into the cave. Was he emhii-
tered arnins, her. after all; had ne
spoken nv he did inst from Kindness
10 save her rrmorscr she listened
for the familiar sound OF his fuel
cutting. or his other work about the
camp. Wherever he was he made no
sound 1T all
She sat up then. staring out thru
tho cavern NAV. For an instant she
experienced a deep sense Of hewildcr-
u,ent at the pressing Eloofn. 70 mys.
FERROUS and unhroksn over tho face OF
the land But soon she understood
what was missing. The fire was out
The fact went home "a her with
an inexplicahie shock. shc had be-
come - accustomed 10 seeing this
bright. cheerful hlaz. a, the cavern
mouth that IT, absence was Hike q
little tragedy In Itself Always u
had been the last vista Of her clos
inw eyrs as she dropped off TO steer
the soft. warm glow Of the Goals
ard the ssrht always comforsed her
She could scarcely remember ths
morning that II wasn't crackiinf
chrcriiy when she Weakened Ben had
always been 70 considerable o. her in
this regard removing the chm oi
the cave with It's radiatfng beat e
make n comfortable for her 10 Ores.
Not even Goals were left now--oniy
ashes gray ss death.
She got UP. then walked 70 ths
cavern nav. For moment sh'
stood peerinr into the gloom. ons
hand resting against the portals 81
stone The twilight was already
deep n was the supper hour ans
past. dark night wur almost NJ hand
There could BE- no further doubt o.
Ben's absence rs was not Mt ths
little ereek getting water. nor did sh,
hear the ring % hls axe IN the forest
She wondered n he had gone out OF
one ~ his scouting expeditions ans
had not yet returned OF course thi
was the true explanation she has
no real cause 20 worry.
Likely enough he had little desir'
20 return 20 the cavern now Shl
could picture him following at NJ
tireless pace one Of the winding wood
trails. lost IN contemplation. bis vivi'
eyes clotded with thought
She looked up for the sight Of tn
familiar stars that might guide hin
horne. They were al hidden tonight
{ Nut n kff@iH OF hkNt hptAfbFu VI
stark gloom Of the spruce. A. nh
watched the first drops OF rain fel
softly on the grass.
The drops came In ever-inereasinI
frequency. cold a. Ice on her hand
She heard them rustiing In the spruc
bonghs; and far 10 the forest she dis
cerned the first whine Of the wsken
ing wind The sound % the rain wa
no longer soft. II sweIlcd and grew
and all AT once the wind caught
and swept II into her face. And nor
the whole forest moaned and soughc
under the sweep OF the wind