The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-26
lcontlnued Broom onr I.a.t I.suel

Nohtlnucd From Our Last tSSucl
The physical change was mani.
fest In n few DAYS. His spare
flesh went away as II in single
night and then hard muscle began
10 take It's place. His flesh looked
nrmer; sasslng TAT was gone from
MS faee-his skin-pasty white be.
fore--was hrownish.rcd from the
scourgo OF tho wind. Now the
manly hair began 20 mat about HIS
lips and Jowls, A hardening mani.
tested itself In his speech. The
Few primitive sentences. spoken In
the tired.out sessions about the
stove, became him more than hours
OF his former chatter. He no long.
er gahbled lightly like girl. his
speech fun OF quirks and afrecta.
tons; he spoke In blunt. abort sen,
tenceS, with blunt. short words,
and his meaning was Immediately
plain.
He was standing the Eaffl Every
day found him with greater physl.
cal mastery. Yet Il was not alto.
lther innate strength. or simple
iemieal energy derived from the
enormous quantities OF food he con,
stunned that kept him on his feet.
More. than once. as the bitter night
came down 10 find him toilins. a
strange, wan figure In the snow.
he was all but ready TO give up.
The physical side OF him was con.
quered; the primitive desire for
life no longer manifested itself IN
his spirit. Just 70 fall in the snow.
60 let his tired legs wilt under him
perhaps 10 creep little way back
into the thicket where Doomsdorf's
lantern would far 10 reveal him;
then he would be free OF this
dreadful training camp for good,
The sleep that would come upon
him then would not be cursed with
the knowledge OF coming dawn,
as gray and hopeless as the twi.
light just departcdl He would be
safe then from DoomSdorf's iaahl
The Arctic wind would convey his
wretched spirit far beyond the
uiaaman's power to follow: his
aching. bleeding hands would heal
in some Gentleness far away. The
fear OF which psychologists speak.
that OF the leap into darkness that
Is gllbly said to be the last con.
scious instinct, was absolutely ab.
sent. Death was word TO con.
iure with no more, IL was no
harder for him TO think OF than
the fall OF tree beneath his axe
The terror that surrounded 1t was
ever only a specter; and In the
clear vision that came TO him In
nIose terrible twilights. only rsall.
les were worth the efgore OF
Thought The physical torture Of
staggering thru the snow hack To-
tho cabin was so infinitely worse
than any. conception that he could
retain OF death; the life that
stretched before him was so abso-
luiely bereft OF hope that tho cle-
mental dread OF what Iay beyond
would not have restrained him an
instant. The thing went deeper
tnan tnat- Inc reason why he
did not yield to the almost ire
sistible desire 10 lie down and let
the North take It's toll had It's
fount in the secret places OF the
mans soul. He was beyond the
reach OF fear for himself. but his
love for Lsnoro mastered him yet.
He must not leave Lenore. He
had given his love to her. and this
love was a thousand times more
compelling than any fear could pos.
sibiy be. He must stand up. he
must go on thru-for the sake OF
this dream that counted more than
life. Was not her happiness in
his whole charge? Did he not con-
stitnte her one defense against
boomsdorf's persecutions7 He must
live on. carrying as many OF her
burdens as he could.
Bess. too, knew an urge beyond
herself. but she would not have
found Il 40 easy to get u Into con.