New Britain herald., 1923-09-24

tell, She couldn't keep II UP forever
without food and rest, And the brute
behind her sas tifeless. fsmorseiess
as death itself,
The Northern Lights died al last In
the sky. and the two FASTENED on in
the wan light of little moon that was
already falling toward the west, And
now she was made aware that the
night was bitter cold. II was getting
10 her, in spite OF her furs, But as yet
she gave no sign Of distress 10 Ned
Out OF her love for him new
strength was born-that sublime and
nnnamable strength OF women that IL
nearest 10 divinity OF anything upon
this lowly earth-and she knew that
II would hold her up beyond the last
limits OF physical exhaustion. she
would not give way 10 unconscious
ness. thus causing Ned TO stop and
walt beside her TIL she died. None OF
these things would she do. Her spirit
scared with the wings OF her resolve.
Instead. her plan was simply TO hasten
onto keep up the pace-until she
toppled forward lifeless on the Ice.
She would master herself until death
mastered her. Then Ned. hating
but an instant TO learn the truth.
could speed on alone. Thus he would
have no cause to wait for her
On and on through the night they
sped, over that wonderfully smooth
ice. never daring TO halt; strange,
wandering figures In the moonlit
snow. But Bess was not to carry her
brave intent through to the end. She
had not counted on Ned's power Of OBJ
and looked into her face.
II was wan and dime in the pale
light: and yet something about its
deepening lines quickened his interest.
She saw him start; and with single
syllable of an oath, reached his hand
under her hood to the track of the
artery at her throat. He needed to
listen but an instant to the fevered
pulse to know the truth.
Were going too fast" he told her
shortly.
.No-no." Her tone was desper-
ate, and his eyes narrowed with sus-
picion. Wrenching back her self-con-
troll she tried to speak casually. II can
keep up easily" she told him. Il
don't feel it yet-I'll tell you when l
do. We can't ever. make it if we slow
up"
He shook his head, wholly uncon-
WINGED. II don't know what's got into
you, Bess. You can't fool me- know
I feel it, good and plenty, and you're
just running yourself to death.
Doomsdorf himself can't do any more
than kill US
but he can"
Believe me, he's not running his heart
out. He's planning on endurance, ra-
Their than speed. / was fool not to
think about you until it began to get
me-"
1t was true that the killing pace
had been using up the vital nervous
forces of both their bodies. Ned was
suffering scarcely not at all as yet
but he had caught the first danger
signals. Bess was already approach
ing the danger point of fatigue. When |
Ned started on again he took a quick |
but fairly easy walking pace.
They mushed on in silence, not even
glancing back to keep track of
Doomsdorf. And 1t came about, in
the last hours of the night, that the |
rest both of them so direly needed |
was forced upon them by the powers
of nature. The moon set: and gen.
orally smooth though the ice was,
they could not 60 on by starlight, |
There was noticing to do but rest till
dawn.
Lie down on the ice" Ned advised,
and don't worry about waking up"
His voice moved her and thrilled her
in the darkness. I'm set myself to
wake up at the first ray: that's one
thing | can always do" She let her
tired body slip down on the snow, re-
ying only on her warm fur garments
TO protect her from it. Ned quickly (
settled beside her. And you'd better
lie as close to me as you can
Continued In Our Next Issue J.