, 1923-10-10

tne cnange there began something like
a struggle. He was afflicted by n
crossing of purposes and a stumbling
of intention.
He did not care to risk a second
look. He crept away and fled into
the windy dusk. He Travelled with the
wind like a blown rag and, stopping
only for a few hours rest at the
ranger station, made the journey home
by morning of the second day. And on
the journey he definitely made up his
mind concerning Joan.
Prosper Gael was a man Of deliber-
ate, though passionate, Imagination.
He did not often act upon impulse,
though his actions were often those
attempted only by passion-driven or
impulsive folk. Prosper could never
plead thoughtlessness. He justified
carefully his every action to himself.
These were cold, dark hours of DELHI
GRAFTON as he let the wind drive him
across the desolate land. When the
wind dropped and a splendid, still dawn
swept up into the clean sky. he was at
peace with his own mind and climbed
up the mountain trail with a half
smile OF his face.
In the dawn, awake on her pillows,
Joan was listening for him, and at the
sound of his webs she sat up, pale
to her lips. She did not know what
she feared. but she was filed with
dread. The restful stupor that had
f,Ilnx-nJ 49,. tor,, - uutoe I'll z-z-A
itself and she was suffering again
waves of longing for Pierre. of hatred
for him, alternately submerged her.
All these bleak. gray hours of wind
during which Wen Ho had battered
in and out with meals. with wood for
her stove, with little questions as to
her comfort, she had suffered as peo-
pie suffer in a dream; a restless
misery like the misery OF the pine
branches that leaped up and down be-
fore her window. The stiffness of the
dawn, with Its sound of nearing steps,
gave her a sickness of heart and brain,
so that when Prosper came softly In
at her door she saw hin through a
mist. He moved quickly to her side,
hiNit ny hVi, loph Hti uib
"He has been cared for, Joan" said
Prosper. "Some friend of his came
and did all that was left to be done"
"Some friend?" In the pale, delicate
ly expanding light Joan's face cleaned
between its black coils OF hair with
eyes like enchanted tarns. Prosper
could see in them reflections of those
terrors that had been tormenting her.
His touch pressed reinsurance upon
her, his eyes, his voice.
my poor childi My dear! I'm glad
l am back to take care of you'll Cry.
Let me comfort you. He has been
cared for. He Is not lying there alone.
He is dead. Let's forgive him, Joan"
He shook her hands a little, urgently,
and a most painful memory of Pierre's
beseeching grasp came upon JOAN.
She wrenched away and fell back,
quivering. but she did not cry. only
asked in her most moving voice, "who
took care Of Pierre-after l went
away and left him dead?"
Prosper got to his feet and stood
with his arms folded, looking YEARLY
down ut her. His mouth had fallen
into rather cynical lines and there
were Fuckers at the corners of his
eyes,. "Oh. a big, fair young mana
rosy boy-face, serious-looking, blue
eyes"
Joan was startled and turned round.
"It was Mr.. Holliwell," she said. In n
wondering tone. "Did you talk with
him? Did you tell him-?"
mo. Hardly" Prosper shook his
head. "I found out what he had lone
for your Pierre without asking I'M
necessary questions. I saw him, but
he did not see me-"
Hell be comm TO get me" said
Joan. II was an entirely Unconditional
statement OF certainty.
Prosper pressed his lips into n line
and narrowed his eyes upon her.
"Oh. he will7"
"Yes. He'll be takln' after me. He
must n ben scairt by somethin' Pierre
said in the town durln' their quarrel
an have come up nfter him 10 look
out what Pierre would be doln' TO
me. I wisht he'd a come in
time. . what must he he think
in OF me now. to ind Pierre n-lyin'
there. dead. an me gone! He'll be
tnkin' after me 10 bring mo home"
Prosper would almost have ques-
toned her then, his sharp fnce was
certainly nj that moment the face OF
mn inqulsitor, n set of keen and dell
cnte instruments ready for probing,
but so weary and childlike did she
look. so weary and childlike was her
speech. that he forbore. What did II
mntter. nftcr all. what there was in
her past7 She had done whnt she Ind
done, been what she had been. II the
fellow had branded her for sin. why.
she had suffered overmucb. Prosper
admitted. that. unbranded ms 70 skin.