The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-10-12
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

sliriuhiuS liOln utI pam anu lIOlH Mn
as the cause of 1t: she only lost hel
l glow Of love-happiness, her face
seemed dwindled, seemed to contract
r and that secret look of wild animal
, returned to her gray eyes. Shs qui
city gave up the old regulations OF
their life she did not remind him of
the study-hours, the music-hours, the
hours OF wild outdoor play. She read
under the frs, alone; she studied
faithfully. alone; she climbed and
swan, alone-or with his absent
minded, fitful company; she worked in
her garden, alone. At night, when he
was asleep, she lay with her hand
pressed against her heart, staring at
the darkness, listening to the night,
waiting. She never expressed her
trouble, even to herself She did not
give It any words She took her pain
without wincing, without complaint.
Besides. although she was instinctively
waiting, she did not foresee the end.
1t was In late October when, some
where in the pile of Prosper's mail,
there lay a small gray envelope. Joan
|
"queer little letter." and he took 1t
up slowly, as though his def and
nervous fingers had gone numb. Be
fore he opened 1t he looked at Joan
and, in one sense, II was the last time
he ever did look at her. for at that
moment his stark spirit looked straight
into hers, acknowledging its guilt, and
babe her a mute and remorseful fare
we'll
He read and Joan watched. His face
grew pale and bright as though some
electric current had been turned into
his veins; his eyes, looking up from
the writing, but not returning to her,
had the look given by some drug
which Is meant to stupefy, but which
taken in an overdose intoxicates. He
turned and made for the door, hold
ing the little gray folded paper In his
hand. On the threshold he half faced
her without lifting his eyes.
az have had extraordinary news,
Joan. I shall have to go Off alone and |
think things out. | don't know when |
] shall get back" He went out and |
shut the door gently.
Joan stood listening. She heard him
go along the passage and through the
second door. She heard his feet on
the mountain trail. Afterward she
went out and stood between the two
sentinel frs that had marked the en-
trance to that snow~tunnel long since
disappeared. Now 1t was a late Oc-
tober day, bright as barred sword
The flowers Of the Indian paint-brush
burned like red candle flames every
where under the frs, the fire-weed
blazed the aspen leaves were laid like
little golden tiles against the metallic
blue of the sky. The high peak point
ed up dIzzily and down, down dizzily
into the clear emptiness of the lake.
This great peak stood there in the
gllttering stiffness of the day. A
grouse doomed, but Joan was not
startled by the sudden rush of its
wings. She felt the sharp weight Of
that silent mountain In her heart; she
might have been buried under 1t. SO
she felt 1t all day while she worked,
a desperate, bright 6ay-hideous in !
her memory-and at tight she lay
After hours longer than any
,ther hours, the door of her bedroom
opened and an oblong of moonlight, as ,
white as paper, fell across the matted
loor. Prosper stepped In noiselessly
md walked over TO her bed He stood .
moment and she heard him swallow ;
you're awake, Joan?" :
Her eyes were staring up at him, r
ut she lay still. .
Listen, joan" He spoke in short :
entences, waiting between each for j,
ONE comment of hers which did not .
ONE Il shall have to go away to- !,
borrow. l shall have to go away for y
ONE time. l don't want you to be =
nhappy. l want you to stay here for 9,
while II you WILL for so long as you ;,
ant to stay. am leaving you plenty
I money. I will write and explain II !.
I very clearly to you. I know that -
,u will understand. Listen" Here :,
, knelt and took her hands, which he :,
'und lying cold and stifr under the :,
,ver, pressed against her heart. II
i've made you happy here In this n,
tile house, haven't I, Joanw =,
She would not answer even this ex- ~,
pit by the merest flicker OF her eye -,
Is. a.
"You have trusted me; now trust =,
e little longer. My life is very
implicated. This beautiful year =.
tn you. the year you have given to ~
2. is Just temporary respite from ~
om all sorts of things I've taught 81
u a great deal, Joan. I've healed 10
e wound that brute made on your -,
oulder and in your heart. I've
lght you to be beautiful. I've filled
ur mind with beauty. You are
nderful woman You'll live to be
lteful to me. Some day you'll tell
So"
Her quiet. curved lips moved. Are
Il tellln' me good-by, Prospect"
Il was impossible to lie to her. He ste
nj HIS head. an
Yes. Joan" In
Then tell II quick and go out and WI
we me here tonight" we
n was frnnoScihlo tO fouch her She