The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-10-05
CHAPTER xII-csntlnued.


And then she opened hsr volume In
its middle and her eye looked upon
familiar lines
80 the two brothers and their MUIR
dered man"
Joan's heart fell like leaien weight
and the color dropped from her face.
In an instant she was back IN Pierre's
room and the white night circled her
in great silence and she was going
over the story of her love ami Pierre's
their love, their beautiful. grave.
simple love that had so filed her life.
And now where was she? In the
house Of the man who had killed her
husbandl She had been waiting for
she had forgotten that. Why was she
still here? A strange, guilty terror
came with the question. She stared
around the gorgeous little room snug
from the world, so secret in its winter
canyon. She heard Wen Hos inces-
saat pattering in the kitchen, the
cvunch and thud of Prosper's shovel
rible nightmare, or less a nightm are
than a dream, pleasant in the dream
ing but hideous to an awakened miod.
She was awake That little home
stead of Pierre'sl Such a hunger
opened In her soul that she bent her
head and moaned She could think IF
nothing now but those two familiar,
hor rnnn1c-PinrrpfQ
Pierres rod. her own coat there bJ
the door. the snowshoes. There was
no place in her mind for the later
tragedy. She had gone back Of It
She would rather be alone In her own
home. desolate though It was. than
anywhere else in all the homeless
world
And what could prevent her from
going? She laughed aloud-a short.
defiant laugh-rippled to her feet, and.
in her room. took Off Prosper's pretty
things" and got into her own old
clothes; the coarse underwear. the
heavy stockings and boots, the rough
skirt, the mans shirt. How loosely
they all hungl How thin she wasl
down over her ears, her gloves-she
was ready. her heart laboring like an
exhausted stays, her knees trembling,
her wrists mysteriously absent. She
went into the hall. found her snow
shoes, bent to tie them on. and.
up, met Prosper. who
had come In out of the snow.
II <r1o hxrf
at sight Of her and her pale excite
ment, the glow left him and his face
went bleak and grim. He put out
his hand and caught her by the arm
and she backed from him against the
wall-this before either Of them spoke.
"Where are you going. Joan?"
I'm a-goin' home"
He let go Of her arm. you were
going like this. without a word to mer
"Mr. Gael" she painted, II had
feelin like you wouldn't "a let me CO."
He turned, threw open the door. and
aside. She confronted his
white anger.
'Nfr. Gael. left Pierre dead. I've |
been a-waitin' for Mr.. Holliwell to |
rome. I'm strong now. I must be
a-goin' home" Suddenly she blazed |
nut: "You killed my man. What bev
! 10 do with your"
He bowed. Her breast labored and |
al the distress of her soul. troubled
~ an instructive, inarticulate con-
,cfousness of evil, wavered in her eyes.
Her reason already accused her of in
,ratitude and treachery. but every fiber
VI her had suddenly revoIted. She was
III for liberty, she must have II.
He was wise. made no attempt to
,old her. let her go; but. as she fled
lnder the frs. her webs sinking deep
INTO the heavy. uncrusted snow. he
TODD and watched her keenly. He had
lot failed 10 notice the trembling of
Ter body. the quick lift and fall of her
,reast, the rapid flushing and paling
# her face He let her go.
And Joan ran. drawing recklessly on
he depleted store of what had always
een her inexhaustible strength. The
now was deep and soft, heavy with
noisture. the March air was moist. too.
lot keen with frost, and the green frs
we're softly dark against an even.
tone-colored sky of cloud. To Joan's
yes. so long imprisoned. 1t was all
stonIshing,y beautiful, clean and