, 1923-11-14
CHAPTER xIv-contlnued.

soou,ad dwindled, seemed to contract,
srd that secret look Of a wild animal
rp-urned to her gray eyes. She qui-
ot,v gave up the old regulations Of
,to,r life: she did not remind him Of
tbe study-hours, the music-hours. the
hours of wild outdoor play. She read
nrder the frs, alone: she studied
,a,thful,y. alone; she climbed and
IVAN alone-or with his absent
r,nded. ftful company; she worked in
her garden, alone. At night, when he
n,os asleep, she lay with her hand
crossed against her heart, staring ut
tho darkness. listening to the night.
wo,ting. She never expressed her
,ropble, even to herself. She did not
give It any words. She took her pain
without wincing. without complaint.
Resides. although she was i~nstinctively
waiting. she did not foresee the end.
II was in late October when. some
ubere in the pile of Prosper's mail.
there Law q small gray envelope. Joan
drew his attention to It, calling 1t n
soueer little letter." and he took It
mn slowly, as though his deft and
nervous fingers had gone numb. Be
fore he opened It he looked at Joan
and in one sense, It was the last time
he ever did look at her; for at hat
moment his stark spirit looked straight
into hers, acknowledging its guilt. and
bade her n mute and remorseful fare
well.
He read and Joan watched. His face
orI brfDbt &C thnuuh Coma
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 IN 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.
81 have had extraordinary news,
Joan. | shall have to 20 off alone and
think things out. I don't know when
! shall get back" He went out and
shut the door gently.
Joan stood listening. She heard him
70 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 n late DC
tober day. bright as a barred sword.
The flowers Of the Indian pnint-brush
burned like red candle flames every
where under the frs, the fre-weed
hlazed, the aspen leaves were laid like
little golden tiles against the metallic
blue of the sky. The high peak point
ed up dlzzily and down. down dizzily
into the clear emptiness of the lake.
This great peak stood there in the
glitterng 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 II. So
she felt 1t all day while she worked.
a desperate. bright day-hideous in
her memory-and Mt night she lay
waiting. After hours longer than any
other hours, the door Of her bedroom
opened and an oblong of moonlight. as
| white as paper, fell across the matted
Hoor. Prosper stepped in noiselessly
"a walked over to her bed. He stood
moment and she heard him swallow.
You're awake, Joan?'
Her eye were staring up Mt him,
but she lay still.
Listen, Joan" He spoke in short
sentences, waiting between each for
some comment Of hers which did not
come. Il shall have to go away to-
morrow. I shall hnve to 20 away for
some lime. 1 don't want you to be
unhappy. ! want you to stay here for
u while if you will, for so long us you
want TO stay. ! am leaving you plenty
oi money. / will write and explain II
ah very clearly to you. I know that
you VIII understand. Listen" Here
se Knelt and took her hands, which he
.ouhd lying cold and stifr under the
over pressed against her heart. ~
nav" " made you happy here in this
"'ue mouse. haven't |. JoanT"
sue would not answer even this ex-
lids. 'V
iou have trusted me; now trust
NE a little longer. MY life is very
complicated. This beautiful year
WIN you, the year you have given to
se' Is Just n temporary respite from
uom all sorts Of things. I've taught
,nuu a great deal. Joan. I've healed
NV Woun that brute made on your
Uuluer and in your heart. I've
usnt you to be beautiful. I've filled
,our mind with beauty. You are n
.unuerful woman. You'll live to be
n"teiul to me. Some day you'll tell
ner qulet, curved lips moved. "Are
"u teiiln' me good.by. Prosper7"
,0n - was impossible to lie to her. He
'ent his head.
Yes. Joan"
Ihen tell II quick md 90 out md