Evening star., 1924-07-20

She had little recollection of wax
ing or of going on. She found her
self on the trail again, and the sun
high behind f1eeces Of luminous cloud
She went on with no continuous con-
seriousness of time or place. The sun
seemed to drop down the sky in jerks
! Then again 1t was evening, and she
| looked back. She saw a great blue
black hill. a mighty ridge cut with
a deep cleft and towering on each
side into SHOWS. She had crossed SAL
| monback behind Anson. She had not
seen him. She did not know how
| far ahead he was. But She knew
he was there as inevitably as he
knew she was there. Love would
let neither escape the other.
| Something light and chill, blown
| from Salmonback, touched her hands
| and face. 1t was snow.
! She went on with increased ef-
fort, yet stopping now for nothing
For the first time she realized the
possibility of defeat. In the growing
dusk she began to talk to herself.
Il won't see it," she muttered. "It
The forests green-green." But all
| about her it was white.
Walking, she swayed under the
pack. She could not outwalk the
| whiteness or escape the trees. She
| toiled past one tree, and it rose again
| directly beside her, a dark shaft tow
| ering into voices which she denied,
saying: Il don't hear a thing. The
airs still as still. It's just a kind
of crying in my head" But for hun
| dreds of miles, the forest was crying
| in the northeast wind.
THE snow was dropping now in
great wet fakes. 1t balled on
her feet. It's wide whirl made her
giddy. The danger cleared her
senses, however. She leaned against
a tree and questioned the coming
night. She knew that in this night
she would probably die.
She set her lips and pressed her
pack against the tree so she could
grip the straps. She held them to
ease her shoulders. With her arms
crossed thus op her bosom she
pressed indomitably on. She meant to
die as near Anson as she could She
fell often; her face was cut and
bruised. her feet numbed. her arms
so stiff she could not uncross them
from her bosom. But her will held
Steadfast.
At last she dropped and could not
rise Strength was drained suddenly
from her limbs, though her soul still
burned its clear unquenched flame.
She struggled to her knees.
Beside the trail she saw the great
fan of the roots of a fallen tree,
rooted with white. She crawled into
the hollow those roots had once filled.
She was too weak to rid herself of
the pack. Propped upon it. she waited
for Anson-or for death.
She did not suffer. She smiled
family; felt a strange sense of peace.
All the troubles of her flesh had gone
from her. Only her love was fol-
lowing Anson now. Her thoughts
were with him. She was not alone.
sister women. leng dead and long
loving, were beside her. She saw
of a yellow moire dress.
Then-then she knew that she was
with him.
Unconscious Of time, she thought
at first that she had died there under
the roots and that her spirit walked
beside him on his dreadful journey.
But it was morning. And he was
carrying her.
Her mind was clear and still as
water She stirred her face on his
shoulder. He was holding her in his
arms and walking steadily. She was
little women, and all the Rends
were great men. He looked far
head, his fierce. dark face raised. She
glanced from him to the woods and
thought she recognized the trail down
which he trod.
She lifted her hand and touched his
cheek. He looked down, and his look
was new and strange to her. In a
moment all her strength of soul de-
parted, as if she had no need of 1t
any more. She was just a little, fee
BILE, sick woman. She said tremu-
lously:
Put me down. Anson."
"No. You're weak, Janet. Stay
where you are.
Her eyes, blind with love, yearned
on him.
$50 you came back?" she murmured.
YES, 1 came back"
His eyes gazed into a distance be-
yond the forest or any hill. He was
still remote from her-escaping, but
UhICnprnd
vaguely:
stayed at home"
For the first time it sounded like
a justification.
"I know" he answered absently.
But he did not look at her.
"Anson, where you takin' me"' she
whispered.
Home"
She shut her eyes
"When-where-did you find me:''
she breathed.
1T was late" he answered. "I
turned at the first snow. But I'd
gone a long way on. l was long
while getting back to where you were
waiting. l made a fire and fed you.
I held you all night. And at dawn 1
turned back home with YOU
Why:
He looked at her gravely.
You'd have died if I'd left you
again."
Even then she said, Il wouldn't
have suffered as l would if you'd left
me at home"
"I know,
He looked down at her calmly now.
He was more calm than she had ever
seen him, and stronger.
"Anson." Her breath came in gasps
you remember-what's waitin' for
you-back homer
"Yes, Janet, I know. But / can't