The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-12-25

lne otner Slde or the grave TO aliay the
sufferings of those beloved upon earth.
After lifetime. too of inseparahle
companionshin. tlis new existence. in
which Hugh had no part. seemed
strangely incumpete. Yet. paradox
t"ally again. his presence was NOT
needed here; he would have seemed as
much ont of Mace MS the proverbial
fish out of water.
Croft. on the other hand. appeared
daily more suited to his environment.
fitting in as il 1t were indeed his
natural sphere" Gradually. as the
past grew f;,inter her confidence re.
turned. Hi' apparent disinclination
for her company. though reassuring in
one way. piqued her in another So
she Withdrew into her own shell and
the invisible wall grew higher between
them. only occasional chinks appear
ing, or thin places through which they
came n little nearer At these times
the girl regretted her refusal of his one
friendly overture.
1t was one evening. two or three
weeks after The natives attack. that
the largesf chink in the wall appeared
The day had been unusually hot:
and she strolled listlessly up to the
river to hattie. With bare sunburned
feet. and the revolver-without which
she seldom stirred--stuck in her belt,
she passed through the grove. through
the tall dark avenues beyond, to the
clearing by the waters edge. There
she halted, amazed.
Face downward lay Croft. his dark
head buried in his arms: beside him
were one or two branches of bananas;
a couple of breadfruit had rolled. un-
noticed. few yards away.
Strangely embarrassed. Barbara hesi-
tated, uncertain whether to 20 or stay.
She was in the act of turning away,
when he lifted his head and saw her
For moment both were silent In
his face was the look she had seen
there on the morning after the wreck.
He rose TO his feet: and conquering
her embarrassment she went toward
him.
"What Is it?' she asked earnestly.
He looked down into the misty blue
eyes raised. full of shy sympathy. to
his face
"what is it," he repeated Hi
That's what it is" He STOPPED TO pick
up the fruit. "What are you doing
here? Going to bather'
"T was" she replied hesitatlngly.
"Rut-don't go. Can't we sit down and
talk? Tits so lonely"
Again he looked down into her eyes.
almost hungrilv. Nothing she could
have said could have hit the mark with
surer aim. But he clenched his hands
and put them behind him.
She gave quick look at his gloomy
face. threw pride to the winds, and
plunged with her old impulsiveness.
Cant we be-friends?' she asked.
He remained silent, with hands still
claSped ut his back. watching her Curl
ously.
Il thought you did not wish it," he
remarked at last.
She sat down upon rock, ab-
stractedly picking out bits of the moss
which covered 1t.
'T-rve-forgotten that" She
paused. flushing. five shared our
iiouShts hVt stNhh
quite so bad" she suggested.
The ghost of smile moved his lips.
You shall have more company soon.
We are going to visit the natives. l
have sent message to the chief"
about what?"
ITO come to see me and be prepared
to conduct us back to their settlement.
To make friends"
"Friendsl Those savages-"
Its necessary They leave us alone
now through fear, which probably
won't last. They. will hate what they
fear; and in time only the hate may
remain. That's not the right keynote
for a happy life here; is it," He
looked quietly up at her. with smile
full of hidden meaning.
No" She flushed a little; then
gave dreary laugh. But I can't
imagine what could be. in these cir
cumstances."
Cant your" He looked away at the
water tumbling over the huge bOwlder.
catching here and there flashes Of sun
light through the network of branches
overhead. "You were going to find out
all about that. in crowded cities;
weren't your"
about whatT
what the keynote is which you
have found missing to the vast har-
mony of creation"
She glanced at him In pleased sur
prise.
How nicely you express 1t! never
realized 1t so clearly as that; 1t was all
vague Yes. l suppose that Is what
I felt. It's strange, but l haven't felt
1t so much here"
She watched him collect his fruit.
"Have you found the keynOte?' she
asked boldly.
He looked at her for a moment
thoughtfully; then answered. guarded
ly: 81 know what 1t is. And / have
only fully realized its necessity since
coming herel We all use substitutes
a. hoc 1nt of