Evening star., 1925-11-21
THE WIDOWS MIGHT
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR

how her feet refused TO move II was
as though she were chained TO the
spot. Her whole body felt heavy
and unwieldy and it was only b.
clinging with all her might 10 the
friendly tree that she kept from sink
ing 20 her knees
She fought desperately against the
insidious inertia that had her in its
grip, and Al last won ont to the eS-
cent of moving forward TWO steps.
She IA ncied that The ledge shook
perilouSly. and as she neared that
vawninc spot where he ledge had
broken away another piece "f il part
ed with an nminou= cracking sound
and wenr hurtlinS off into space.
With a little sob she sanE 10 her
knees.
She simply could not cross that
terrible place. Even if il did ror
break away with her weight. sha
would probably faint and tumble off
anyway. Rather than face such n
possibility she would stay where she
was.
As she crouched there wild thoughts
went hurting through her brain.
Was she being punished because nj
her deception? 1t was rather a ter
rihle penalty to pay for so light,hea
ed piece of make-helieve. After all
she had hurt no one by her innocent
ma asquerade. and all she had hoped
to gain by il was admiration and At
tention. things that are the right ri
every girl.
And then came hope To .iChten ter
misery.
If she STAYED there long enough
they would look Tor her. Search
parties would scour the mountain
trails and she had marked her way
clearly. The bits Of linen handker-
chief tied to The branches of trees
would he plainly evident and at the
forks she had placed heaps of stones
and pine cones.
She began to long for the sight ~
Jack $ face and the sound of his en-.
cOuraging laugh. Of course. Jack
would be the one to find her: he
would be more anxious than any Of
the others. Tor Fay could not help
realizing that he cared more. Did
she care for him? Did she return his
feeling in the slightest degree? She
Seal ched her heart carefully. but at
the thought Of Jack no slightest
thrill Of emotion stirred her pulses
She liked him. she felt even a friendly
affection for him. hut she did not
love him. OF course she might grow
, 10 care. Love Sprane up sometimes
like a miracle II lack should appear
SundsntN on the trail ahead. shout
ing out encoura cement to her. tell
lnc her not 10 worry. that he would
save her she might suddenly realize
f. that she loved him.
She raised herself \ little and
peered into the gloom ahead Of her
| She strained her ears hoping for the
sound of a friendly shout above the
omlnous roar of falling waters. but
she could hear nothing. 1t was then
that she noticed that the place was
growing darker. A heavier gloom
seemed TO hang over everything.
making the place more sinister and
| forbiddinS than ever. The shades of
afternoon were falling. the sun was
creeping lower in the West Here
where the trees grew so close and
! the mountains lowered on every side.
. the dark would come sooner than il
would in the open. Would she have
I" spend the night i'm this frichtful
place. or would they find her before
tnen? And if they didn't come would
she in despera tion try that narrow
piece Of ledge only To feel herself
falling. falling. down the precipice
anf int" the icy. rushing waters of
the Devils Den?