Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-04-22

them, the harder 1t lis to make the
choice. It's comfort to choose, and
be on ones way"
"But suppose he chooses the wrong
way? Numbered out, only half fol-
lowing her meaning.
"Oh, Frank she cried, seizing nv
shoulders in her strong. supple hands.
ut mustn't, mustn't, mustn't be the
wrong way! won't have it the wrong
way-I won't think of that as pos
sible! See, here we are. And we have
known, always, since we were little
children, that we were for each other,
haven't we, Frank? It has always
been settled. in heaven, don't you
think, and we have just confirmed it?
Oh, know 1t has-I know 1t has!"
II have never doubted It." l said.
And even as uttered the words the
first little poisoned arrow Of doubt
in some way lodged through my armor
and stung me in the heart. Perhaps
1t was the reaction to Jeans W.
hemence; perhaps 1t was that / saw
her striving overheard to convince her.
self. And from being over-sure now
craved to be assured.
"You are quite sureY I ventured,
after another silence in which I felt
that subtle poison slowly chilling
through my veins. "You are quite sure
you should not have taken the road to
section Two?"
"Oh, Frank !" For a moment she
buried her face in my shoulder, then
she lifted her head proudly, like one
who goes forth resolutely to try his
spirit in some great issue. Eyes, I'm
sure! Spool is to ne only a neighbor.
an acquaintance, always. I am quite
sure"
"And there was no third trail, no
little-beaten third path that NIGH,
have been the one to be chosen?
persisted, anxious to stifie my demon
of doubt at its birth.
"You are thinking of Brook" she
caught me up instantly. 'Let that give
you no uneasiness Brook was only
an incident-a rather pleasant Incl
dent" she added, and for the first
time realized how exquisitely tam
talizing Jean could be, ''but an Incl
dent, after all. Let's not talk about
it. or think about it, any more, at ALL
Everything Is settled"
So, by force of will, we turned our
minds into happy, unquestioning chan
nels, and talked of the future, our flu
ture-and built fairy dream castles
that were most wonderful things to
dream about. From time to time Jean
arose from my knee to throw fresh
wood on the fire but she needed no
coaxing to return. Some strange phe-
nomenOn had already occurred between
us, and Jean, with all her gentleness
and beauty and delicacy, no longer
walled herself about with quite the
same barrier of shyness as had been
her custom. But her soul, knew, was
as pure as the snow sitting across the
white prairies outside.
AT last we had to come back to
earth. Its growing colder" said
Jean, as she again replenished the
fire. Then, glancing at the little clock
on the shelf, "Why, it's after midnight!
Jack is late"
Are you uneasy for him?"
"No-why should L? Jack Is all
right. And have you. But l thought
he would have been back before this.
Listen!"
We strained our ears, and presently
became aware that what had seemed
to be the silence of the night was
really full of noises. The wind
whined with an eerie note about the
caves Of the little shack, and the
tremor of it's pressure ran through
the board walls and wrung mournfu)
creakings from the slender framework
of the building. Above all came a
sound of rushing, as though the night
itself swept by, drumming on the tin
chimneypiece as it went. The inces-
SAINT lash Of snow against the black
panes of the windows gave further
notice of the rising storm.
perhaps had better go home"
said at length. slack is doubtless wait
ing there until / turn up"
"You have the same privilege to wait
here until he turns up," Jean COM
mented. "Still. suppose it's the right
thing to do
So, reluctantly enough, l got into
my peajacket, cap, and overshoes, and
with jeans goodnight kiss on my lips.
and promise to come again very
soon, l opened the door. The moment
/ did so the suction of the storm put
out the light, and the next instant a
fail of icy snow particles dashed
through the room. pressed the door
shut again while Jean found matches.
"Such night!' she exclaimed. "Is
it quite safe to try IT'D"
"Of course! It's not hundred
yards, and l could make it with my
eyes shut"
So, with another farewell (for good
measure) / started again, Jean shad-
ing the lamp while rushed through
the door and closed 1t behind me. NY
first sensation was Of having been
clutched by the neck; of being stran-
IL ~ L. \