White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-05-30
CHAPTER VII-Continued


II can almost fancy walking upon
1t without wetting my shoes. 1t is so
firm and substantial looking" per-
sisted Claire.
"Did you ever stand on mountain
top and look down into the clouds
and think how nice II would be to
jump off into one of the coy little
nests they maker asked Lucy Belle.
Il have. Once think might have
done 1t If Colin hadn't held me. He
says would have had another mile
to go after hit the cloud. But this
down here duesn't appeal to me like
NICE white cloud all filled with feath-
ers. 1t makes ME think of IA big
boa constructor running into hole!
wouldn't try to walk on It, or jump
into 1t, unless Colin fell in first and
had to help him."
.Would you-then?" asked Paul.
LucyBelle meditated for moment
"Of course would" she said. "Do
you suppose would let him 20 into
that tunnel alone?''
"I-wonder. Life is precious
thing. In ninety nine cases out Of a
hundred it is more precious than the
person we live with. We don't ideal
ize the women who burn themselves
on their husbands funeral pyres in
India. Do WEI"
II don't think so. Their sacrifice
was inspired by duty and religious
faith. Neither takes the place of love
But If Colin we're down there, going
to death like that, would want to
go with him. i would go. ] cannot
explain it. Isn't there difference?'
"Yes-a difference that is Infinite"
said Claire. I'm this instance WON.
an would be joining tbe man she loved
In a final hour of life. that they might
be together in the supreme moment
1t would be choosing between few
more minutes with him OF few more
years without him. and minutes meas
ured by love are more priceless to
woman than years without it,
"Also to man." said Derwent.
holding his wife's hand closely for a
moment. Il don't think we WOULD
hesitate to take the leap. DO you
Paul?"
mo"
He was looking at Carla, who was
gazing meditatively upon the viscnus
sweep of water below them. She
looked up almost in the moment his
glance went to her. Her lips moved
as If for an instant she were ON the
point of speaking to him, and to him
alone. Then she caught herself, and
turned her gaze to the river again
"a wnnan's love for man isn't
always like that" she said, ana some
thing in her voice strangely thrilled
Paul II think there is love so
great that 1t is cowardIy for 1t to
deliberately die. love so complete
that when its other half goes there is
Still heaven left in memories of It
1t is wicked to take the breath of hn
man life from such q love because OF
a selfish desire not to live alone. |
think, I.ucy-Belle. If 1t came to the
real test God would give you strength
to hold yourself back. You would not
memories OF your love like garden
of beautiful flowers
1t was as If cathedral bell had
tolled softly among them, SO won
derfully gentle and strange was Carla's
voice. Carla knew That was the
thought which gripped Paul, and 1t
held the others. She had passed
through the fire at which his wife and
LucyBele we're only guessing. and 1t
was from her soul, NOT her lips that
evidence had come. Claire gave
little start at his side, and her face
and ewes grew suddenly and wildly
filled with light as she looked at t'arla.
as If all in second great and half
expected truth had come to possess
her. Stranger even than the change