Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-02-05

weights seemed to be dragging at his
feet before they were through It. he
had run too hard. He stopped and
sagged against tree, with Odd growl-
Ing in low and terrible way close
to his knees. He was not trying to
prove or disproye matters now. A catas-
trophe had happened to bis thoughts
with the firing OF the guns. Taking
the place OF hope. even of his fears,
WAS the one great desire TO reach his
father and mother as quickly as he
could.
His exertlons had beaten him when
they came to the edge OF the forest
and he could have run no farther
without falling. Before them was the
slope, sIlvery carpet of the star
light. At the foot OF 1t was what had
been his home.
That 1t was red-hot mass without
form or stability, pile out of which
fame rose lazily. Its nerceness gone,
added nothing more to his shock. He
had unconsclously looked for this. The
barn was also heap OF blazing en-
bers. Everything WAS gone. Even this
fact was not the one which began to
break down his reason, which he had
struggled so hard to keep. 1t was
the stiffness, the lifelessness, the lack
OF movement and sound that appalled,
him at first and then closed In about
him, Il crushing, deadening force. The
fires lit up the bottom land. He could
see the big rock ut the spring. The
paths between the gardens. The bird
houses in the nearest oaks. The mill.
But he could see nothing that had
been saved from the burning house.
He could not see his father or his
mother 81 Hepsbah Adams.
Even Odds heart seemed to break
In these moments. 4 sound came from
him that was like sob. He WAS half
crouching, no longer savage or venge-
full. But Jeems did not see. He was
trying to find some force IN him that
could cry out his mothers name. His
lips were rs dry MS sticks, his throat
failed to respond The silence was
terrific. In II he heard the swapping
OF an exploding ember like pistol
going off. He could hear no one talk
Ing, no voices calling.
Fear, the repulsion Of flesh and
nerves to danger, was utterly gone
from him. He was impelled only by
thought OF his father and mother, the
mystery OF their silence, his desire to
call out to them and to hear their
voices in answer. He did not ft mn
arrow to his bow as he walked down
through the starlight, his feet travel
Ing little nnsteadily. What was
there or was not there could not be
changed by an arrow.
Unexpectedly, lie came nnunS his
father. Henri was on the ground near
one of GATHERINGS rose bushes. as If
asleep. But he was dead. lie lay
with his face turned to the sky. Fire
light played upon him gently, now in
creasing, now fading. az the embers
fared or died, like fitful notes in
strain OF soundless music.
AS softly as The light, without a
sob or cry, .Ieems knelt beside him.
lie spoke his fathers name, yet knew
that no answer would rise from the
lifeless lips. lie repeated il in an
mt the silent FORM The starlight left
nothing unrevealed; his father dead.
his white lips twisted. his hands
clenched at his side. the top Of his
scalping knife Jeems slumped down.
He may have spoken again. He may
have sobbed But the thing like death
that was creeping over him, its dark
self. He remained beside his father.
az motiOnless and as still Odd
crouclied near. After little an inch
at time. he crept To the dead man.
Ing cold. He licked Teens face where
II had fallen against his fathers shout
der. Then he was mntlonless again,
his eyes seeking about him like halls
OF living flame. Death was In the air.
He was breathing IT. He was hear
Ing 1t. AT last, irresisthly impeled
to answer the spirit OF death, he sat
back on his launches and howled. 1t
was not Odds howl any more than 1t
had been .Jeems' voice speaking to his
father few moments before II was
a ghostly sound that seemed to quiet
even the whispering Of the leaves. an
unearthly and shlvering cry that Gent
echoes over the clearing. with grief
for company.
1t was this which brought Jeems out
Of the depths into which he had fallen.
He raised his head and saw his father
again. and swayed to his feet He be-
gan seeking. Close by, near the pile
of apples which she had helped him
gather from under their trees on the |
slope, he found his mother. She. too,
ay with her face to the sky The little
hat was left OF her unbound hair lay I
scattered on the earth. Her glorious /
beauty was gone. Starlight, caress
ng her gently, revealed to her boy the
lideousness Of her end. There, over
Ter body, Teems' heart broke. Odd I
ruardpd faithfr11v licfaniny N n grief