The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-07

these next days knowing Dan was so near, yet lost to her forever, knowing she must go on being the Sally Blair who wore Coreys ring on her engagement finger?
 That next day Corey and Sally had planned to climb to the top of one of the highest trails. The sky was as serene, as azure as the day before. But far to the north was not slate-colored patch. The air hung too heavy and charged.
 Do you think there's any chance of a storm?" Corey asked, bit dubiously. Maybe we'd better not try it today, Sally" "Why not?" Sally's dark eyes chalIenegd the sky. She wasn't afraid of danger. She wanted, if anything, to force it, to lose her. self in a new flight.
 Check" Corey said, using their old phrase for agreement. He wouldn't refuse to go just because of one gray cloud.
 On their way they met Dan. He saw their skis and poles, walked over to them. He said, Hello You're not really going up today, are you? Don't you know the airs not right? There's going to be a blizzard" Dan could tell without looking at the slate sky what the weather promised. He was mountain-bred mountain trained.
 "Blizzard!' Sally laughed. "Why, the sky's as clear as a bell. We don't mind a little snow. Dan! Even though we don't belong in this world" There was bitterness as well as irony in her tone.
 You don't know what you're talking about" Dan returned roughly. He turned on Corey, You're not going to let her go, are you?" he asked.
 "Why not?" Corey said, as Sally had to him. Were going up into the divide, above timber :"
 You're crazy, if you do that!' Dan spoke earnestly now. His grave eyes pleaded with Sally. Don't try that trail today" he warned.
 Sally shrugged her shoulders beneath her plaid jacket. Why should Dan ask her not to go? It did not matter to him what she did She would show him that she would not run away from his world. wen be all right" she said briefly. T can't really see what concern it is of yours, Dan.' She knew that was a cruel thing to say. But she wanted to hurt him. If only she could make him suffer, as he had made her, make his heart ache.
 Perhaps you're right Dan said. He f1inched, e tiny white line drawn around the stern set of his nice mouth. He knew Sal ly again thought him coward. He knew she meant he had for feited the right to make what she did any concern of his.
 Corey never had known Sally to be gayer than she was that day, full of fun and laughter, the way he liked her to be. The skiing was per- feet what with the sharp wind against their faces, the blood rac- ing through their bodies, the music of swift flight, the poetry of pure motion.
 When they had had their fill, gloriously tired with the good wear mess of clean physical effort, they stopped for time to rest. Corey built 8 fire beneath an icy water fall; they had brought along steaks to broil, buns, thermos of hot coffee.
 T guess our friend. Reynolds is the one who is slightly crazy Corey chuckled. "It's been a per- feet day. I wouldn't have missed it for anything, would you, my sweet?"
 "No," Sally returned. But some what absently. She had been watching that leaden patch in the north. While they picnicked it had spread to alarming proportion, like thick gray felt. She called Corey's attention to it now, add ing that perhaps they had better pack up and start down trail.
 They're just night clouds be- ginning to gather" Corey refused to be alarmed. But even as he spoke snowflake drifted down.