The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1947-03-06

again but he heard nothing. A
biting wind cut his face, but still
he climbed steadily. At the top
he could look down into the
small forest. A thin plume of
smoke assembled!
Something frightened about his
heart. He forgot to signal to
Gayle, and plunged down into
the snow, following her prints
through the trees. At last the
evergreens parted. In a coulee
he saw brown object and knew
it for the roof of a tiny cabin,
some trapper's shelter. Strange
that in all his previous hunt for
clues he had not found it! He
was right now; her prints were
fresh here. 1t had taken her a
long time, too, to reach it in the
drifts. The webs led him straight
to the door.
There were no fresh signs Of
dogs or a sled; it was unearthly
still. Only the thin curl of blue
smoke and the footprints to the
door! Her feet-going here-for
what purpose? She knew she
would be tracked! Was it the
batting of a trap?
O'Hara drew himself up. He
pressed his hand across his eyes,
a shudder ran through him. Be-
hind him he heard Gayle's dogs
give tongue to their bowls. For
the service!" he whispered, and
opened the door.
There was a fire burning in the
stove, and the glow of red Goals
fell on the figure of man
stretched on a bed of furs. He
lay still, a rigid profile. One
glance told O'Hara he was dead.
Beside him, kneeling, her back to
the door, was Laure Gharian.
O'Hara stood still. The fire
glow made glory of her beauty.
Her hands were clasped; she was
praying. There was a long mo-
ment of silence in which he could
hear her breathe, then-nearer
and nearer-Gayle'S dogs yelped.
She lifted her head and their
eyes met. O'Hara could not
speak. She rose slowly to her
feet and stood, looking down at
the dead mans still face. Then
she turned, and her beautiful
eyes were full of tears.
so you've come, m'Sleur?
Even here?" Her hand went to
her heart, as if to still its beat
ing. I'm glad you slept meant
you to sleep-until he waS-be-
You'd the laW!"
O'Hara took a step forward,
looking down at the dead man.
He did it!' he gasped, sudden
ly knowing the truth.
He was my brother" she. said
simply. I'VE came together to the
grave of my little child. l never
went to the cabin at all then; l
didn't mean to go there, for my
husband and I were utterly sep
arated. But Paul saw Ninon
Grouse at the door He had
known her in Quebec, when she
was training in the hospital, and
he loved her! 1t was that, m'sieur,
not so much my quarrel that he
took up. 1t was mad jealousy be-
cause Ninon was there and Char
ian loved her. Paul told this
afterWard"
AT the time l didn't know,
didn't realize it all until - too
late! He was furious, tried to
make Ninon come with us. Char
ian interfered, and my brother
told him to come outside like a
man and fight it out.
I'm the end it was duel.
Gharian wounded Paul. Paul S
shot killed Gharian outright. The
girl sprang between them, strug-
Cling to disarm them, to keep
them apart. Unhappily it was a
shot from my brothers pistol that
killed her-and broke his heart!
was at the little grave when l
heard the shots, l ran to them
and found Ninon dying, in her
, agony she caught at my coat and
tore those two bits away. Oh, l
didn't hate her, m 'sieur; l pitied