Photoplay (May 1921)

The spell of those days in the c:ibin, shut in from the world — those long, sweet, dream-filled days and nights! Out of the tornado of jealousy and lust for power came peace, and the greater glory of a woman's love. to one lo\cd object after another, lingering longest on a hea\ 3' armchair near the fire with a book, a tobacco jar and an ash tray on its wide arm. "Geoffrey, Geoffrey! How could you hurt me so?" she sobbed. Then she turned and ran down the trail, a dark figure, standing out distinctly in the snow that had begun to pelt steadily down. On and on, down tlie winding trail where rows of tail sp'-;ndid trees stretched awa\' on either hand with never a break nor a sign of human haliitation. On and on, while the darkness deepened, the snow fell faster, and the rising wind sobbed through the i:)ines and moaned in the spruces. The soft torrent of flakes became a clinging, smothering blanket With incredible swiftness the white carpet was six inches thick — a foot — eighteen inches — twenty — coming faster and faster, while the wind lashed at the slender figure and siirilied a malignant threat through tossing branches. On and on, slip])ing, stumbling, gasping. Falling now, but up again instantly, head bent, trying to keep the trail thai cut the darkness faintly like a thread of sil\ er through a skein of jet. On and on. slowh' now, with dragging feet that co\ered the leaden, interminable distances with torturing effort. THE sluirl twilight of a winter afternoon was deepening into dusk. Along the horizon, where patches of sky showed between branches of pine and spruce, lay a faint, i)inkish glow, l)ut overhead were masses of feathery clouds, thickening now to leaden masses. Through the darkening forest ran a little, sighing breeze, and with it a Hurry of white flakes came lightly down and .swirled for an instant in the trail, a warning of what was to follow. A single cabin stood there; a snug, comiiact little affair of two rooms. The windows that faced the trail were lighted. Looking in, one saw a fireplace where flames lea])ed high, ilhmiining a comfortable, home-like room, with cushioned chairsf low shelves of books, dishes of white and blue, a copper jar holding a plant with a scarlet bloom. In this room a furcoated man and a woman whose hat shaded a rouged and Iiard-lined face stood close together, whispering, glancing about furtively, in an attitude of waiting that was half eagerness, half dread. In the other room the windows were dark. One of them was open and white curtains fluttered wraith-like in the darkness that grew steadily thicker. A woman appeared there, a dark, hooded cape throwing her figure into sharp silhouette against the curtains. An instant, and she jumji.ed lightly to the ground, and ran to a point where she could look into the f.re-lit room. The glow from the windows fell on a young face, white as marble now, with dark curls creeping out from llie closely fitting hood, with deep brown eyes that were dazed with a weight of sudden, crushing misery. For a long, long moment her gaze searched the room, saying a mute goodbye Before her the trail dipped to a hollow and rose again. On the rise gleamed out a square of light, a four-paned cabin window. Floundering and stumbling she reached the hollow, but there the snow had drifted in and to reach the cabin meant a climb up a steej), unbroken road against a furious wind that thrust her back, and back! ''Geoffrey!" Just once the cry shrilled out, to be caught liy the mocking wind. Then, with a last, futile gesture she sank and cuddled down in the white blanket that reached for her greedil>'. She was not cold now, nor tired, nor griexed. She was comfortable, with a strange delicious drowsiness creeping through her veins. "Geoffrey! Geoffrey! Geoffrey!" the white li|)s whispered stiffly. "Geoffrey — Geoff " ball. I can MrVVER-DEAR! Watch me catch my frow it most up to the sun!" It was a sunny-haired boy, possibly five years old, playing in the gardens that surrounded a palatial home in the loveliest resifience section of Kingston, in the island of Jamaica. His blue eyes narrowed to shining slits as he turned his chubby face toward the blazing troi)ical sun in an effort to follow the curve of the gaily-colored ball. "Careful, sweetheart!" warned a woman's voice, as the ball, descending, bounded along the graxelled path and the child ran after, laughing. "Ah, no-no, Dick!" The warning had become a startled cry of command, but it was too late. The ball had bounced into a large pool in the center of which a fountain played. Without hesitation, the bov flung himself into the water after it!