"
McElroy turned his head upon the pillow and weak tears smarted under
his lids.
"Me! It was I she saved when it was I who slew her lover! God forgive
me, for I cannot forgive myself!"
"Nay, boy, hush! It is all as God wills. We are but shuttles in the web
of this tangled life."
"But--tell me,--what does she now? How looks her dear face?"
Ridgar was silent a moment, and McElroy repeated his question, with his
face still turned away:
"Does she pass among them,--the vipers? Does she seem to care for life
at all now?"
"Lad," said Ridgar gently, "I know not, for she is gone."
"Gone!"
The pale man on the pillow sprang upright, staring at the other with
open mouth.
"Aye, softly, boy; softly! She has been gone these many weeks; even
while summer was here she gathered her people, outfitted by our men,
all of whom were so glad for your deliverance that they gave readily to
their debt, and took up again her long trail to the Athabasca. Rette, I
believe, has a letter which she left for you.... Would you read it
now?"
McElroy nodded dumbly, and Ridgar went out in the night to Rette's
cabin for this last link between the factor and the woman he loved.
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