Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 159: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Proof By Peril back, and it should appear afterward that I had failed in duty toward him, I should never rid myself of the reproach. He was my brother. ‘‘So it was that when you refused to come with me and seemed willing to await me on the path, I snatched at the compromise. I knew there could be no danger where you and I were standing at that moment. The cliff was ribbed with limestone. I felt you would be safe there. I hurried back alone.” Again Hargood paused, with the some- thing in his throat. “He is there, Julia, in the ravine,’’ he con- tinued gently. “‘I made sure, and I meant to tell you the story. But when I came back along the Reisenweg you were gone; and at the hotel later I knew from your scorn of me that you suspected—that I had lost all in your eyes. I could not combat it. That is all—I think.” NG? SILENCE fell between them. Then Me Vs) sweetly, a little choked sob stole down the ice-bound rock and took cea in his breast. “Julia!”’ he cried. “Collis, Collis—dear, brave one!” He could only breathe her name and reach up impotent hands in bewildered welcome of the miracle. “How can I ever blot out the wrong of that word to you?” she murmured. “Even here, on the lip of death, after taking thought for my safety you must rattle non- sense to keep up my courage. Dear, brave heart—the kindest, truest She wept quietly a little. Still he whis- pered her name. Oh, the cruel, cruel chance that kept him out of reach, out of sight of her in that moment! “Collis,” she breathed, “there is not much I can share with you. Here is my one secret, mine for yours. It is right you should know, now. Since we have been here the rope has slipped three times!”’ “The rope!” “Yes. I have not taken my eyes from it. At this moment, it no longer has the shale ee support. It igclinging on a thin splinter of ice.’ ‘But, Julia! Julia! Didn’t I tell you— beg you ‘To let my belt slip?” she said tenderly, and if it be that words may smile through tears, then did hers: “Yes. But am I to make the move to send you to death? IIO5 Three times, by your orders, I should have let you fall. And yet I still hold you.” “Girl!” he cried in anguish. “If you love me——”’ “What? Let you go?” she mocked gently. The tone caressed him. “At least you have your belt-flap free and ready, so that when I go I sha’n’t drag you with me?” ‘Oh, that—of course,” smoothly. “I suppose I shall have to be content with that,” he sighed. A darting sunbeam found a way through the clotted clouds and kissed the stern, old rock in a fleeting flash. The down-sweeping gusts of ice-flakes glowed like diamond showers. When they spoke again it was of simple things, friends at home, places they had visited together, kindly hours of the past Summer. Thought welded to thought over the break of the ice-coated cliff and they held close communion. Only once, before the end, did either refer to the terror that hung over them. “€Julia,” said Hargood softly, “if I could see your face, just for an instant!” “Yes,” she answered patiently. ‘But we can call, one to the other. I shall hear you, dear.” He mused for a time. pensations,” he decided. After that they talked on and there was no pain in any precious remembrance. They sought and freshened each picture out of their lives that reflected a mutual inter- est, finding content and comfort. It was while Julia was speaking of her brother’s love for him that the signal came. She broke off abruptly as the tiny thrill leaped down the rope. He felt it now. “‘Good-by, Collis—dear heart!’ she whispered. ““Good-by!”’ he said, and, ‘‘Good-by!”’ He nursed no regret, no bitterness. She, at least, was safe. ‘““Hold ready with the belt-flap,” he warned, and rested his head a little wearily against the rock. i breath from the peak, came a sound like a faint trumpet-blast. Itroused them both with tingling nerves. Again the note trilled, unmistakably a hail, the far- piercing call of the mountaineer. she answered “This has its com- SUDDENLY, borne on the chill CoMmicbhook C©