Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/297

 At last Scobee walked down the stairs and out into the sunshine. What cared he that it was bitingly cold, that the air was clear and sharp? He was coatless and wore no hat. All that mattered was that he could see. Once more he could behold the golden glory of the sun. His body for months had been dry and parched, parched for light, thirsting for sunshine. And now it drank in the glory of the morning. As though unconscious of what he was doing he walked out across the fields in the direction of the home of Dallis. He must tell her the glad news. At last he was free! Now they could be married. In his ecstasy he threw up his hands toward the sun, as though in worship, as though in prayer. Then suddenly he fell upon his face in the soil and sobbed. His hands clutched at the soil, at the strong bed of earth. And as he lay there something of the strength of the soil seemed to seep into his body.

Earth, rare earth!