Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/267

Rh taking place around him. It was only at the close of the day that he become very restless, tried to get up, and talked incessantly. He was seeing wonderful things, so it seemed to the nurse, as she sat and watched him. His eyes glowed, and a beautiful smile would often overspread his face.

All day long Zell sat by the window and watched down The Gap. As the afternoon wore away, and night drew near, she became very anxious, and asked over and over again why the travellers did not come. Then when it became dark she crept into the room where the missionary was lying, and crouched upon the floor with her eyes fixed intently upon the face of the unconscious man. Marion tried to comfort her, but her words seemed to have no effect.

“They will never come!” she moaned. “Something has happened to Tim, and they don’t want to tell me. Or maybe they have been lost on that terrible overland trail. A snow-slide may have swept them away.”

“You must not get discouraged, dear,” Marion replied. “It is a long way to Big Chance and back. Perhaps the doctor was not there, and—and Hugo had to go to Kynox. The doctor will come as fast as he can, let us never doubt that. Let us get supper now, and be ready if they should come this evening.”

“I don’t want anything to eat, Miss,” Zell declared, “and if Tim dies, I never want to eat again. Do hearts sometimes break for grief, Miss? I am sure mine is almost breaking now. I don’t believe a girl ever loved anyone as I love Tim.”

The girl had risen from the floor and was standing erect now. Her face was flushed, and her dark eyes were filled with tears. Marion had never seen her look so beautiful, and she recorded a silent prayer that the