a word of Barney. She was
not mistaken. Hurriedly she read through Iola's glowing accounts of
her season's triumph with Wagner. "It has been a great, a glorious
experience," wrote Iola. "I cannot be far from the top now. The critics
actually classed me with the great Malten. Oh, it was glorious. But I am
tired out. The doctors say there is something wrong, but I think it is
only that I am tired to death. They say I cannot sing for a year, but
I don't want to sing for a long, long time. I want you, Margaret, and I
want--oh, fool that I was!--I may as well out with it--I want Barney.
I have no shame at all. If I knew where to find him I would ask him to
come. But he would not. He loathes me, I know. If I were only with you
at the manse or at the Old Mill I should soon be strong. Sometimes I am
afraid I shall never be. But if I could see you! I think that is it. I
am weary for those I love. Love! Love! Love! That is the best. If you
have your chance, Margaret, don't throw away love! There, this letter
has tired me out. My face is hot as I read it and my heart is sore. But
I must let it go." The tears were streaming down Margaret's face as she
read.

"Read it, Dick," she said brokenly, thrusting the letter into his hands.

Dick read it and gave it back to her without a word.

"Oh, where is he?" cried Margaret, wringing her hands. "If we only
knew!"

"The date is a month old," said Dick. "I think one of us must go. You
must go, Margaret."

"No, Dick, it must be you."

"Oh, not I, Margaret! Not I! You remember--"

"Yes, you, Dick. For Barney's sake you must go."

"For Barney's sake," said Dick, with a sob in his throat. "Yes, I'll
go. I'll go to-night. No, I must go to see a man dying in the Big Horn
Canyon. Next day I'll be off. I'll bring her back to him. Oh! if I could
only bring her back for him, dear old boy! God give me this!"

"Amen," said Margaret with white lips. For hope lives long and dies
hard.

XX

UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN

The Big Horn flowed by a tortuous and rapid course through rough country
into the Goat. The trail was bad and, in places, led over high mountain
shoulders in a way heartbreaking to packers. For this reason, all who
knew the ways and moods of a canoe chose the water in going up the
canyon. True enough, there were a number of lift-outs and two rather
long portages that made the going up pretty stiff, but if a man had
skill with the paddle and knew the water he might avoi