GABRIEL CONROY. 
21 
that this flower is not developed in perpetual 
snow. It means that it is first germinated 
in a warm soil and under a kindly sun. It 
means that if you had not plucked it, it 
would have fulfilled its destiny under those 
conditionsu It means that in two months 
grass will be springing where you found it — 
even where we now lie. We are below the 
limit of perpetual snow.” 
In two months!” said the young girl, 
eagerly, clasping her hands. 
“ In two months,” said the young man, 
bitterly. “ In two months we shall be far 
from here, or dead.” 
“ Probably 1 ” said the old man, coolly, 
but if you have fulfilled my injunctions in 
regard to my papers and the collection, they 
will in good time be discovered and saved.” 
Ashley turned away with an impatient 
gesture, and the old man’s head again sank 
exhaustedly upon his arm. Under the pre- 
text of caressing the child, Ashley crossed 
over to Grace, uttered a few hurried and 
almost inaudible words, and disappeared 
through the door. When he had gone, the 
old man raised his head again and called 
feebly : 
“ Grace 1 ” 
“ Dr. Devarges I ” 
Come here ! ” 
She rose and crossed over to his side. 
“ Why did he stir the fire, Grace ? ” said 
Devarges, with a suspicious glance. 
‘‘ I don’t know.” 
*Nou tell him everything — did you tell 
him that ? ” 
“ I did not, sir.” 
Devarges looked as if he would read the 
inmost thoughts of the girl, and then, as if 
re-assured, said : 
“ Take it from the fire, and let it cool in 
the snow.” 
The young girl raked away the embers 
of the dying fire, and disclosed what seemed 
to be a stone of the size of a hen’s egg, 
incandescent and glowing. With the aid 
of two half-burnt sticks she managed to 
extract it, and deposited it in a convenient 
snow-drift near the door, and then returned 
to the side of the old man. 
“ Grace 1 ” 
“Sir!” 
“ You are going away !” 
Grace did not speak. 
“ Don’t deny it. I overheard yOu. Per- 
haps it is the best that you can do. But 
whether it is or not you will do it — of 
course. Grace, what do you know of that 
man ? ” 
Neither the contact of daily familiarity, 
the equality of suffering, nor the presence 
of approaching death could subdue the 
woman’s nature in Grace. She instantly 
raised her shield. From behind it she began 
to fence feebly with the dying man. 
“Why, what we all know of him, sir, — a 
true friend ; a man to whose courage, intel- 
lect, and endurance we owe so much. And 
so unselfish, sir!” 
“ Humph ! — what else ? ” 
“ Nothing — except that he has always 
been your devoted friend — and I thought 
you were his. You brought him to us,” she 
said, a little viciously. 
“Yes — I picked him up at Sweetwater. 
But what do you know of his history ? 
What has he told you ? ” 
“ He ran away from a wicked step-father 
and relations whom he hated. He came 
out West to live alone — among the Indians — 
or to seek his fortune in Oregon. He is 
very proud — you know, sir. He is as unlike 
us as you are, sir, — he is a gentleman. He 
is educated.” 
“.Yes, I believe that’s what they call it 
here, and he doesn’t know the petals of a 
flower from the stamens,” muttered Devar- 
ges. “ Well ! After you run away with 
him does he propose to marry you ? ” 
For an instant a faint flush deepened the 
wan cheek of the girl, and she lost her guard. 
But the next moment she recovered it. 
“ Oh, sir,” said this arch hypocrite, sweetly, 
“ how can you jest so cruelly at such a mo- 
ment ? The life of my dear brother and sis- 
ter, the lives of the poor women in yonder 
hut, depend upon our going. He and I are 
the only ones left who have strength enough 
to make the trial. I can assist him, for, 
although strong, I require less to support 
my strength than he. Something tells me 
we shall be successful ; we shall return soon 
with help. Oh, sir, — it is no time for trifling 
now j our lives — even your own is at stake ! ” 
“ My own life,” said the old man impas- 
sively, “ is already spent. Before you return, 
if you return at all, I shall be beyond your 
help.” 
A spasm of pain appeared to pass over 
his face. He lay still for a moment as if to 
concentrate his strength for a further effort. 
But, when he again spoke, his voice was 
much lower, and he seemed to articulate 
with difficulty. 
“ Grace,” he said at last, “ come, nearer, 
girl, — I have something to tell you.” 
Grace hesitated. Within the last few 
moments a shy, nervous dread of the man 
Missouri 
Botanical 
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