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Show MADELYN CANNON STEWART SILVER 266 bling; my scratched legs and arms ached; I had still to make the perilous descent to return to the recognizable trail. Was it my despair, my disillusionment that brought me safe again to the little pool? The gashes on my legs were healed by its waters, which cleared and straightened my thought. And then, as I climbed out of the water, I saw Harold. He came plodding along, dour, steady, silent. He would come at the moment of my defeat. My independence was over; my anger spent. As he sat down, I told him. "I can't make it after all. I've been lost. There's the dry canyon, but it's too much for me. I'm was giving up." "Is there no trail along the stream?" "Oh, yes, but this is the first canyon on the left. A lot of peo ple have apparently gone along the stream." "Then, that's where we'll go. I feel stronger now. We'd be fools not to get some pictures as long as we've come this far. "I'm going on." He took the camera. "Harold," I said. "We can't let our irritations spoil this won derful day, this rare opportunity. I can't help being bossy and let's try to forget this." you can't help resenting it. but "I've forgotten that business already. What I can't forget is that you wanted to leave me and go on by yourself." then and kissed prodigiously and started again We laughed He was along the trail, the footprints now so visible in the dust. that realized I and stone suddenly helping me cross every little at this rate we'd never get there. "I can't do it, Harold. I gave up there on those cliffs. I'll rest awhile here, and if you want to, you go on at your own pace." As he disappeared beyond the next bluff, the sweet peace of settled over me. Here indeed was my element; the the canyon smell of the scattered pines, the sound of the stream bubbling of the blue sky above the red over the stones, the dazzling depth I made the top, but only that whether matter cliffs. And it didn't I thought I could. After awhile I started. And while I didn't go fast as before, I more cautiously, more serenely. In the distance walked easily, I |
