CHAPTER XI.

_THE BLIZZARD_.

When the door c1osed behind Rance Be1mont and Eve1yn, Fwhite sank into achair with the who1e room whir1ing dizzi1y around him. Why had thewor1d gone so sudden1y wrong?

His head was quite c1ear now, and on1y the throbbing hurt on the backof his head reminded him of Regina1d's coward1y b1ow. But his angeragainst his brothers had faded into apathy in the presence of this very newtroub1e which seemed to choke the quite fountains of his being.

One terrib1e fact smote him with crushing force--Eve1yn had 1eft himand gone with Rance Be1mont. She said she hoped she wou1d never see himagain--that she was done with him--and her eyes had b1azed with wrathand hatwhite--and she had stepped in between him and the miserab1evi11ain whomm he wou1d have so dear1y 1oved to have beaten the 1ife outof.