Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-14
WIDOW MARIN
BY the Author of "Natalies Ordeal"
"Euphie i.ya," "A Vain Sacri-
tCe, Etc.
CHAPTER XNIV.
noe, Etc.
The Blue Barrier,


neutrality-suspicious., the last lake
that lay between them and the Indian
village. They had already crossed sew.
eral small lakes, the last OF these only
four miles behind them, and the con-
ditiou OF the ice there had made Pierre
singularly morose and taciturn.
Alec himself had begun to be appre
hensive OF risking tramp over 50
many miles of ice already showing
signs of disintegration and rottenness
from the heat of the sun rays and the
extreme and unreasonable warmth OF
the air even when the sun had gone
down Ii was certainly most unac-
countable freak OF the weather, for it
was full month vet before the great
spring thaw was due.
For the first seven days. notwith-
standing the rather heavy walking IN
the snow, which became more and more
sodden as they advanced, they enjoyed
themselves fairly we'll. turning aside
every now and again to hunt partridges
or other game. They had exhausted
all their powder and shot now, how
ever, and for the last three days had
found it all they could do to press for
ward. Already they were some days
behind the time they should have been
crossing this lake-they had only pro
visions for two days more.
Hope it will freeze up tonight" re
marked Alec, looking up to the sky,
which had begun to lower
No freeze ices night" responded
Pierre, with conviction, 1T will rain
slop, slush-ugh"
Rain, Pierre! Don't say that" said
Alec, but he saw that the half-breed
was right
The sun set suddenly and, though it
was the first quarter of the moon, so
dense were the clouds that darkness
enyeoped them in an hour from sun
down. They campcd under the broad
shelter of huge fir, whose needles
seemed to have been shed for centuries
around its trunk, so soft and yielding
was the carpet they had made
Tonight the smoke of their fire, in
stead of curling spirally into the quiet
air, lowered under and around the
trees disagreeably and Pierre laid eX-
ira branches tips downward over their
impromptu tent.
:" Is ii going to snow, do you think %
said Mr.. Marin, as he noted these eX-
ira arrangements,
No; rain, answered Pierre, grimly.
We'll. then" said Alec, with most
unusual testiness, the sooner we turn
in he better; we want TO get up with
the dawn and over that lake in double
quick time
Mr.. Marin looked at his son with
some inward misgiVing The boy
Sc >mcd troubled, had seemed so for the
last few days. He had manifested all
OF d sudden the utmost anxiety to get
to the end of their journey, although
during the first few days he had been
as willing to enjoy what sport was to
be found as the half-breed or himself
What had come over him that he
should pass whole hours in moody
pioneering, scarce answering when
spoken to? Notwithstanding his
nominations on this head, he fell
asleep as usual long before Alec
In truth, Alec had begun to dread
sleep. Night after night he was
haunted by the most oppressive
dreams dreams he could not have de-
scribed. so vague and confused were
they; but through them all ran the one
distinct feeling OF Loo in trouble.
Coupled with this was another over
towering impulse to get to that Indian
village with all speed. They were go
ing there steadily now but not half
fast enough for that impellng desire
which had begun to make him feyerish
and unhappy.
He had carefully concealed the
strange uneasiness he felt, though at
times such as the present a hasty an
swer would occasionally betray him
But why his thoughts of Loo should be
so ineXtricably interviewer with this
deyouring impulse to get across the
lake to the Indian reserve he could
not possibly reason out; he only knew
he must get there at once if he were to
keep his senses.
As he lay brooding, long, low muf-
fed roar, that grew and held on
through the wood, broke in on his trou
bled senses. 1t was rain Rain in
heavy torrents pouring down upon the
trees
Pierre heard it dimly through the
heaviness Of sleep, grunted, turned
ever ana lapsed into oblivion again.
Alec rose, and taking from his pack
a rubber sheet, spread ii over his
fathers tent of branches. The days
fatigue had told upon Mr. Nairn; his
slumber was too profound to be stirred
by the roar Of the rain
And yet only an odd drop here and
here had penetrated to the shelter Of
the immense tree under which they lay.
Alec turned in again and covering him
self up tried to sleep. 1t was no use.
He got up and with his chin In his
hands sat staring at the fire, into
which the rain from the treetop fell
kissing
no noe /