The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-09-19

l. Il anu CltuulIS. but the Wis
I'm Ml itor's face was only friendl
and inquiring, without sal
casm or.impertlnence, and the moment
airy CLEAN in the trapper's eyes diet
out. He had grown to like this stran
ger, and had told him more things
concerning his past life than he hat
ever divulged to any living man be
fore. But the last question had Gu
deep.
For a long time he bent over the
trap. his fingers trembling as he
scraped the rust from the jaws an6
shank. All around were evidences OF
speedy departure his gun standing in
corner, cleaned and polished until Its
barrel shone like a mirror, his blan
kets, provisions, all the rest of the
traps, even his moccasins and snow.
shoes, packed and fastened into COM
pac. bundles for convenient carrying
On a wolfskin a few feet away the
dog lay with his nose resting upon his
outstretched paws, motionless, but
with his eyes wide open. watching
waiting. Twenty-four hours, and he
and the trapper would start for their
winter in the Far North, where every
day was in close companionship with
life and death.
As he saw the shadow come to
Raoul's face and slowly fade, the Wis.
itor stepped forward impulsively, plac.
Ing his hand upon the trappers shout
der.
81 beg your pardon, Raoul," he said,
81 did not know. was merely inter.
ested In your life, and spoke without
thinking. You may tell me something
else.
'Non. non, m'sieu; been tell you
bout dis. 1t is not dat be ashame,"
and Raoul forced the last vestige of
shadow from his face. But he was
still grave. at ain YER mooch to tell
m'sleu." he went on, "only jes' one little
part of my life, an it happen long. long
time ago, an all In two, tree week.
But young peoples like hear bout dose
things, an dis be so YER long time by"
drawing hard breath. which he forced
into a mirthless chuckle. dat I ain
min tellin' bout him. You been t'inl;
1t funny I ain like no girl, dat | ain
new be married, dat / ain new make
no homer"
"Yes, IL you don't mind my saying
So" the visitor answered. "You are
a strong, handsome man, even though
your hair is. turning gray and you are
Scared by encounters with wild ami
mails and the elements; and you are
straightforward and 'enoer-hearted
and gentleman in all your Instincts
Just such n person as any thoughtful
girl might learn to love"
Raoul shook his head.
"Tank you. m'sieu," he said "but
you ain know all Dat toughtful girl
been like man who stay in home an
fix up things an ain new car run
roun'. I been like run roun' all de
time. When l was boy run off to
be hunter, an when grow to be man
] like more as anything to go way off
In de wood 'mong de big game. be
strong man, oul, but long time ago,
fore de hair turn, l be mooch stronger.
Notin ain suit me so well In dose day
as to fin de biGges' an wil'es' game
In all de place roun' an den see which
de stronges', him or me. Sometime I
been t'row de gun down an roll IN de
sleeves, jest to make de wrestle more
fair.
"But you ain car bout all dis" his
animation suddenly vanishing. II been
goin' tell bout de girl. Her fader come
to work long me on dc reever. an him
an me be YER good fren's. Folk saw |
likely young man den" simply, "ver'
strong an YER handsome De fader
Ike me an say so, an | fink de girl
been like me some. An -" he
stopped suddenly, raising his keen,
deep-set eyes to the visitors face.
you ev' know n girl dat was an angel
come down TO show what heaven been
likeY he asked; "sweeter den anything
you ev' dream of in de worp before
closer In your heart den life. an more
far or as de stars? You ev' know
herr"
Yes the visitor answered, a tender.
almost reverent look coming into his
eyes, II know her"
You un'erstan', dem" Raoul went on
life ain not'ln' 'cep' it goln' max
dat girl more happy an better Off
She not like any girl ev' see before
an dere plenty handsome girl in Can.
ada. She be more like some great lady
dat ain proud an ain know she been
nan some-only Elise ain educat. She
one queen drop down in de wood by
mistake, an grow up fore peoples fin'
our When l tink maybe she goln'
comt i've long re tn we both be dead