The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-07-31

casm or impertinence, and the moment
sry gleam In the trapper's eyes died
out. He had grown TO like this stran
ger, and had told him more things
concerning his past life than he had
ever dlvulged To any living man be
fore. But The last question had cut
dccp.
For long time he bent over the
trap, his fingers trembling as he
sCTnped the rust from the jaws and
shank. All around were evidences OF
speedy departure, his gun standing In
r corner. cleaned and polished until It's
barrel shone like n mirror his blan-
kcts, provisions, all the rest Of the
traps, even his moccasins and snow
shoes. packed and fastened into com
pact bundles for convenient carrying.
On wolfskn few feet away the
dog lay with his nose resting upon his
Outstretched paws motlonlcss, but
with hrs eyes wide open, watching.
He understood, and was ready and
waiting. TweDty-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 impulsiyely plac-
ing his hand upon the trapper's shoul-
der.
II beg your pardon Raoul," he said,
~ did not know. i was merely inter
csted In your life, and spoke without
thinking. You may tell me something
else.
Non. non, msicu; l been tell you
bout dis. It Is not dat be ashamc,"
and Raoul forced the last ycstige of
shadow from his face. But he was
sillI'grave. at ain ver' mooch TO tell,
m'sieu," he went on, 'only jcs' one little
part Of my life, an IL happen long, long
time ago, an all in two, free week.
But young peoples like hear bout dose
flngs, an dis be so ver' long time by"
drawing hard breath which he forced
into n mirthless chuckle, dat | ain
min telln' bout him. You been fink
il funny l ain like no girl, dat ain
new be married, dat l ain new make
no homer"
Eyes, IL you don't mind my saying
so,' the visitor answered. "Iou are
q 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
- IN fevh ri tnY np -h.,n ri oil
ard a gentleman i'm all your instincts
Just such n person rs any thoughtful
Girl might learn 10 love-
Raoul shook his head.
"T'ank you, m'sieu," he said, "but
you ain know all Dat toughtful girl
been like man who stay in home an
fy mp rings an ain new car run
roun'. | been like run roun' all dc
time. When / was n boy run off to
be hunter, an when grow To be man
Ike more as anything to 90 way off
in de wood 'mong dc big game. be
strong man, oui, hut long time ago,
fore de Eair turn. | be mooch stronger.
Not'in ain suit me so well in dose day
as to fin' de bigges' an wi'cs' game
in all de place roun' an den see which
dc stronges', him or me. Sometime |
been t'row de gun down an roll UP de
sleeves, Jest to make de wrcstlc more
fair.
But you ain car bout all dis" his
animation suddenly vanishing. II been
goin' tell bout dc girl. Her fadcr come
10 work long me on tie reevcr. an him
nm me be vcr' good frlen's. Folk say
likely young man den,' simply, "vCr'
strong an vcr' han'some. De fadcr
like me an say so, an | fink de glrl
been like me some. An i" he
stopped suddenly, raising his keen
deep-set eyes 60 the visitors face
"you ev' know a girl dat was an ange
ceme down to show what heaven beer
iike?" he asked; "sweeter den anything
you ev' dream of ia DO worr before
closer in your heart den life. an NOR,
far off as de stars? You cv' know
herr"
YES" the visitor answered, n tender
almost reyerent look coming into hi
eyes, II know her"
you un'erstan', den" Raoul went on
Life ain not'in' 'cep' II goin' max
dat girl more happy an better Of
She not like any girl ! ev' see before
an dere plenty handsome girl In Can
ada. She be more like some great lad
dat ain proud an ain know she bee
han'some-oply Elise ain cducat. Sh
one queen drop down in de wood b
mistake. an grow up fore peoples Al
out. When fink maybe she gclI
come live long me till we both be dcaC
! ain hardly know how | breathe.
be so w0n'crful.
'Dcn y young man come from Moi
treal 80 see bout some reeyer CLAIM
an be hire ne 10 show him how
current run lis way an dat way. a
bow fur ND de spring water rise: a
den one day We 20 past de cabin n
DC sec Elise.
well be feel bout her jcs' like m
an vcr' soon ] zee dat Elise feel
Msicu DC POrme an me bout de sam
when / been 20 see her she Ike n
bcs'. cause ! ain new 'fraid not'il
an go down dc reever stan'in' straig
I'D on q log IKE nc uddcr reeyer m,