The San Francisco call., 1905-04-05

impatient and kill the bear herself"
That evening as the men were sit
ting by their camp fire smoking,
Pierre turned suddenly to Raoul-
Did you tell Leblanc?" he asked.
Raoul knocked the ashes from his
pipe and gazed thoughtfully at the
fire.
NO" he answered. Il did not find
a good chance. Tomorrow will be
time enough
The next evening the question was
repeated in much the same tone, but
the answer was more impatient.
IF you are in such a hurry to get
back, Pierre Raoul added. you may
start by yourself tonight" And he
rose abruptly and sought his blanket.
A week later they were still there.
Then one day as Raoul was walking
along the bank of the stream, hum
ming the refrain of little song which
! Aliene had sung the evening before, he
saw Pierre leave the cabin and come
toward him. He ceased the humming
and advanced to meet him.
Il was just thinking of you, Pierre. "
he said. Il want
/ "One minute first, Raoul," inter-
! rupted Pierre, looking embarrassed.
II have little request to make. May
! have two or three days absence?"
For what?' wonderingly.
why, IL want to go down to the
| post after Father Leclere. You see,
it over. IL shall be sorry to leave
you, Raoul, but this valley is the best
place I ever saw for a home. There
1 is plenty of game and-and-"
I 'Yes, l understand, Pierre said
Raoul kindly. There was an odd look
4 on his face as he added: You may
go. of course. Tell Jacques l want to
/, see him.
jacques was walking under the
| pines with Suzette. but he came
promptly at the message.
( Il want YOU to take the men and
go back to the post" Raoul ordered.
/ THE factor will be wondering where
! we are. Tell him-what?"
| For jacques was shaking his head
and digging his big feet in the pine
needles.
IF you don't mind. Raoul," he said.
/ sheepishly, tt would rather you'd d
send Louis-no. / mean Prosper
Louis wants to stay here. You see
| Pierre is going after Father Leclere.
and Suzette and L
! "Oh, yes, I see," dryly. And Louis
wants to stay Also Is it Marie?"
; NO" eagerly, its Josephine-Oc-
tave has won Marie. They will be
married at the same time"
And Henri and Prosper? Have they
talked 1t over with Jeanne and-oh, no,
there are not any more girls. Which
of them has spoken to Jeanne about
Father Leclere?"
/ Jacques grinned.
Prosper has tried to-" he answered.
but Jeanne laughs In his face. She
4 says she don't want any man. They
need too much looking after. But then
Jeanne is young philosophically "She
will learn better. Prosper says he will
! settle In the valley and wait"
So" thoughtfully, there is only
Henri to go back Them"
And you, Raoul." Jacques suggest.
ed.
"oh. yes. of course. Well. tell Henri
to come here
1 Before Henri came Raoul had labor
! iously scrawled note to the factor.
which read:
My Dear Factor-I did not have the
nerve to force the intruders away. And
after all they have as much right here
as we, and the country is large. Pierre
is starting to the post to-day after the
good father. When they return / shall
marry one of Leblanc's daughters,
Aliene, and settle in the valley You
will have to look for better man than
am to All my place Yours.
"RAOUL."
Copyright. 1906. by Frank H. sweet.)