Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-24
A WOMAN'S WAY.

setting. casting shadows on the river.
| Back from the bank stood the palisaded
trading post The rays cleaned through
tine loopholes in the western bastion, bur-
nishing the cannon mouths. The great
/ factors house reached above the palisade,
| facing the sun. From its roof hung mo-
tioness the Union Jack, bright in the
warm red light.
! Quiet reigned at the post; noticeable
more particularly this evening in com
parison with the excitement of the morn
/ inc, when the half breed factor from the
north had started on his journey with
! his several breed and Indian voyaoers.
! Only two short weeks had he stayed
at the Saskatchewan, but he had seemed
almost glad to return to the beautiful,
drearv. frozen north.
Out on the river bank by a struggling
group of poplar sat Harriet. the great
! factors daughter. Into her face and form
had entered the beauty and grace of the
GREAT solitude But now a slight frown
troubled her eyes.
John Mclean had gone. Yes for she
had watched him out from this very spot.
She had seen his paddle dip in and out
till he disappeared around the bend-had
watched iii the last ripple caused by his
swift passing was cones
John Mel can had asked her to 90
/ back with him to the far north. He
had even said nc would take her whether
she would ut no. But no-she shook her
head as she thought of it, Even though
she were not promised to Hardy, the
Englishman from Fort William, even
though her father might be got to con
sent. she could never marry a half breed
! And then, too, to 90 away up TO that
northern post, where no one ever came.
A-ain sha shook her head, this time de
cisively.
But the puzzled frown remained The
thought of Mclean. with his great
strength, his rough dark hair, his eyes
that were sometimes brown and some
times gray, remained, not to be easily
dismissed.
why should be thinking of John Nc
Lean when Hardy will be here, perhaps
tonight?" asked she of herself impa-
t!ently.
once more sic looked up the river,
where the sun was disappearing behind
crimson clouds. Then, with sigh. she
rose and started toward the fort. How
| quiet II was. how lonely.
\ dried twig snapped behind her. She
looked back. 4 swarthy, strong built
man was close behind her She turned to
run. but too late.
With two strong arms holding her Sc
cIrely, grea- brown hand over her
mouth stiff NO her screams, Mclean bore
her away along the river bank
lie kept the grove between him and
the fort till he came to a bend where a
path lei down to the water Here his
canoe WAS waiting with three half breeds
and two Indians, their paddles in hand,
ready to start.
Swiftly they sped on their way. As
the dusk deepened into night they had
put good distance between them and
the fort.
Many days of hard padding and port
aging brought McLeanf near to his home.
And all these days Harriet spoke not one
word. But Mclean was not impatient
One more day with the Big Rapids to
pass, and they would be home. Not
much of home in the eyes of some. 1t
was on the edge of a narrow northern
lake y small square cabin of logs rooted
with slabs ard moss. all the creyices
filed with mud-here lived Mclean and
his mother. Two still smaller shacks
were the homes of his men, several of
whom had wives. The whole group was
surrounded by a palisade.
On every side stretched the great lone
~ northland, which in time a man may
come to love. The solitude the white.
smooth stretches of snow in winter, held
fascination away from which no south
ern land could charm Mclean.
One more days padding. Mclean
knew not whether to be glad or sorry.
Still Harriet would not speak
Early i'll the morning they We're under
way. After two hours they came to the
Bad Rapids These were long and dam
gerous: but the voyageTs nearly always
took them i'll their canoes instead of car
rying. And now they PROCEEDED to paddle
through frhe canoe was strongly made
and was well handled. so Mclean consid-
cred it to be quite safe.
He felt suddenly inspired to make Har-
riet speak, though the steering should
have been given all his attention. He
told her not to be afraid.
You'll never come to any harm while
I'm around. Harriet" he said Harriet
gave no sign that she heard
Wen be home tonight; do You care 2"
No answer The girl was looking gloomi-
| ly and discontentedly across the back
ward curling waves as the canoe entered
the rapids. The lodges of rock were
showing bare on either side, the water
dashing against and over them. The
river foamed through the narrow chan
nels Mclean held his paddle in the stern
steadily. steering accurately. A few min
uteS and the rapids would be passed.
Harriet won't YOU say just one word
love YOU. you know that. Don't YOU
care just little? I'll always be good To
YOU little girl His voice was pleading.
ho.t tinid as though he were afraid of
her She turned half scornfully
Don't move. Wen upset You1l he
drowned exclaimed Mclean