Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-08-08

spruce, Wnlle on all sues Tue SHOW
was trampled with tracks as wide as
snowshoe There came TO him a
noise which as he proceeded increased
till 1t filed the woods. 1t was fright
full din, as though thousand wolves
were bowling with the madness Of the
kill. Cautiously creeping nearer, he
found a msnstrous white animal strug-
Cling beneath a spruce which had fallen
upon it in such fashion as to pinion it
securely.
"All brave men are tender hearted,
so Itika set to work with his ak and
cleared away the burden. regardless of
the peril to himself When he had
released it the beast arose and, in
stead of running away. addressed him
in the most polite and polished Indian,
without trace of accent.
" You have saved my life. Now,
what can / do for your
81 want to hunt in this valley. My
people are starving said Itika, at
which the wolf was greatly pleased
and rounded up the rest of the pack
to help in the kill
always thereafter when Itika came
to the valley OF the Yukon the giant
drove hunted with him. To this day
they run through the mountains on
fold, clear night in a multitude, while
the light of the moon fickers from
their white sides, flashing up into the
sky in weird, fantastic figures. Some
people call it northern lights. but old
Isaac assured me earnestly, toothless-
" and with the light of ancient truth
as / lay snow blind In his lodge that
it is nothing more remarkable than
the spirit of Itika and the great white
wolves
What queer legendv' she said.
"There must be many of them in this
country. 1 feel that / am going to
like the north''
Perhaps you WILL" Glenister re-
piled, although it is not woman's
land
.Tell me what led you out here in
the first place. You are an eastern
man. You have had advantages, edu-
cation, and yet you choose this. You
must love the north"
Indeed / dol 1t calls to fellow
in some strange way that gentler
country never could. When once you
have lived the long, lazy June days
that never end and heard geese honk-
ing under warm, sunlit midnight, or
when once you've hit the trail on. a
winter morning so sharp and clear
that the air stings your lungs and the
whole white, silent world glistens like
a jewel; yes, and when you've seen the
dogs romping in harness till the sled
runners ring and the distant mountain
ranges come out like beautiful cary
ings. so close you can reach them
well, there's something in it that
brings you back-that's all, no matter
where you've lost yourself. 1t means
health and equality and unrestraint.
That's what / like best, / dare say
the utter unrestraint.
''When | was a schoolboy used to
gaze at the map of Alaska for hours
I'd lose myself in it. 1t wasn't any,
thing but a big, blank corner in the
north then, with a name and noun
tains and mystery. The word Yukon
suggested to me everything unknown
and weird-hairy mastodons, golden
river bars, savage Indians with bone
arrowheads and sealskin trousers.
When 1 left college, / came as fast as
ever i could-the adventure suppose
.'The law was considered my destiny.
How the shades of old Choate and
Webster and Patrick Henry must have
walled when | forswore it! I'll bet
Blackstone tore his whiskers."
II think you would have made sue
cess" said the girl, but he laughed.
well, anyhow, ! stepped out, leav-
ing the way to the United States SUI
preme bench unobstructed, and came
north found it was where belong
ed. | fitted in. I'm not contented-
don't think that. I'm ambitious, but I
prefer these surroundings to the 9th
ers-that's, all Pm realizing my de-
sires. I've made a fortune. Now I'll
see what else the world has"
He suddenly turned TO her. See
here" he abruptly questioned. whats
your name 2"
She started and glanced toward
where Dextry had stood, only to find
that the old frontiersman had slipped
away during the tale.
Helen Chester" she replied
"Heien Chester" he repeated mus
ingly. What a pretty namel 1t
seems almost a pity to change tito
marry. as you will.'
Il am not going to Nome to get mar
RED"
He glanced at her quickly.
"Then you won't like this country
You are two years too early You
ought to wait till there are railroads
and telephones and tables d'hote and
chaperens. IFS a mans country yet"
Il don't see why it isn't woman's
country too Surely we can take a
part in tanning it. Yonder on the Ore
gon is complete railroad, which will