Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-22
An Arctic Romance
BY SIR GILBERT PARKER


prevailed. These lonely aborigines had
the belief as the Egyptians have, that
though his body was on earth his soul
was with Manitou, and that it was MS
soul which came in him again, ana
gave the Great Spirits healing to the
fingers.
In was only visible things, or sounds,
that appeared to open the doors OF
memory of the most recent happenings.
Happenings If not varied were OF Ihe
most critical moment, since, passing
down from the land of unchanglng ice
and snow, they had come into March
and April storms, and the perils OF the
rapids and the swollen floods of May
Now, in June, two years and month
since Bickersteth had gone into the
wilds, they looked down upon the goal
of one at leaSt-of the younger man
who had triumphed in his quest up in
these Wilds abandoned four centuries
ago, and whose face now was shining
in what was to him-he had said 1t so
often to himself-the light of home; of
love and home.
With this joyous thought in his
heart, that he had succeeded, that ne
had discovered anew one of the great
est gold fields of the world, and that
journey unparalleled had been accom-
plished and all that was dearest to his
life was beneath his eyes, he turned TO
ward his ancient CON- anion and
great feeling of pity and human love
enlarged within him. He, John Bicker-
steth, was going into a world again,
where his fate, as he believed a happy
fate. awaited him; but what of this
old man? He had brought him out of
the wilds, out of the unlSnown-was he
only taking him into the unknown
again? Were there friends any friends
anywhere in the world awaiting him?
He called himself by no name, he said
he had no name.
AS he looked on him now an impulse
seized him. Dear old man." he said,
scarce knowing what his words We're,
but happiness and pity in him at once,
and talking as one talks to a child that
cannot understand, you shall never
want while l have a penny or have
head or hands to work. But is there
no one that you care for or that cares
for you? That you remember, or that
remembers your
The old man shook his head though
not with understanding, for he APP
peared rapt in reverie as he looked out
on the green valley, the sweet verdure
far away and the shining skies. But
he laid a hand on the young mans
shoulder and whispered:
"Once it was always snow, but now
it is green, the land. have seen i'll
have seen it once" His shaggy eye
brows gathered over. his eyes searched,
searched the face of John Bickersteth.
"Once, so long ago-I cannot think"
he added helplessly.
Dear old man." Bickersteth said,
gently knowing he would not wholly
comprehend, II am going to ask her
Alice-to marry me, and If she does,
she will help look after you, too.
Neither of us would have been here
without the other, dear old man, and
we shall not be separated Whoever
you are, you are a gentleman, and you
might have been my father or hers-or
hers!"
He stopped suddenly A thought had
flashed through his mind, a thought
which stunned him, which passed like
some powerful current through his
veins, shocked him, then gave him a
palpitating life. 1t was a wild thought,
but yet why not-why not? There was
the chance, the faint, far-off chance.
He caught the old man by the Shout
ders and looked him in the eyes,
scanned his features, pushed back the
hair from the rugged forehead.
"Dear old man." he said, his voice
shaking, do you know what I'm think
ing? I'm thinking that you may be
of those who went out to the Arctic
sea with Sir John Franklin-with Sir
John Franklin, you understand. Did
you know Sir John Franklin? Are you
one that has lived to tell the tale? Did
you know Sir John Franklin-is It true
oh, is 1t true?"
He let go the old mans shoulders,
for over the face of the other there
passed a change-it was strained and
tense, the hands were oustretched, the
eyes now staring straight into the west
and the coming night.
"Dear God! 1t is-it is-that's it,"
cried Bickersteth. That's it-oh love
of Christ. that's it! Sir John Frank
lin-Sir John Franklin, and all the
brave lads that died up there-you re-
member the ship-the Arctic seattle
ice fields and Franklin-you remem-
Der him! Dear old man, say you re-
member franklin"
The thing had seized him. Convic-
ton was upon him, and he watched
the others anguished face with an
guish and excitement in his own.
"But-but it might belt might be
her father-the eyes, the eyes, the
forehead are like hers, the hands, the
long hands, the pointed fingers, the
eyes-if it should be So If 1 am not
mad, and it is only so-Dear old man,
did you have a wife and child, and
were they both called Alice-do you
remember? Alice, and they both had
faces like angels! Franklin-Alice! Do
you remember"
The old man got slowly to his feet.
his arms OuSIT6lGH6ut Ino lOoh III iAio
face changing, understanding strug-
Cling for it's place, memory fighting
for its own. the soul contending for
it's mastery.
Observation-Disclosures snow" he said,
confusedly, and sank down.
"God have mercy!" cried Bicker-
steth, as he caught the swaylng body
and laid it upon the ground. He was
there-almost."
He settled the old man against the
great pine stump and chafed his hands.
"Man, dear man, If you belong to her,
If you do, can't you see what 1t will
mean to me-she can't say no to me
then. But if it's true, you'll belong
to England and to all the world, too,
and you'll have fame everlasting I'll
have gold for her and for you, and for
your Alice, too, dear old man. Wake
IN now. you're coming home, and re-
mennber-you must remember every
thing. or it will be so awful-if you
are Dyke Allingham who went with
Franklin to the silent seas of the pole
If it's you, really you, what wonder
you lost your memory! You saw Things
that no other man has seen--saw them
all die but you, Franklin and all, die
there in the snow, with all the white
world round them If you were there,
dear old man, what a travel you have
had what strange things you have
scent Where the world Is loneliest-
there. I suppose, God is most, and you
got near the heart of it all. IL you
did. If YOU have seen things closer than
the rest of us, it's no marvel you forgot