Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-08

than rattlesnake."
Even II he knew, he might not
marry her. You at least are clean,
and that other man was devil. A
brave mans life is too great price to
pay for a grief that will die in n year.
Alluna was speaking swiftly In her
own language, her body tense, her
faco ablaze, and no man seeing her
could ever again have called her peo-
pie stolid.
you think time will cure love like
that?" he said.
Eyes, yesr'
"That's nil you know about 1t. Time
may act that way perhaps in cities and
such places but out In the hills 1t il
different. When you've got the breath
Of the forest in you, say 1t Is differ
ent. Time! why. I've lived fifteen
years in the open with living MEM
DRY. Every night I've dreamed it over;
every day I've lived it through. In ev-
cry campfire see face, and every
wind from the south brings a voice
to me. Every stormy night IL girl with
eyes like Necia's calls to me. and I
have to follow. Every patch of moon
light shows her smiling at me, just
beyond, just In the shadows edge.
Love. Tine. Why. Ailuna, love Is
the only thing in the world that never
dies, and time only makes 1t the more
enduring"
He took up the white SLOUGH hat he
had thrown down when he came in
and stepped to the door
"Whcre are you going?' inquired the
squaw fcarfully.
"To the barracks to give myself up"
She flung herself at him, with great
cry, and seized him about the waist
you never loved me- John, but I
have been a good woman to you. al
though knew you were always think
Ing OF her--and had no thought of me-
I have loved this girl because you
loved her have hated your enemies
because you hated them. and now
remember. while YOU forget"
Forget. What do you mean:"
STARK"
The man paused. 81 did almost for
get hiln-and after fifteen years"
LET us kill him tonight; then we
will 60 to the soldier together, side Ivy
side. I am your woman. Necia will
/ look after the little ones.
Gale stared at her. and as he gazed
the red pigment underneath her skin.
the straight hanging, manclike hair,
the geudy shawl she never went with.
out, the shapeless, skin shod feet. the
slovenly. Ill fitting garb Of miscast
woman vanished and he saw her as
she was on a day long past. a slim,
shy, silent creature. with great. watch
full, trusting eyes and a soul unspoiled.
No woman had ever been so loyal. so
uncomplaining. He had robbed her of
her people and her gods. He had
shifted hither and yon at the call Of
his uncertain fortune or at sign Of
that lurking fear that always logged
him, and she had never left his side,
never questioned. never doubted, but
always served him like a slave. with
out asking fer q part in that other
love. without sharing In the caresses
he had consecrated to a woman she
had never seen.
by heaven. you're game, Alluna.
but there's n limit even to what can
take from you" he said at last. II
don't ever seem to have noticed il be
fore. but there is. No. I've got to do
this thing alone tonight. all Of it, for
you have no place in it, and I can't lot
the little girl go on like this. The
sooner that soldier knows the better"
brown mouth with his griZZled lips.
THANK you, Alluna, for making Il man
Of me when I'd nearly forgotten. Now,
you stay here" He knew he could
count on her obedience, and so he left
her. When he had gone she drew the
shawl up over her face and crouched
in the doorway. straining her eyes aft
er him through the dark. In time she
began to rock and sway and then to
/ chant until the night moaned with the
death song of her people.
/ Necia had no idea whittier she went
( Her only thought was to flee from her
: kin. who could not understand; to hide
under cover in some solitary place; to
let the darkness swallow her up, SO
that she might give way to her grief
and be Just poor weak woman. On
she stumbled blindly through the murk
! like some fair creature Of light cast
out and banished
! She had not succeeded in thoroughly
| isolating herself, however, for ma I
who was steering his course by the
sense of feel and the winds direction
heard her and paused. His steps were
mulIled IN the soft footing, SO that
she had no warning of his presence
until he was near enough to distin-
guish her dimly where she leaned
against the log wall of a half complet
ed cabin.
10 his question, What's the trouble
here?" she made no answer, but moved
away, whereupon he detained her
There's something wrong. Who are
you anyhow
ITS only Necla, Mr.. Stark" said
the girl at which he advanced and
took her by the arm.
What alls you, child? What IN the
world are you doing here? Come
It's only step to my cabin. You
must come In and rest awhile, and
you'll soon be all right. Why, you'll
break your neck in this darkness"
She hung back but he compelled her
to 60 with him in spite of her unwill-