Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18

WiihiuB MS 0enRht 10 the two Gale
children, who had come with Alluna to
welcome him.
who's dose beeg, toll people wa:
stan 1ongslde OF you, biiz Gale" he
called to her; then, shading his eyes
eMborately, he cried In a great voice
WAL, WAL, i blieve dat's M'sieu
Jenn an Mam'selle Mollee! Ba gar.
'I)ey get 30 bceg vile I'm gone l don
know dem no more!'
The youthful Gales wriggled at this
delicious finttcry und dug their tiny
moccnsined toes into the and.
Lieutenant Burrell had come with
the others. FOR the arrival Of a steam
boat called for the presence Of every
soul In camp. and, spying Necia in the
outskirts OF the crowd, he took his
place beside her. lie had lain awake
Tor hours thinking of her and had
fallen asleep with her still in his mind,
for b revelation OF her blood had
come as a shock to him.
He had sprung from a race Of slave.
holders, from Il land where birth and
breed are more than any other thing,
where a drop Of impure blood effects
an ineradicable stain. Therefore the
thought Of this girls ignoble parentage
was SO repugnant to him that the
more he pondered It the more pitiful
1t seemed, the more mOnstrous. Lyipr
awake and thinking Of her In the still
ness OF his quarters. 1t had seemed a
very unfortunate and q very terrible
thing. During his morning duties the
vision OF her had been fresh before
him again, and his constant contempla-
ton Of the matter had wrought a
change IN bis attitude toward the girl.
Of whicE he was uncomfortably con-
scious and which be was glad to see
she did not perceive.
The men were pouring Of the boat
now. and through the crowd came the
tall ~Frenchman, bearing in the hollow
Of each arm a child who clasped a bun.
die to its breast. His eyes grew bright
er at sight Of Necia, and he broke into
a food of patois. They fairly lombard.
cd each other with quick questions and
fragmentary till she remem-
',AnAh Aer. companion.
"Oh. | forgot my manners! Lieuten.
ant Burrell. this is Napoleon Doret-
u Poleon.' she added, with proud
emphasis.
Doret checked his volubility and
stared at the soldier. whom he o
ed to see for the first time. The little
brown people In his arms stared like
wise. and 1t seemed to Burrell that a
certain distrust was in each Of the
three pairs of eyes, only in those Of
the man there was no shyness. In
stead, the Canadian looked him over
gravely from head to heel. seeming to
note each point Of the unfamiliar at
tire; then he inquired without remev.
Ing his glance:
"W'ere'bouts you live, ehT"
Il live at the post yonder." said the
lieutenant.
wat bizness you work at?"
The lieutenant has been stationed
here, foolish" said Necia. Come up
to the store quick and tell me what
it's like at Dawson"
In spite of the mans ~unfriendliness,
Burrell watched him with admiration.
There were no heels TO his tufted fur
boots, and yet he stood a good six
rect two, as straight as a pine sap
ling. and 1t needed no second glance TO
tell Of what metal he was made. His
spirit showed In his whole body. in
the set Of his head and, above all, in
his dark. warm face, which glowed
with eagerness wheA he talked. and
that was ever-when he was not sing.
Ing.
II never see so many people since !
lef' Quebec he was saying. She's
JUS lax beeg city-mus' be tree, four
t'ousan' people. Every day some more
dey come. an all night dey dance an
sing an drink w'iskee. Ba gosh, OATS
fine place."
Are there lots of white women?"
asked the girl.
Eyes; two. tree hondred. Mos OF
dem is work in dance halls, Dcre's
one Hno gal l see. name Marie Bour-
gette. l tell you bout her by an by"
"Oh, Poleon, you're In love-" cried
Necin.
NO, Stree" he denied. "Dere's none
OF dem gal look half so purity lax you"
He would have said more: but, spying
the trnder at the entrance Of the store,
he went to him. straightway launching
Into the details of their commercial en-
terprise. which, happily, had been most
successful.
Among the merchandise Of the post
there were Tor sale a scanty assert
ment of firearms, cheap shotguns and
q winchester or two, displayed In a
behind tho counter in a mpnner
TO attract the eye Of such native hunt
ers rs might need them. and with the
rest hung a pair Of Colts revolvers.
Ono OF the new arrivals. who had sep
from the others at the front,
now called to Gale:
Are those Colts for sale? Mine was
stolen the other day." Evidently he
was accustomed to Yukon prices. for
showed no surprise at the figure the
RAIDER named. but took the guns and
ested each Of them. whsreupon the
ia man knew that here was no
~ tendsrfeet arc known
q the north. although the mans gsrb
lad deceived him at first glance. Tho .
tranger balanced the weapons, one IN
'ither hand; then hs did the double .
OIL neatly, following which he exe. i
uted a move that Gale had not wit ,
'essed Tor many years. He extended ,
no OF the guns, butt foremost, % IL ,
urrendering 1t, the action being free .