Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-05-26

NAoNV thC NoyaESuk anu SOulCul uu
bois from Quebec to Vancouver and
from the Mississippi to Hudson bay.
The wanderlust was their heritage,
and they pushed on and on without
rest, like the salmon in the spring, but
they were different in this-that they
never came back to die
There was look Of great tenderness
III his eyes as lie bent toward her and
searched her face, but she was not
thinking of him, and Mt length he con-
tinued:
"Fader Barnum he's goin' be here
mex Sonday for cheer up dem Injun.
Constantine she's got &c letter."
"Do you KNOW" said Necia wistfully,
1--WE always wanted him to marry
me-"
You tinlsin' bout marry on some
Teller, eh?" said the other, with an odd
grin. "Waal, wy not? He'll be here all
day an night. S'pose you do it. Mos
anybody wat aim got some wife al
ready will be glad for marry on you,
an mebbe some Teller wat has got
wife too! If you dom lax dem an If
you're goin' marry ON somebody you
can be wife to me-"
Necia laughed lightly. 81 believe
you would marry me IL I wanted you
to. You've done everything else I've
ever asked. But you needn't be afraid
l won't take you up" In all her life
this man had never spoken Of love to
her, and she had no hint Of the dream
he cherished.
While they were talking boat
had drawn inshore and made fas
to the bank in front Of them. Ar
Indian landed and, approaching, enter
cd into talk with the Frenchman.
By and by Poleon turned to the cir
and said:
"Dere's hondred marten skin com,
in. You min de store vile l max
trade wit dis man."
Together the two went down to thu
boat, leaving Necia behind, and no
long after Runnion sauntered up to thu
store and addressed her Familiarity.
Hello, Necia! l just heard about
the strike on your claim. That's fine
and dandy"
She acknowledged his congratula
lions CURLY, for, although 1t was Gus
tomary for most of the old timers tc
call her by her Christian name, she re-
sented it from this man. She chose to
let 1t pass, however.
II had some good news last night
myself" he continued. zone of my
men has hit some good dirt, and well
know what 1t means in a day or SO
I'll gamble were into the money big
though, for always was lucky cuss
Say, where's your father?" =
Hes out at the mine"
We've used up all Of our bar sugar
at the saloon. and want to buy what
you've got"
very well; III get 1t for you.''
He followed her inside, watching hel
graceful movements and attempting
with his free and easy insolence, tc
make friendly advances; but seeing
that she refused to notice him, he be
came piqued and grew holder.
Look here, Necia; you're mighty
pretty girl. I've had my eye on yor
ever since landed, and the moreI SEE
of you the better like you" ~
at isn't necessary to tell me that
she replied. "The price of sugar vii
be just the same.''
yes. and you're brip''t loo." he de
clared. "That's what L like in wo
man-good looks and brains. l believ,
in strong methods and straight talk
too--none of this serenading and moon
light mush for me. When see cir
like go and get her. That's me-
make love like man ought to-"
The girl laughed derisively In hi.
face.
"Now, don't get sore. mean bust
ness. I'm no soft talking southernel
with gold. buttons and highfalutir
ways. l don't care if you are squaw
I'll take you"
Don't talk to mel" she cried in dis
gust. her voice hot with anger and re
sentiment.
But he continued. unheeding: Now
cut out these airs and get down tc
cases. L mean what l say. l know
you've been casting sleeps eyes at Bur
rcll; but. Lord. he wouldn't have you
no matter how rich you get! OF course
you acted careless in going off alone
with him. but don't mind what
they're saying around camp, for I've
made little slips like that myself, and
we'd get along"
"1'll have you killed." she Kissed
through her clinched teeth, while he,
whole body vibrated with passion
"I'll call Poleon and have him shoo
your! She pointed to the river bank {
hundred yards away, where the Cana
dian was busy asserting skins.
But he only laughed at her show OF
temper and shrugged his shoulders as
he answered her roughly:
Understand me, I'm on the square
So think it over and don't go up in the
air like IL skyrocket"
She cried cut at him "Go-go-go!'
and finally he took up his bundle, say.
ing as he stepped out slowly:
"All right! But I'm coming back,
and you'll have to listen to me. ! don't
mind being called squaw man.
You're pretty near white, ana you're
good enough for me. I'll treat you
right. Why. Ill even marry you if
you're dead set on it. Surc!"
She could scarcely breathe, but
checked her first inclination to call
Poleon, knowing that 1t needed only Il
word from her to set that nut brown
savage gt Runnion's throat. Other
thoughts began to crowd her brain and
to stifie her. The fellows words had
stabbed her consciousness and done
something for her that gentler means
would not have accomplished. They
had opened her eyes to thing that
she had forgotten-a hideous thing
that bad reared It's fan-s once before
to strike, but that her dreams of hap
piness had driven cut of her Eden.
All ut once she saw the wrong that
had been done her and realized from
this brute's insult that those early
fears had been well grounded. 1t sud
denly occurred TO her that in all the
hours she had spent with her lover.
in all those unSnnuI,Dlhv cwnot and