Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-30

II know vcry little Of law outside Of
the church." the father observed; but
as | understand it, If she marries he
fore he fOrbids her the law will hold
him pOwerless. Now, be has never
made himself known to her, he has
never forbidden her anything, and, al
though my conclusion may not be cor
rect, believe it is, and you have a
chance II you make haste. At your
age. my boy, never needed spur"
"A spur: Good Lord. I'm from
Kentucky"
Once she is yours before God your
hold will be stronger in the eyes Of
men. If am wrong and he takes her
from you--weil, may some other priest
rewed you two. shan't."
Don't worry" laughed Burrell,
ablaze at the thought. You're the
only preacher who'll kiss my bride,
for I'm u jealous man, and all the
Starks and all the fathers in the world
went get her away from me. Do you
think she'll do it,"
"A woman in love will do anything"
Burrel seized the little man by the
hand. IF had known more law you
needn't have given me this hint"
Together they went into the traders
house
Back in the store there was silence
after the priest and the soldier went
10 nl.n .,f lo CT
This forgiveness talk il all right, l
suppose, but Iw2nt Rdnnion."
We'll git him, too" growled Lee, at
which Poleon uttered curt exclama-
ton:
"Now
"Why notT said the miner.
WAL" the Canadian drawled slow
ly, then paused to light the cigarette
he had rolled In bit of wrapping pa
per- inhaled the smoke deeply to the
bottom Of his lungs, held 1t there q
moment and blew it out through mouth
and nostrils before adding, you'll JUS
be wastin' tam"
Gale looked up from beneath his
thatch Of brow and asked quietly:
"Why?"
'You member story / toll You wan
day two, tree mont ago" Poleon re-
marked. with apparent evasion, "'bout
Johnny Plat wat ketch on de Por-
cupine all ct up by skeeter bugs?"
Il do" answered Gale.
"Waal"-he met their eyes square
ly. then drew another long breath
from his cigarette-T'm JUS hopin'
nobody don pick 1t up dis Runnlon
Teller de same way. Mebbe dey fin
bees hans tie benin i'm wit piece OF
hees shirt"
Good Godv cried the trader, start
ing to his feet "You--you"-
"Of course I'm JUS s'posin'. He was
feel purity good wen I lef'. He was
feel so good l tax hees coat for keep,
In off dem bugs from me, because
lef' it my own shirt on de canoe. Hes
nice Teller dat way. He give up easy.
Ba gosh, l never see worse place for
skeeters!"
Gale fell silent, and "No Creek" Lee
began to swear in little, useless, tnef-
fective oaths, which were but two
ways of showing similar emotions.
Then the former stepped up and laid
big hand upon Poleon's shoulder.
"That saves US quite trip" he said.
Father Barnum found the three still
talking in the store when he had fin
ished an hours counsel with Necia, so
came straight to the point. was
work that delighted his SOUL he
loved the girl and had formed png
admiration for Burrell.
The priest returned to Necia after
giving directions about the wedding,
leaving the trader and Poleon alone.
81 s'pose it's BEST" said the former.
Eyes"
"Beats the deuce, though. how
things work out, don't it?"
I'm glad for see dis day." said the
Frenchman. Hes good man, an he
ain never goin' to hurt her none"
He paused. "Dere's JUS wan ting
want for ask 1t of you, John. You
member dat day we stop on de birch
grove an you spik bout her an toP
me dose story bout her moder. WAL.
| was dreamin' dat tam, so I'm goin'
ask it you now dom never tell her
wat said"
Doesn't she know, my boy?"
mo. | ain never spoke bout love.
She thinks I'm BREEDER wit her, an
OATS wat am. ba gar! He could
not hold his voice event. broke with
him-but he avoided the old mans
gaze. Gale took him by the shoulders.
There amt nothing so cruel in the
world as gentlewoman," said he,
but she wouldn't hurt you for all the
world. Poleon; only the blaze Of THU
other thing has blinded her. She can't
see nothing for the light Of this new
love of hers"
! 81 know! OATS w'y-nobody onder-
STAINS but you an me-"
Gale looked out through the open
door, past the sunit river which came
from a land of mystery and vanished
into a valley of forgetfulness, past the
forest and the hills, in his deep set
eyes the light of wondrous love that
had lived with him these many weary
years, and said:
Nobody else can understand but
me. know how it is. had even
harder thing to bear. for you'll know
she's happy at least, while r. His
voice trembled, but after a pause he
continued "They neither Of them un-
darntnnd xrhat rn1,ua done for them