Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-19
CONTINUATION OF CHAP. XVIII
Rnnninn Finds the SINGING People.
Illustrated by Denman Fink.

was never or SUFFICIENT Importance &c
draw a crowd to the river bank so the
impatient men at the post relaxed inter-
est in her as she came creeping up
abreast of the town.
1t was little Johnny Gale who first saw
Necia and Poleon on board, for he had
recognized Father Barnum's craft at a
distance. and stationed himself at the
bank hand-in-hand with Molly to bid
the good, kind old man welcome.
The men inside the house did not hear
the boy crying Necia's name, for his
voice was small. and they had gone to the
rear of the store.
Understand You leave Runnion to me-
Burrer was saying. mo man shall lay
hands on him except me" His voice
trafled away; he rose slowly to his feet,
a strange light on his face. The others
turned to see what sight had drawn his
eyes. In the opening, all splendid with
golden sunlight, stood Necia and Poleon
Doret, who had her by the hand-and she
was smilingl
Gale uttered a great cry and went to
meet them, but the soldier could move
nothing save his lips, and stood dazed
and disbelieving. He saw them dimly
coming towards him, and heard Poleon's
voice as If at a great distance, saw that
the Frenchman's eyes were upon him,
and that his words were directed to him
IT bring her back to you, M'sieu!"
Doret laid Necia's hand in that of her
lover, and Burrell saw her smiling shyly
up at him. Something gripped him chok-
ingly, and he could utter no sound. There
was nothing to say-she was here, safe
smiling, that was all. And the girl, be-
holding the glory in his eyes, under
stood.
Gale caught her away from him then,
and buried her in his arms.
A woman came running into the store,
and, seeing the group, paused at the
door-a shapeless, silent, shawled figure
| in silhouette against the day. The trader
brought the girl to her foster-mother,
who began to talk in her own tongue
with a rapidity none Of them had ever
heard before, her voice as tender as
some wild birds song; then the two wo-
men went away together around the
store into the house. Poleon had told Ne
cha all the amazing story that had come
to him that direful night, all that he
had heard, all that he knew. and much
/ that he guessed.
| The priest came into the store shortly,
and the men fell upon him for informa-
ton, for nothing was to be gained from
| Poleon, who seemed strangely tagged and
weary, and who had said but little.
Eyes, yes, yesi" laughed Father Bar
num- "I'll tell you all I know, of course,
but first I must meet Lieutenant Burrell
and take him by the hand
( The story did not lose in his telling,
particularly when he came to describe
the fight on the gravel bar which no
man had seen, and of which Poleon had
told him little; but the good priest was
| of a militant turn, and his blue eyes
| glttered and flashed like an old crusad-
| er's.
''It was a wondrous combat" he decIar-
ed, with all the spirit of a spectator; "for
Poleon advanced barehanded and beat
him down even as the man fired into his
| face 1t is due to the goodness and
mercy OF God that he was spared a sin
gle wound from this desperado-a miracle
tvouchsafed because of his clean heart and
his righteous cause.
But where is Runnion?" broke in Bur-
rell.
Nursing his injuries at some wood
cutters camp, no doubt; but God be
praised for that double spirit of generos-
ity and forgiveness which prompted our
| Poleon to spare the wretch. No finer
thing have 1 known in AN my life, Doret,
even though you have ever been an UNI
| godly fellow"
The Frenchman moved uneasily.
| wal, dom know; he ain fight so
dam hard"
You couldn't find no trace of him?"
said Lee.
mo trace whatever" Father Barnum
| replied: but he will surely reach some
place of refuge where we can pick him
/ up, for the days are still mild and the
woods full of berries, and, as you
know, the streams overflow with salmon,
/ which he can kill with a stick. Why,
a man might live a fortnight without
| inconvenience!
I'll be on the lookout for him." said
| the lieutenant, grimly Tonight I'll
| send Thomas and a couple Of men down
| the river"
When the voIubIe old priest had at
! last exhausted his narrative he request
| ed Of Burrell the privilege If a few
words, and drew him apart from the
others. His face was shrewdly wrinkled
and warm with understanding.
AZ had a long conversation with my
little girl, for she is like a daughter
to me, and I discovered the depth Of
are worthy of her?'
do you love her as much as you
! shouldT'
las much as 1 can. They don't make
words or numbers big enough to tell
you how dear she is to me-"
I Then why delay? Tomorrow 1 leave
| again, and one never knows what day
| may bring forth%
But Stark the young man cried.
| He's her father, you know; he's like
mailman, and she's still under age"
IT know very little of law outside OF
the church." the father observed, 'but,
as understand it, If she marrtes before
he forbids her, the law will hold him