Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01


cryin' to me ever since I'm little hoy.
It's place were dom get too hot on
dc summer nm too col on de winter;
It's place were birds sing an flowers
blossom an de sun shine an were I
can sleep widout drcamin' bout It oil
de tam"
"Why, It's the land Of content You'll
mover discover It by travel. I'll tell
you secret, Poleon I've found it
yes, have. 1t lies here" She laid her
hand on her breast "Tather Barnum
told mo the story Of your people and
how 1t lives in your blood-that hun
ger to find the far places It's what
drove the voyageur and coureur du
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
in his eyes as he bent toward her and
searched her face, but she was not
thinking Of him, and at length he con-
tinucd:
"Fader Barnum he's Eoin' be here
rcx' Sondny for cheer mp dem Injrn.
Constantine she's got dc letter"
40 You know" said Necia wistfully,
"I've always wanted him to marry
me-"
You t'inkin' bout marry on some
Teller, ohI' said the other. with an odd
grin "NVaal. wy not? He'll be here all
day an night. S'pose you do 1t. Mos
anybody wat ain 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. II believe
you would marry me If / wanted you
to. You've done every thing else I've
ever asked. But you needn't be afraid
won't take you up" In ali her life
her. and she had no hint of the dream
he cherished.
While they were talking n boat
had drawn inshore and made fast
to the bank in front OF them. An
Indian landed and, approaching, enter
ed into talk with the Frenchman.
Ry and by Poleon turned TO the girl
ana said:
"Dere's hondred martcn skin come
IN. You min dc store vile | max
trade Wit dis man
Together the two went down to the
boat, leaving Necia behind, and not
long after RuAnion snuntered up to the
store and addressed her Familiarity.
Il illo, Necia. | Just heard about
the -'rille on your claim. That's fine
and dandy"
She acknowledged his congratula-
tons cIrtly, for, although 1t was Gus
tomary for most of the old timers to
call her by her Christian name, she re-
/ scented it from this man. She chose to
/ let 1t pass. however.
Il had some good news last night
myself" he continued "One OF my
/ men has hit some good dirt, and wen
know what it means In n day or SO.
y
though, for always was lucky cuss.
Say, where's yoIr father"
Hes out at the mine"
"We'ye used UP all Of our bar sugar
at the saloon, and want to buy what
you've GOT
every WE'LL I'll get 1t for you"
He followed her inside, watching heI
, I'll at TN,
With his free and easy insolence, tC
Shake friendly advances; but seeing
that she refused to notice him. he be
came piqued and grew holder.
Look here, Necia; you're a mighty
rretty girl. I've had my eye on you
ever since landed, and the more I see
Of YOU the better like YOU
at Isn't necessary to tell me that,
she replied. The price Of sugar will
pa lust the same
Yes. and you're bright, too" he de
clared. That's what | like in wo
man-good looks and brains. I believ,
IN strong methods and straight talk
too-none oe this serenading and moon
light mush for me. When l see cir
like SO and get her. That's me.
make love like man ought to-
The girl laughed derisively in hi
face
Nov, don't get sore. / mean bust
ness. I'm no soft talking southerne
with gold buttons and highfalutil
ways don't care if you are sQuaw
III 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 t.
cases. | mean what l say. | know
you've been casting sleeps eyes at Bur
rell: but. Lord. he wouldn't have you
no matter how rich you get. OF coucs
you acted careless in going of alon
with him. but l don't mind wha
they're saying around camp, for w
made little slips like that myself. ant
we'd get along"
"I'll have you killed." she hisse'
through her clinched teeth, while he
whole body vibrated with passion
"I'll call Poleon and have him shoe
you!' She pointed to the river bank
hundred yards away, where the Cana
dian was busy asserting skins.
But he only laughed at her show O
temper and shrugged his shoulders a
he answered her roughly:
Understand me, I'm on the square