Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-06-11

WIFI MS Tree ana easy lnS0ence, 10
make friendly advances; but, seeing
that she refused to notice him, he be-
came piqued and grew holder.
Look here, Necia; you're a mighty
pretty girl. I've had my eye on you
ever since landed, and the more see
Of you the better like you"
ut isn't necessary to tell me that"
she replied. ''The price Of sugar will
be just the same"
Yes, and you're bright, too" he de-
clared. That's what l like In wo-
man-good looks and brains. believe
in strong methods and straight talk,
too-none Of this serenadlng and moon
light mush for me- When | see a girl
l like | go and get her. That's me.
make love like man ought to-"
The girl laughed derisiyely In his
face.
"Now, don't get sore. l mean bust
ness. I'm no soft talking southerner
with gold buttons and highfalutin
ways. | 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 10
cases. l mean what | say. l know
you've been casting sleeps eyes at Bur-
rell: but, Lord, he wouldn't have you.
no matter how rich you get! NOf course
you acted careless in going off alone
with him, but l don't mind what
they're saying around camp, for I've
made little slips like that myself, and
we'd get along"
"Ill have you killed" she Kissed
through her clinched teeth, while hei
whole body vibrated with passion.
"Ill call Poleon and have him shoot
you!" She pointed to the river bank a
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
ne answered. Her IOllSuly.
Understand me, rm on the square.
So think it over and don't go up in the
air like a skyrocket."
She cried out 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. l don't
mind being called squaw man.
You're pretty near white, and you're
good enough for me. I'll treat you
right Why, I'll even marry you If
you're dead set on it. Sure"
She could scarcely breathe, but
checked her first inclination to call
Poleon, knowing that it needed only a
word from her to set that nut brown
savage at Runnion's throat Other
thoughts began to crowd her brain and
to sti1e 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 had reared its fangs once before
to strike, but that her dreams of hap
pineSs had driven out Of her Eden.
All at 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 unspeakably sweet and
intimate hours, there had never been
one word of marriage. He had looked
into her eyes and vowed he could not
live without her, and yet he had never
said the words he should have said.
the words that would bind her to him.
His arms and his lips had comfortcd
her and stilled her fears; but, after all,
he had merely made love. A cold fear
crept over the girl. She recalled the
old corporals words of few weeks
ago, ard her conversation with STARK
came back to her. What if II were
true-that which Runnion implied!
What if lie did not intehu 10 ASK ner
after all? What if he had only been
amusing himself? She cried out sharp
" nj this, and when Doret staggered
in beneath a great load Of skins he
found her in a strange excitement.
When he had finished his accounting
with the Indian and dismissed him
she turned an agitated face to the
Frenchman.
"Poleon," she said, I'm in trouble.
Oh. I'm in such awful trouble!"
"Tts dat Runnion, I seen i'm pass
on de store vile I'm down below"
His brows knit in black scowl, and
his voice slid off a pitch in tone
wat he say, eh?"
"No, no; it's not that. He paid me
great compliment" She laughed
harshly. why, lie asked me to marry
him" The man beside her cursed at
this. but she continued: Don't blame
him for liking me. I'm the only wo
man for 800 miles around-or / wa:
until this crowd came-so how could
lie help himself? No; he merely
showed me what a fool Pve been"
81 guess you better tell me all bout
dis ting said poIcon grayely. You
Know I'm all tam ready for help you,
Necia. Wen you WAS little Teller an
got bust your finger you run to me
uueeck, en- fecX H."
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