Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-29
THE
BARRIER
BY Rex Beach
CHAPTER XIX.
THE CALI. OF THE OREADS.
Copyright, 1908. by Harper & Brothers


G hold Of John Gale this after
noon. Molly and Johnny were
In the throes of an overwhelming sor-
row the noise of which might be heard
from the barracks to the Indian vii
age. They were sparlng Of tears, as
n rule, but when they did give way to
woe they published It abroad, yelling
puckered up, their mouths distended
into squares, from which came such
n measure Of sound as to rack the ears
and burden the air heavily with sad
ness. Poleon was going away-their
own particular Poleon. They had
found the French Canadian at the riv
err with their father loading his canoe,
and they had asked him whittier he
Jared. When the meaning OF his
words struck home they looked ut each
other in dismay; then, bred as they
were to masl; emotion, they Joined
hands and trudged silently back up the
bank with filing eyes and chns
n-quiver until they gained the rear Of
the house. Here they sat down all for
lorn and began to weep bitterly and in
an ascending crescendo.
"What's the matter with you tikes,
anyhow" inquired the lieutenant He
had always filed them with speech
! less awe. lie was q nice man, they
/ had both agreed long ago, and very
splendid to the eye, but he was moth
ing like Poleon who was one of them,
only somewhat bigger
Come, now, Tell me all about it."
the soldier insisted. Has something
happencd to the three legged puppy 2"
Molly de,saa the occurrence Of any
such catastrophe.
Then you've lost the little shiny rife
that shoots with air?" But johnny
dispelled this horrible suspicion by
drawing the formidable weapon out
OF the grass behind him.
well. there isn't anything else bad
enough to cause all this outlay of an
Guiah Can't help you out?"
"Poleon's goin' away" said Johnny.
"Now. that's too bad. Of course" the
young man assentcd. But think what
nice things he'll bring you when he
comes back"
"IIe amt comm hack!" walled the
little sirl and. being woman. yielded
again to her weak ness. unasha AIMED.
Rurrcll tried to extract IA more de-
tailed explanation. but this was as far
as their knowledge ran. SO he sought
out the Canadian and found him with
I Gale in the store, scanty pile OF food
and ammunition on the counter be.
tween them.
"Poleon," said he, you're not going
away"
Yes" said Doret. I'm takin' III
trip"
"Oh. but you can't" cried Burrell
"I-I'- He paused awk wardly. while
, down the breeze came the lament OF
!. the two little Gales. well, | feel just
as they do" He motioned In the di
1 rection of the sound. II wanted yor
> for friend. Doret. l hate 10 lose
-. You"
81 ain never got my satisfy yet, sc
I'm pass on-all de tam pass on
Mebbc dis trip fin de place"
q I'm sorry-becaust-well. I'm a self
o ish sort of cuss-and"--- Burrell pulled
r up blushngly, with tt strong mans dis
Q play of shame at his own emotion. g
owe all my happiness to you, Old man
= | can't thank you-neither OF uS can
), We shall never live long enough TO
Z that. But you mustn't 20 without know
' ing that feel more than III ever hav,
? words to say"
= He was making it very hard for tn
already with dull, amending pain
And then, as IL he We're not tried suttl
, ciently, the girl herself came tying IN
4 whats this hear" she cried. al
. tuna tells me- She saw tire tclltal
= pile on the counter, and her face grew
, white. Then it's true! Oh, Poleon.'
He smiled and spoke cheerily, Yes
been tinkin' bout dis trip iong tam.
:, It's the wanderlust." nurmurc
. Burrel to himself. Hell never rest.
What a child you are." cried NeciS
O half angrily. Cant you conquer tina
n rowing spirit and settle down like
= MANI" She laid her hand on his arr
l. appealingly. Haven't told you ther
= isn't any far countryT"
=. lie laughed aloud. for all the worl
rs if the sun were bright and the fire
= for adventure were still keen in hin
d then, picking up his bundle, said.
"Deres no use argue wit Canaye
t man. Mebbe some day | come paC
- die back roun' de ben down yonde
!, an you hear me singin' dose chansol
~. But now de day she's too fine de rive
w she's laugh too loud. an de birds she
At sing too purity for Frencheman to sto
on shore. Ia gosh. I'm gad." II
ID began to hum. and they heard hi
e singing all the way down to the rive
e. bank as if the spirit of youth an
= hope and gladness were not dea
~ within him:
$. "Chante rossisnol. chantol
IN TOT qui q lie occur gal,
A., Tu as lie occur n rire
Mai J. / alta pleurer.
II n lOngtemps que j talra
~ Jamaise 10 lac tOublierai"
~, ["S.ng little bird; oh. sing away.
- You with the voice so light and gay!
a' Yours Is q heart that laughter cheer
N Mine Is a heart that's fun of tears.
So Long have loved; | love her yet
a. Leave her can. but not forset."l
e A moment later they heard him e
~ postulatng with some one at the W
ter's edse. and then chllds treb
rose on high