The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-10-24

"YHEN the steamer had gone
WV Napoleon Doret went TO look
for Necia and found her
playing with the younger
Gales, who reveled in the gifts he had
brought. Never had there been such
gorgeous presents for little folks.
The elder girl laughed gladly as Po-
leon entered. though her eyes were wet
with the pity of it.
you seem to bring sunshine wher-
ever you CO." she said. "They have
never had things to play with like
other children, and 1t makes me cry to
watch them"
"Ho, no." he chuckled. dis ain no
time for cryin', ba gosh! l guess you
don have so much present WEI you
was liz gal ~you'se'f, wat? Mebbe
you t'ink I forget you. WAL, l didn't"
He began to undo the fastenings Of
a parcel he carried in his arms.
Don't you dare open it" cried Ne
ella. why, that's half the fun" She
was n child herself now. her face
flushed md her hands a-tremble. TAX
ing the package to the table. b bur.
riedly united the knots while he stood
watching her, his teeth showing white
against his dark face and his eyes half
shut as If dazzled by the sight of her.
ooh. why didn't you tie more knots
In IT." she breathed as she undid the
last, and then, opening the wrappings
slowly, she gasped in establishment.
She shook it out gently, reverently, n
clinging black lace gown of Paris
make. Next she opened n box and
took from 1t n picture hat with long
Jet plumes. which she stroked and
pressed fondly against her face. There
were other garments also-a silken
petticoat, silk stockings and a pair Of
high heeled shoes to match. with GER
tain other delicate and dainty things
which she modestly forbore to inspect
before the Frenchman, who said no
word. but only gazed at her. and for
whom she had no eyes as yet. Finally
she laid her presents aside and. turn
Ing to him, said IN a hushed, awe
stricken voice:
TITS all there, everything complete!
Oh, Pole0n-you dear. dear Poleon!'
She took his w big hands by the
thumbs, as had been her custom ever
since she was Il child. and looked up
at him, her eyes wet with emotion.
But she could not keep away from the
dress for long and returned TO feast
her eyes upon 1t.
"You lax 1t, ehy" pressed Poleon. hun
CRY for more demonstrative expression.
snI, n -, ehn c;Dhnl ssNNknra az. n arfI,
did you get 1t? Why, 1t must have
cost a fortune!'
EVAN night l gamble in beeg saloon.
Yes, sir! l gamble good dat night too.
For vile l play roulette, den I dance,
den l play some more, an by an by /
see a new dance gal. She's Franche
gal, from Montreal. OATS de one ]
tol' you bout. Ba gar, she's swell
dress too. She's name Marie Bour-
gette." 7
"Oh, I've heard about her" said Ne
ella. "She owns n claim on Bonanza
creek"
"Sure, she's frien's Wit Charlie Nc
Cormack, dat richie Teller. but I dom
know 1t dis tam, SO l ask her for
dance wit me. Den we drink a bottle
of champagne-twenty dollar.
"'Marhse1fe,' l say, how much you
charge for sell me dat dressT
"'For wy shall l sell 'im?' she say.
L dom wear I'm before till tonight, an
dom get no more dress lax dis for
t'ousan' dollar"
Necia exclaimed excitedly.
"eFor wy you sell Imp l say. Bic
cause I'll TAX i'm down to F1ambeau
for Necia Gale. wat never had no
dress lax dat in all her life WAL.
sir, dat Marie Bourgette she's hear Of
you before. an your dad, too-mos' all
dose Cheechakos know bout Old Man
Gale-so she say:
"'W'at lookin' kind Of gal is dis Ne
cia 2 An I tell her all bout you. Wen
I'm trough she say:
but maybe your little frien' is
more bigger as l am. Maybe de dress
won't fit
cha, you dom know me, mamselle!
say. 4 can guess de weight Of a car
ibou to five poun'. She'll be same size
la kin one inch roun' de wais'.'
"'Poleon Doret,' she say you ain
no Franchemans to talk lax dat. Look
here! / can sell dis dress for t'ousan'
dollar tonight, or l can trade I'm for
gor mine On Ell Dorado creek to some
dose Swede wat want to catch a gal,
but I'm goin' sell i'm to you for tree
hondred dollar, JUS wat I pay for i'm.
You wait here till I come back
"'No, no, Mamselle Marie, I'll go
long, too, for SO you dom change your
min',' 1 say. An I STAN outside her
door till she pass me d. whole works