Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-10
!, THE
BARRIER,
BY =
BEACH
'cosyR,axrasoaexrA HARPER & eaorKEas

Nv A&SW SNS6AIuSFt9 49,
About 8 O'clock the next morning
faint and long drawn cry came from
the farthest limits of the little camp.
An instant later it was echoed closer,
and then dog began to howl. Before
Its voice had died away another took
1t up sadly, and within three breaths
from up and down the half mile of
scanty water front came the cry Of
"Steam-bo-o-a-t", Cabin doors opened
and men came out, glanced up the
stream and echoed the call, while from
sleepy hooks and sun warmed roofs
wolf dogs arose, yawning and stretch
ing.
Downstream came the faint signing
whoof-whoof Of a steamer, and then
out from behind the bend she burst
Her cabin deck was lined with passen-
gers, most of whom were bound for the
outside" although still clad in mack
NAV and overalls. They all gazed ST.
lently at the hundred men of Flan-
beau, who stared back at them till the
gangplank was placed, when they came
ashore to stretch their legs. One of
them, however, made sufficient noise
to make up for the silence of the 9TH
ers. Before the steamer had grounded
he appeared among the Siwash deck
hands, his head and shoulders tower
ing above them, his white teeth gleam-
Ing from a face as dark as theirs. shout
ing to his friends ashore and panto-
mining his delight to the two Gale
children, who had come with Alluna to
welcome him.
who's dose beeg, tall people, wat
STAN longside Of you. Miz CALEB" he
called to her; then, shading his eyes
deliberately, he cried in a great voice:
"Waal, waal, l b'lieve OATS M'sieu
Jean an Mam'selle Mollee Ba gar!
Dey get SO beeg Vile I'm gone don
know dem no more!"
The youthful Gales wriggled at this
delicious dattery and dug their tiny
moccasined toes into the sand.
Lieutenant Burrell had come with
the others; for the arrival Of a steam
boat called for the presence Of every
soul in camp, and, spying Necia in the
outskirts Of the crowd, he took his
place beside her. He had lain awake
!: for hours thinking Of her and had
fallen asleep with her still in his mind,
for the revelation Of her blood had
come as a shock to him.
i He had sprung from race of slave
holders. from a land where birth and
breed are more than any other thing,
where drop Of impure blood effects
an ineradicable stain. Therefore the
thought Of this girls ignoble parentage
was so repugnant to him that the
more he pondered 1t the more pitiful
, 1T seemed, the more monstroNs Lying
awake and thinking Of her in the still
ness of his quarters, it had seemed q
very unfortunate and a very terrible
thing. During his morning. duties the
vision Of her had been fresh before
him again, and his constant contempla-
ton Of the matter had wrought a
change in his attitude toward the girl,
of which he was uncomfortably con-
scious and which he was glad to see
she did not perceive.
The men were pouring of the boat
now, and through the crowd came the
tall Frenchman, bearing in the hollow
Of each arm child who clasped bun
die to its breast. His eyes grew bright
er at sight Of Necia, and he broke into
food Of patois. They fairly lombard
ed each other with quick questions and
fragmentary answers till she remem-
bered her companion.
"Oh, forgot my manners! Lieuten-
ant Burrell, this is Napoleon Doret-
our Poleonv' she added, with proud
emphasis.
Doret checked his volubility and
stared at the soldier, whom he appear
ed to see for the first time. The little
brown people In his arms stared like
wise, and it seemed to Burrell that q
certain distrust was in each of the
three pairs OF eyes, only in those of
the man there was no shyness. In
stead, the Canadian looked him over
gravely from head to heel, seeming to
note each point Of the unfamiliar at
tire; then he inquired without remov-
ing his glance:
Were bouts you live, eh?''
II live at the post yonder." said the
lieutenant.
"W'at bizness you work att"
'The lieutenant has been stationed
here, foolish" said Necia. "Come up
to the store quick and tell me what
it's like at Dawson"
In spite Of the mans unfriendliness,
Burrell watched him with admiration.
There were no heels to his tufted fur
boots, and yet he stood good six
feet two, as straight as a pine sap
ling, and 1t needed no second glance to
tell Of what metal he was made. His
spirit showed in his whole body, in
the set Of his head and, above all, in
i. his dark, warm face, which glowed
J with eagerness when he talked, and
that was ever-when he was not sing
ing.
), II never see SO many people since I
. lef' Quebec" he was saying. "She's
JUS lax beeg city-mus' be tree, four
tousan' people. Every day some more
dey come. an all night dey dance an
sing an drink w'iskee. Ba gosh, dat's
fine place"