The Holly chieftain., 1909-03-12

Don't you dare open it, cried Ne
cia. why that's half the fun She
was child herself now. her face
flushed and her hands a-trembie Tak.
Ing tlie package 10 the table. she hur
riedly united the knots while he stood
watching her. his teeth showing white
against his dark face and his eyes half
shut M II daxxled by the sight of her
'Oh. Why didn't you tie more knots
in it," sbe breathed as she uudId th..
last. and then. opening the wrappings
slowly. she gasHed In astonIshment
She shook 1t out gently. reverently. a
clinging black lace gown of Paris
make. Next she opened a box and
took from 1t 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 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 hushed, awe
stricken voice:
ITS all there. everything complete!
Oh. POle0n-yOu dear. dear Poleon!"
She took his two big hands by the
thumbs. as had been her custom ever
since she was 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.
''YOn lax 1t. eh?' pressed Poleon. hun
CRY for more demonstrative expression
"Oh-hr she sighed Where on earth
did you get 1t? Why. 1t must have
cost f0rtune-'
IVAN night I gamble In beeg saloon.
Yes. sir! gamble good dat night too.
For vile play roulette den dance,
den play some more, an by an by
see new dance gal. She's. Franche
gal, from Montreal. OATS. de one
toI you bout. Ba gar. she's swell
dress too. She's name Marie Bour-
gette"
''Oh. I've heard about her." said Ne
ella. 'She owns a claim on Bonanza
creek" =;
Sure she's frien's wit Charlie Nc
Cormack. dat richie feller. but l dom
know 1t dis tam. SO / ask her for
dance wit me- Den we drink bottle
Of champagne-twenty dollar.
'Mamselle,' say. how much you
charge for sell me dat dress?'
"-For Wv shall sell i'm! she say.
I DON wear i'm before till tonight. an
! dom get no more dress LAX dis for
t'ousan' dollar"
Necia exclaimed excitedH.
For wy you sell i'm? l say. Bic
cause I'll tax i'm down to Flambeau
for Necia Gale. wat never had no
dress lax dat In all her life Waal.
sir, dat Marie Bourgette she's hear of
you before. an your dad, too-mos' all
dose Cheechakos know bout Old Man
Gaie-so she say:
Wat lookin' kind Of gal Is dis Ne
ciar An ] tell her all bout you. Wen
I'm trough she say:
"'But maybe your little frien' II
more bigger as ! am Maybe de dress
won't 6t'
'Ha, you don know me. mamselle!
l say I can guess de weight Of car
ibou to Ave 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 can trade i'm for
gOr mine on El Dorado creek to some
dose Swede wat want to. catch gal.
but I'm goin' sell I'm to you for tree
hondred dollar. JUS wat pay for i'm.
You wait here etill come back
No. no. Mamselle Marie. I'll go
long. too. for so you dom change your
min ! say An ! stan outside her
door till she pass me de whole works.
Don't forget de little Shoes say.
an dat's how 1t come"
"And you paid $500 for it!" Necia
said. aghast. The Canadian shrugged.
'Only for de good heart of Marie
Bourgette / pay wan t'ousan'." said
he. II max seven hOndred dollar clean
profit"
1T was very nice OF both OF you. but
Il can't wear 1t. I've never seen q
dress like 1t except in pictures. and
couldn't She saw his face fall and
said impuisively:
''I'il wear It once anyhow. Poleon.
Just for you Go away quick now and
let me put ii on"
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