The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-22
You feel It purity GOOD now. q.

". you feel It purity rood now. en-
w'at?" "a
"Yes-I-he struck me!' The remem-
brance Of what had occurred surged
over her, and she buried her face Il
her hands. "Oh, Poleon, Poleon! He
was a dreadful man."
"He dom trouble you, no more"
"He tried-he Ugh! I'm glad
you did ity' She broke down, trem-
bling at her escape, until her selfish
ness smote her, and she was up and
beside him on the instant. "Are you
hurt? Oh, I never thought Of that!
You must be wounded.
The Frenchman felt himself over and
looked down at his limbs for the first
time. mo: guess not" he said, at
which Necia noticed his meager attire,
and simultaneously he became con-
scious Of 1t. He fell away pace, cast
Ing his eyes over the river for his
canoe, which was now speck in the
distance.
"Ba gosh! I'm hi Of a ting for
lookin' at" lie said. "I'm paddle hard !;
dat's wy. Sacre. how ! sweatr' He
hitched nervously at the band Of his
overalls, while Necia answered.:
That's all right. Poleon" Then.
without warning. her face froze with
mingled repulsion and wonder. ''Look,
loOk!' she whispered, pointing past
him.
Runnion was moving slowly, crawl
ing painfully into sitting posture, up
lifting terribly mutilated face, dazed
and half conscious, cropping for posses
sion Of his wits. He saw them and
grimaced frightfully. covering and
cringing.
Poleon felt the girls hand upon his
arm and heard her crying in a hard,
sharp voice:
"He needs killing! Put him away!
He stared down at his gentle Necia
and saw the loathing in her face and
the look of strange ferocity as she
met his eyes boldly.
"You don't know what he-what he
did," she said through her shut teeth.
"He"- But the man waited to hear
no more
Runnion saw him coming and scram-
bled frantically to all fours, then got
on his feet and staggered down the
bar. AS Poleon overlook him he cried
out piteously. a shrill scream of terror,
and, falling to his knees, groveled and
debased himself like foul cripple at
fear Of the lash. His agony dispelled
the savage faint of Alluna's aboriginal
training in Necia, and the pure white
blood Of her ancestors cried out:
"Poleon, Poleon-not THAR She hur-
ued after him to where he paused above
the wretch waiting for her. you
mustn't she said THAT would be
murder, and-and-it's all over now"
The Frenchman looked at her won
deringly, not comprehending this sud
den leniency.
"Let him alone You've nearly kill
ed him. That's enough" Whereat
Runnion, broken in body and spirit.
began to beg for his life.
'W'at's dat you say JUS now?" Do
ret asked the girl "Was dat de truth
for sure wat you speak?"
Eyes, but you've done your work.
Don't touch him again"
He hesitated. and Runnion, quick to
observe it, added his entreaty to hers.
'T'm beaten, Doret. You broke me
to pieces. I need help-I-I'm hurt"
swat you spec 1 do wit 'im?" the
Canadian asked, and she answered:
II suppose Wen have to take him
where he can get assistance"
dat skiff ain carry all tree Of u.s."
''I'll stay here" groaned the fright
ened man. ''I'll wait for steamer to
pick me up, but for Gods sake don't
touch me again"
Poleon looked him over carefully and
made up his mind that the man was
more injured in spirit than in body,
for outside of his battered muscles he
showed no fatal symptoms. Although
the voyageur was slower to anger than
child, grudge never died In him,
and his simple, self taught creed knew
no forgiveness for such men as Run
nion cherished no mercy for proving
men or beasts. He glanced toward the
wooded shores a stones throw above,
lhen back at the coward he had beaten
ind whose life was forfeit under the
rode There was a queer light in his
yes. 7
sIeave him here Poleon. Wen go
away, you and l, in the tnoe, ard the
first boat will pick him up. Come"
Necia tugged at his wrist for fear she
might not prevail, but he was bent on
brushing away handful of hungry
mosquitoes which, warmed by the
growing day, had ventured out on the
river. His face became wrinkled and
set.
"Bienr' he grunted. I'VE lef' i'm
here because dere amt 'nough room
In de batteau, Ell? All right OATS
good ting. But he's seeck man, SO
mebbe feex 1t him nice place for stop
till dem boats come"
yes. yes. Leave me here. I'll make
it through all right" begged Runnion.
Better you camp yonder on de point,
Were you can see dose steamboat wen