Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-12
Illustrated By
Dsnman Fink
CONTINUATION OF
CHAPTER XI Where the Path Lee

But he only laughed at her snow OF
temper, and shrugged his shoulders as
he answered her. roughly;
Understand me. I am on the square.
So think II over, and don't so up IN inc
air like a sky-rocket."
She cried out at him to "Go-go-go"
and finally he took his bundle, saying.
as he stepped out slowly:
IAN right! But I'm coming back, ana
you'll have TO listen to me. don't MIND
being called a sQuaw-man. You're pretty
near white, and you're good enough FOR
me. I'll treat you right-why, III even
marry you IL you're dead set on 1t. sure!
She could scarcely breathe. but checked
her first inclination to call Poison, KNOW
ing that II needed only word from heT
10 set that nut-brown savage at Run
MONS throat. other thoughts began to
crowd her brain and 70 stifie her. The fell
lows words had stabbed her conscious
ness. and done something for her that
gentler means would not have ac-
compIished: they had opened her eyes
70 a thing thst she had forgotten-a
hideous thing that had reared its fangs
once before TO strike, but which her
dreams Of happiness had driven out OF
her Eden. All at once she saw the
wrong that had been done her, and real
ized from this brute's insult that those
learly fears had been we'll grounded. 1t
suddenly occurred to her that in all
sthe hours she he'd spent with her lover
Fin all those unspeakably sweet and init
mate hours there had never been> one
word OF marriage. He had looked INTO
her eyes and vowed he could not live
without her, and yet he had never said
the words he should have said, the
words that would bind her to him. His
arms and his lips had comforted her and
H. HVaF q a
merely made love. cold fear crept
over the girl. She recalled the old cor
porars words OF a few weeks ago, and
her conversation with Stark came back
TO her. What IL 1t were true-that which
Runnion implied? What if he did not
intend to ask her, after all? What If he
had only been amusing himself? She
cried out sharply at this. and when Do
ret staggered In beneaj a great load
of skins he found her strange ex-
element. When he j.. finished his
accounting with the Indian and dismiss
ed him, she turned an agitated face to
the Frenchman.
''PoleOn," she said, Pm in trouble.
Oh, I'm in such awful trouble!'
Its dat Runnion! l seen i'm pass on
de store vile I'm down below" His
brows knit in a black scowl, and his
voice slid of a pitch in tone. Wat he
say. eh2''
mo. no, it's not that He paid me
great compliment" She laughed harsh
". why, he asked me to marry him."
The man beside her cursed at this, but
she continued: Don't blame him for lik-
ing me-Tm the only woman for five
hundred miles around-or 1 was until
this crowd came-so how could he help
himself? No. he merely showed me what
a fool I've been"
II guess you better tell me all bout
dis ting" said Poleon, gravely. You
know I'm all tam ready for help you,
Necia. Wen you was little Teller an
got bust your finger you run to me
queeck. an 1 feex IT,"
Yes, 1 knew. dear Poleon," she as
scented, gratefully. You've been
brother to me, and I need you now
more than ever needed you before.
can't go to father; he wouldn't under
stand, or else he would understand too
much. and spoil it all, his temper is so
quick"
Pm not wat you call easy-goin'
mese'f," the Canadian said, darkly, and
it was plain that he was deeply agitated,
which added to the girls distress; but
she began to speak rapidly, incoherently
her impulsiveness giving significance to
her words, so that the man had no diff
ficulty in following her drift With quick
insight he caught her meaning, and
punctuated her broken sentences with a
series of grave mods, assuring her that
he knew and understood. He had always
known, he had always understood, it
seemed.
Don't think I'm unwomanly, Poleon,
for I'm not. / may be foolish and
faithful and too trusting. but I'm not
unmaidenly. You see, I've never been
like other girls-and he was so fine,
so different, he made me love him-it's
Fart Of a soldiers training. I suppose.
1t was so sweet to be near him, and to
hear him tell of himself and all the
world he knows-I just let myself drift.
I'm afraid-Pm afraid listened too well,
and my ears heard more than he said
my head Is so full of books, you know"
He should have know dat, too" said
Poleon.
Yes" she aared up. HE knew I was
only an Indian girl"
The only color in Dorets face lay in
his cheeks, where the sun had put it; but
ne smiled at her-his warm, engaging
smile-and laid his great brown hand up
on her shoulder softly.
I've look in hees eye an I'm always
fink he's good man. 1 don never t'ink
he'll max fun Of poor little gal"
But he has, Poleon; that's just what
he has done" She came near to breaking
down, and finished, pathetically. They're
telling the story on the street, so Runnion
says"
Oats easy ting for feex," he said.
''Runnion, she dom spread no more story
LAX dat"
Il don't care what they say. I want
the truth. I want to know what he
means, what his intentions are. He
swears he loves me. and yet he has never
asked me to marry him. He has gone toe
far; he has made a fool Of me to amuse
himself, and-and / couldn't see 1t until
today. He's laughing at me, Poleon, he's
| laughing at me now! oh, I can't bear
/ it,"
The Frenchman took up his wide hat
\ from the counter and placed it carefully
/ upon his head. but she stopped him a:
4 he moved towards the door, for she read
: the meaning Of the glare in his eyes.
wait till you INTERNATIONALLY,
say! He hasn't done anything yet"
: Oats de trouble. I'm goin' max i'm
/ do something"
! mo. no. 1t isn't that; it's these doubt:
that are killing me-rm not sure"
Il hear plaintee,' he said. 'Dere's nj
1 tam for monkey roun'."
| II tell you he may be honest" she de-
clared. He may mean to marry me, bu
/ I've got to know. That's why 1 came t
/ you; that's what you must find out FOL
me-"
I'm good trader, Necia," said the Ca
J madam after a moment ''I'll max bar