The Holly chieftain., 1909-07-16


for st Michael's." he said. but Eve
made few plans Of my own the last
hour or So.
'St. Michael's. Mr.. Stark told YOU
why, that's impossible. You miSun-
derstood him. He told you TO row me
to the mission. I'm going to Father
Barnum's house"
mo. you're not, and didn't misun'
derstand him. He wants to ger tou
outside. all right. but ! re iSon you'd
rather go as Mrs. Runnion than rs the
sweetheart Of Ben Stark
Are you crazyy' the girl cried '''lr.
Stark kindly offered to help me reach
the father at his mission. I'm nothing
to him. and I'm certainly not geing 10
be anything to you If I'd known YEN
were going to row the Loaf sh uid
have stayed at home. because | detpst
you"
He rested again on his oars and siIid
with deliberation:
'Stark kindly offered did hes Well
whenever Ben Stark Kindly os2ar'
anything I'm in on the play He's
had his eye on you for the lasr three
months. and he wants you. but ne
slipped cog when he gave me the
oars. You needn't be afraid rhdpah
I'm going to do the square thing hy
you. Well stop in at the mission and
be married and then we'll see whether
we want to go to st. Michael's or not
though personally Pm for going back
to Flambeau."
The girls beauty. her Indifference.
the mistaken attitude of Stark urged
him, and, /, strongest of all he was
drawn by his cupidity. for she would
be very, rich, so the knowing ones said
Doubtless that was why Stark wanted
her, and, being a man who acknowl-
( edged no fidelity to his kind or his
Creator. Runnion determined to outwit
4 his principal. Doret, Burrell and all the
( rest
4 Necia saw what frail and helpless
thing she was. Nothing about her was
great save her soul. and that was i'm
measurably vexed and worried. She
had Just lived through a grief that had
4 made her generous, and now she gain.
) ed her first knowledge of the maIlss
animals gross selfishness.
"You are absolutely daft" she said.
you can't force ME to marry you"
II amt going to force you. You'll do
1t willingly
'tI'll die first. I'll call the first man
we see. I'll tell Father Barnum. and
he'll have you run out OF the country.
1t would only takea word from me-"
IF you haven't changed your mind
n when we get to his place III run
Z through without stopping, but there
i isn't another priest between there and
st. Mixes, and by the time we get to
the mouth of the river | guess you'll
say Yes to most anything. However.
I'd rather marry you at Holy Cross
B If you'll consent, and I'm pretty sure
you will when you think it over"
I've won't discuss it."
"You don't understand yet" he con-
tinued slowly What win people say
when they know you ran away with
meT'
"I'll tell them the truth"
'Huh! I'm too well known. No man
on the river would ever have you after
that
"You-you"- Her voice was a-quiv-
er with Indignation and loathing, but
her lips could not frame an epithet
at for him He continued rowing for
some time. then said:
"Will you marry me"
"No. If this thing is ever known
Poleon will kill you-or father
For third time he rested on his
oars.
''Now that we've come TO threats lie,
me talk, i offered to marry you and
do the square thing, but If you don't
want to I'll pass up the formnlity and
take you for my squaw. the same as
your father took Al!una just re-
member you're alone with me in the
heart of wilderness, and you've got
to make a choice quick because I'm
going ashore and make some break.
fast as soon as it's light enough to
choose n landing place If you agree
to come quietly and 60 through with
this thing like sensible girl III dc
what's right. but If you don't then III
do what's wrong, and maybe you won't
be SO ID anxious to tell your friends
about this trip or spread your story
up and down the river
She saw Runnion gazing over his
shoulder in search of shelving beach
or bar They rounded bend where
the left bank crunbled before the un-
tiring teeth of the river. forming a
bristliug chevalde-frise OF leaning