The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-21


What IL he did not intend to ask her,
after all? What If he had only been
amusing himself? She cried out sharp
" at this, and when Doret staggered
In beneath a great load Of skins he
found her in a strange excitement.
When he had finished his accounting
with the Indian and dismissed him
she turned an agitated face to the
Frenchman.
"Poleon," she said, I'm in trouble.
Oh, I'm in such awful trouble"
Its dat Runnion! 1 seen i'm pass
on de store vile I'm down below"
His brows knit in a black scowl, and
his voice slid off a pitch in tone.
"W'at he say, chi"
mo, no; it's not that. He paid me
a great compliment" She laughed
harshly. why, he asked me to marry
him." The mar beside her cursed at
this, but she continued: Don't blame
him for liking me. I'm the only wo-
man for 500 miles around-or I was
he help himself? No; he merely
showed me what a fool I've BEEN"
81 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 vas little Teller an
got bust your finger you u to me
queeck, an l feex It."
Eyes, l know, dear Poleon," she as
scented gratefully. you've been a
brother to me, and I need you now
more than I ever needed you before.
|. can't go to father. He wouldn't un-
derstand, or else he would understand
too much and spoil It all, his temper is
SO quick. Don't think I'm unwomanly,
Poleon, for I'm not. l 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 part 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-I'm afraid I
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.
EYES," she f1ared up. "He knew I
was only an Indian girl"
The only color in Doret's face lay
now in his cheeks, where the sun had
put 1t, but he smiled at her-his warm,
| engaging smile-and laid his great
brown hand upon her shoulder softly.
1--WE look in bees eye an I'm al
| ways t'ink he's good man. I 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 pathetical-
ly, "They're telling the story on the
street, SO Runnion says"
"Dat's easy ting for feex," he said.
"Runnion she dom spread no more
story lax dat"
II 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 too far. He has made a fool Of
me to amuse himself, and-and I
couldn't see it until today. He's laugh
ing at me, Poleon; he's laughing at
me now! Oh. l can't bear It'll"
The Frenchman took up his wide hat
from the counter and placed 1t care
fully upon his head, but she stopped
him as he moved toward the door, for
she read the meaning of the glare in
his eyes.
"Wai till you UNDERSTANDABLE, /
say! He hasn't done anything yet"
"Dat's de trouble. I'm goin' max
I'm do somet'in'."
mo, no! 1t isn't that. It's these
doubts that are killing me. I'm not
| sure
II hear p~laintee," he said. "Dere's
no tam for monkey roun'."
81 tell you he may be honest" she
declared. HE may mean to marry
me, but I've got to know. That's why
| came to you. That's what you must
find out for me-"
"Im good trader. Necia," said the
0dlldullu dltCl a ulOIlcuL. IL uudh
bargain wit you now. If he say yes
he'll marry you I dom ask no more,
but If he say no you geeve i'm to me.
Is it goY'
She hesitated, while he continued
musingly, 81 dom see how no man on
all dis worl' could 1ef' you CO." then
to her, "Waal, is it bargain"
EYES," she said, the Indian blood
speaking now, "but you must learn the
truth. There must be no mistake.
That would be terrible"
"Dere ain goin' be no mistak'."
"If he should refuse I-Tll marry
some one quick. I won't be laughed
at by this camp. I won't be a joke.
oh, Poleon! I've given myself to him
just as truly as if-well, he-he has
taken my first kiss"
Doret smote his hands together at
this and began to roll his head back
ward from side to side as IL in some
great pain, but his lips were dry and