Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-30

81 bring her back to you, m'Steu!'
bank. So the impatient men at the post
relaxed interest in her as she came
creeping up abreast of the town. 1t
was little Johnny Gale who first saw
Necia and Poleon on board. for he had
recognized Father Barnum's craft at
distance and stationed himself at the
bank hand in hand with Molly to bid
the good. kind old man welcome.
The men inside the house did not
hear the boy crying Necia's name, for
his voice was small, and they had gone
to the rear of the store.
Understand? You leave Runnion
70 me-" Burrell was saying. mo man
shall lay hands on him except me-"
His voice trailed away. He rose SLOW
ly to his feet, a strange light on his
face. The others turned to see what
sight had drawn his eyes. In the
opening, all splendid with the golden
sunlight, stood Necia and Poleon Doret,
who had her by the hand, and she
was smiling.
Gale uttered great cry and went
to meet them, but the soldier could
move nothing save his lips and stood
dazed and disbelieying He saw them
dlmly coming toward him and heard
Poleon's voice as If at a great distance;
saw that the Frenchman's eyes were
upon him and that lis words were d.
rccted to him.
81 bring her back to you. msieu'"
Doret laid Necia's hand in that of
her lover, and Burrell saw her smil-
ing shyly up at him. Something grip
ped him chokingly, and he could utter
no sound. There was nothing to say.
She was here, SAFE smiling; that was
all. And the girl, beholding the glory
in his eyes. understood.
Gale caught her away from him then
and buried her in his arms.
A woman came running into the
store and, seeing the group, paused at
the door-a shapeless, silent, shawled
figure In silhouette against the day.
The trader brought the girl to her fos-
ter mother, who began to talk in her
own tongue with rapidity none Of
them had ever heard before, her voice
as tender as some wild birds song.
Then the two women went away to-
gether around the store into the house.
Poleon had told Necia all the amazing
story that had come to him that dire
full !nigAB fn&jlthatI he had overheard,
At sH! esaSS 9ppsW a4p"d much that he
The priest came into the store short
ly, and the men fell upon him for in
formation, for nothing was to be
gained from Poleon, who seemed
strangely tagged and weary and who
had said but little.
Eyes, yes, yesr' laughed Father Bar
mum. "I'll tell you all know, Of
course, but first I must meet Lieuten-
ant Burrell and take him by the hand"
The story did not lose in his telling
particularly when he came to describe
the fight on the gravel bar which no
man had seen and of which Poleon
had told him little. but the good priest
wasssof militant turn, and his blue
eyes glittered and flashed like an old
crusaders.
"It was wondrous combat" he de-
clared, with all the spirit of specta-
tor, "for Poleon advanced barehanded
and beat him down even as the man
fired into his face"
The Frenchman moved uneasily.
"Waal. I don know. He ain fight SO
hard"
you couldn't find no trace of him?"
said Lee
'No trace whatever" Father Bar
mum replied, "but he will surely reach
some place of refuge where we can
pick him up, for the days are still mild
and the woods full of berries"
''I'll be on the lookout for him." said
the lieutenant grimly.
When the voluble old priest had at
last exhausted his narrative he re-
quested Of Burrell the privilege Of
few words and drew him apart from
the others. His face was warm with
understanding.
81 had long conversation with my
little girl, for she is like daughter to
me, and discovered the depth of her
love for you. Do you love her "a much
as you should?'
"As much as l can. They don't make
words or numbers big enough to tell
you how dear she is to me-"
"Then why delay? Tomorrow leave
again, and one never knows what a
day may bring forth"
But Stark" the young man cried.