The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-16

y. -
"Vhnt are you doing here, Mir. Run
niOn?"
rash resolve to wrench the oars out
Of his hands and made a quick motion
| toward him, at which he shouted:
''Sit down! Do you want to upset
us?'
The unstable craft lurched and dip
ped dangerously, and, realizing the fu-
| tility Of her mad impulse, she sank
| back on her knees.
STARK told NE To board the first boat
| for st. Michaers," he said. but I've
made few plans Of my own the last
hour or so.'
st. Michaels! Mr.. Stark told you
why, that's impossible, You misun-
GerstoOd 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 get you
outside. all right, but l reckon you'd
rather go as Mrs. RunniOn than as the
sweetheart of Ben Stark
'Are you crazy?' the girl cried "Mr.
Stark kindly offered to help me reach
the father at his mission. I'm nothing
to him, and I'm certainly not going to
| be anything to you. If I'd known you
were going to row the boat | should
have stayed at home, because / detest
you
He rested again on his oars and said,
with deliberations:
STARK kindly offered did he? Well,
whenever Ben Stark kindly offers
anything I'm in on the play. He's
had his eye on you for the last three
months, and he wants you, but he
slipped q cog when he gave me the
oars. You needn't be afraid, though
I'm going to do the square thing by
| you. Well stop in at the mission and
be married. and then We'll see whether
we want to go to st. MichaePs or not,
though personally I'm 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 ri>h. 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
his principal, Doret, Burrell and all the
rest.
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 grief that had
made her generous, and now she gain
ed her first knowledge of the man
animals gross selfishness.
''You are absolutely daft" she said.
you can't force me TO marry you"
Il amt going to force you. You'll do
it willingly"
'Pll 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 take word from me"
"If you haven't changed your mind
when we get to his place I'll run
through without stopping, but there
isn't another priest between there ana
St Mikes, and by the time we get to
the mouth of the river l guess you'll
say Yes to most anything. However,
I'd rather marry you at Holy Cross
| If You'll consent. and I'm pretty sure
YOU will when you think it over"
"We won't discuss it"
you don't understand yet" he con-
tinued slowly What will people say
when they know you ran away with
me?'
"Tll tell them the truth"
Huh! I'm too we'll known. No man
on the river would ever have you after
that"
"You-you''- Hel voice was a-quiv-
er with indignation and loathing, but
her lips could not frame an epithet
fit for him. He continued rowing for
some time. then said:
"Will you marry me"
mo. If this thing is ever known
Poleon will kill you-Or father
For a third time he rested On his
oars.
'Now that we've come to threats let
me talk. l offered to marry you and
do the square thing, but if you don't
want to I'll pass up the formality and
take you for my squaw, the same as
your father took Alluna. 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
ohnncn n landing MACE If YOU agree