Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-04-23


a - friend. The latter never real
sored why, except that he had done
them fayors, and in the north that
counts for much. Perhaps they built
likewise upon the fact that he was ever
the same tc all end that in days or
plenty or in times OF famine his store
was omen to every man, and all receN-
ed the same measure. Nor did he raise
his prices when the boats were sate.
They recalled one bleak and Ulustery
aut,mn when the steamer sank at the
Lower Ramparts. taking with Per all
their winters food bow he eked our
hie scanty stock. dealing to eacA anu
every one his portion month by month.
They remembered well the bitter win
ter that followed, when the specter or
famine haunted their cabins AND when
for endless periods they cinched their
belts and cursed and went hungry to
sleep. accepting day by day the "a
tions doled out to them by the grim,
gray map at the log store. Some OF
them had money belts weighted low
with gold washed from the bars at
Forty Mile. ard there were others who
had wandered in from the Koyukuk
with the first frosts, footsore and drag
cling. the legs OF their skin boots eaten
TO the ankle ard the taste of dog meat
still in their mouths. Broken and dis
pirited, these had Jared as well through
that desperate winter as their brothers
from up river and received pound for
mound Of EluSty -four, strip for strip OF
rusty bacon. lump for lump OF precious
sugar. Moreover, the price OF no single
thing had risen throughout the famine
He mixed In no mans business. He
took and paid his dues unfalteringly.
He spoke in q level voice, and he smil-
ed but rarely. He gazed at a stranger
once and weighed him carefully; there
after his eyes sought the distances
again, as il in search Of some visitor
whom be knew or hoped or feared
would come.
This day be stood in the door OF his
post staring up the Sunlit river, aD-
sorbng the warmth Of the arctic after
noon. The Yukon swept down around
the great bend beneath the high, cut
banks and past the little town, disap-
pearing behind the wooded point be-
low, which masked the upcoming
steamers till one heard the signing Ia
Dor Of their stacks before he saw their
smoke.
The sound of shouting caused him
to turn his head. Downstream, thou
sand yards away, men were raising a
flagstaff made from the trunk Of a
slender fir, from which the bark had
been stripped, heaving on their tackle
as they sang in unison. They stood
well out upon the rivers bank before
a group of well made houses, the peel
ed timbers OF which shOne yellow In
the sun. He noted the symmetrical
arrangement of the buildings, noted
the space about them that had been
smoothed for drill ground and from
which the stumps had been removed,
noted that the men wore suits OF blue
and noted in particular the figure OF
an officer commanding them.
The lines about the traders mouth
deepened. and his heavy brows con-
tracted.
THAT means the law" he murmured
half aloud.
He stood so, meditating somberly,
till the fragment of song hummed
lightly by girl fell pleasantly on his
ears, whereupOn the shadows vanished
from his face, and he turned expect
antly, the edges Of his teeth showing
beneath bis mustache, the corners C
his eyes wrinkling with pleasure.
The sight was good to him. for une
girl approaching down the trail was
like some wood sprite, light footed,
slender and dark, with twin braids OF
hair to her waist framing an oval
face colOred by the wind and sun. She
was very beautiful, and a great fever
Surgc1 up through the old mans veins
I'LL he gripped the boards at his side
and bit sharply at the pipe between
his teeth.
.oThe salmon berries are ripe" she
announced. land the hills back OF the
village are pink with them. l TOOK
Constantine's squaw with me, and we
picked quarts and quarts. ate them
ALL
Her laughter was like the tinkle OF
silver bells. Every move Of her grace
full body was unrestrained and now
ing. with a hint Of Indian freedom
about it. Beaded and trimmed ike u
native princess. her garments mani
E.ze,Sxsr.ScesS no sxsesessases,
CONGRATULATIONS