Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-06-11

the traGing post, destlheu a' u"h''
hall thcater and gambling house,
RurreIl entered into a season OF pen
oroo and CANCELLATION Of spirit. light
cned only by the moments when ne
was with Necia and when she maze
him forget all else. This damhaDie III
decision goaded him to SELF contempt
he despised himself for his weakness
His social instincts and training, ms
sense of duty and the amenities OF Ire
that nroud men hold dear tugged
steadily. untirlngly at his reason,
while the little imp Of impulse sat
prinning wickedly, ready to pop out
and upset all his high resolutions.
If was on Il heavenly day, spiced
with the faintcst hint of autumn that
Noci, received the news of her good
fortune. One of her leaserS came INTO
the most TO show her and Poleon bag
Of dust He and his partner had
found the pay streak finally, and he
! had come to notify her that 1t gave
promise of being very rich. ana now
that its location was demonstrated no
Doubt the o1her "laymen' would have
It within fortnight. AS all Of them
were ready to begin slulcinS as soon
as the ground could be stripped, un'
doubleday they would be able to take
out n substantial stake before winter
settled and the first frost closed them
down.
She took the news quietly, but with
shining eyes, though her pleasure was
no greater or more genuine than Pc.
Icons, who grasped both her hands In
his and shouted gleefully:
"Bien. I'm glad! You'll be rlche
gal for sure now an wear plaintee fine
dress lax | fetch you. JUS tink, you
fin gol on your place more queecker
dan your fader, an he's good miner
too. Ia. OATS bully"
ooh, we'll, they will find It on your
claims very soon," she replied.
He shook his head. You better
knock wood wen you say dat. Mcbbc
I draw de blank again. Nobody can't
ell. I've DO de SAM ting before. an
dose men wat been worliin my groun'
dey're gettin' purity blue"
"Wheu you do become a Flambcdu
king" she continued. what VIII you
do with yourself? Surely you won't
continue that search for your far coun'
try. 1t could never be so beautiful as
| this" She pointed to the river that
never changed and yet was never the
same and to the forests, slightly tinged
with the signs of the coming season
"It's very fine" agreed the Canadian.
81 dom see wy anybody would care
for livin' on dem cities wen dere's so
much nice place outside"
"Yes," said Necia, 1--WE no doubt one
/ would get tired Of 1t soon and long for
something to do and something really
worth while, but should like to try
1t once, and l shall as soon as I'm rich
enough Won't you come along?
81 DON know" he said tboughtfully.
"Mebbe so l stay here, mebbe so / tax
my canoe an go away. For long tam
| tink dis Flambeau she's de promis'
Ian | hear calm to me, but don
know yet for VILE
~-"What kind Of place Is that land OF
yours, Poleon?"
"Ha. never see i'm, but she's been
erwin to me ever since I'm little boy.
It's q place were dom get too hot on
| de summer an too COZ Oh de winter;
it's place Were birds sing an flowers
blossom an de sun shine an were /
can sleep widout dreamin' bout it all
de tam"
"Why, it's the land Of content. You'll
never discover it by travel. I'll tell
you a secret, Poleon. I've found it
yes, have. 1t lies here" She laid her
hand on her breast. Father Barnum
told me the story Of your people and
how 1t lives in your blOod-that hun
ger to find the far places. It's what
drove the voyageur and coureur du
bois from Quebec to Vancouver and
from the Mississippi to Hudson bay.
The wanderlust was their heritage,
and they pushed on and on without
rest, like the salmon in the spring Du'
they were different In this-tnat 'hey
never came back +" die
There was look of great tenderness
IN bis eyes as he bent toward her and
searched her face, but she was not
thinking of him, and at length he con
tinued:
"Fader Barnum he's goin' be here
mex Sonday for cheer UP dem Injun
Constantine she's got de letter."
"Do you know" said Nccia wlstfully,
"Ive always wanted him to marry
me-"
you t'inkin' bout marry on some
Teller, eh?" said the other, with an odd
grin. "Waal, wy not? He'll be here all
day an night. S'pOse you do 1t. Mos
anybody wat ain got some wife al
ready will be glad for marry on you
an mebbe some teller wat has go;
wife too! IL you don lax dem an If
you're goln marry on somebody you
can he wife TO me-"
Necia laughed lightly. II believe
you would marry ME If l wanted you
to. You've done everything else I've
ever asked But you needn't be afraid
| won't take you up" In all her life
this man had never spoken Of love to
her, and she had no hint Of the dream
h.