Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-12
e THE !
4l|BARRIER
u By
rs REX BEACH,
GJscopYRmHEieoaSYnAsp

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

wat An on my batteau." and held
up the wriggling form Of Johnny Gale.
"He's stow hisse'f away onder dem
blanket. sacrel Hes bad Teller. dis
man-don' pay for bees ticket at all;
he's regular tor mug"
It took the efforts Of Necia and the
trader combined to tear the lad from
the Frenchman. and even then the
foul deed was accomplished only at
the cost Of such wild acclaim and evil
dence Of undying sorrow that little
Molly came hurrying from the house,
her round face stained and fearful, her
mouth an inverted crescent. She had
gone to the lame puppy for comfort
and now strangled him absentminded-
~ in her arms, clutching him to her
breast so tightly that his tongue lolled
out and his three legs protruded stiffly,
paving an aimless pantomime. When
Johnny found that no hope remained
he quelled his demonstrations Of emo
ton and. as behtted q stout hearted
gentleman Of the woods. bore a final
present to his friend. He took his lit
tie air gun and gave 1t into Poleon's
hands against that black night when
the bears would come, and no man
ever made greater sacrifice. Doret
picked him up by the elbows and
kissed him again and again, then set
him down gently, at which Molly
scrambled forward and without word
or presentation speech gave him her
hearts first treasure. She held out
the three legged puppy, for gun and
a dog should ever 60 together; then,
being Of the womankind aforesaid, she
began to cry as she kissed her pet
goodby on its cold, wet nose.
"W'at's dis?" said Poleon, and his
voice quavered, for these childish fin
gers tore at his heartstrings terribly.
"He's a very brave doggie," said the
little girl. "He will scare de bears
away" And then she became dis.
solved in tears at the anguish her offer.
ing cost her.
The time had come for the last good.
by-that awkward moment when hu.
man hearts are full and spoken words
are empty. .Burrell gripped the French.
mans hand. He was grateful, but he
did not know.
Good luck and better hunting" he
said, "a heavy purse and light heart
for You always, P0leon. have learned
to love you"
II want you to be good husban',
m'sieu'. OATS de bes' ting I can wish
for you"
Gale spoke to him in patois, and all
he said was:
"May you not forget, my son.
They did not look into each others
eyes. There was no need. The old
man stopped and, taking both his chill.
dren by the hand, walked slowly to.
ward the house.
"Dis tam I'll fin It for sure" smiled
Poleon to Necia.
Her eyes were shining through the
tears, and she whispered fervently:
II hope so, brother. God love you
always"
It was grief at losing q playmate, a
dear and well beloved companion. He
knew It well, and he was glad now
that he had never said word Of love
to her. It added to his pain, but 1t
Heightened hers, and that had ever been
his wish. he gazed on her for long
moment taking insthat blessed image
which would ever live with him.
SGoodby, u'p GAL" be said, then
dropped her hand. and entered his ca
noe. With one great stroke he drove it
out and into the flood, then headed
away toward the mists and colors of
the distant hills, where the breads
were calling to him. he turned for
one last look and flung his paddle
high; then, fearing lest they might see
the tears thatsca at last unhindered,
be began to sing:
s, "Chante. rossignol. chante'
ss@ Toi QutVa 10 occur gal:
81 TU. a. 10 occur rire
NAL ) alta pleurer." y.
he sang long and Justify. Keeping
time to the dip Of his flashing paddle
and defying his bursting heart. After
all. was he not voyageur and life but
a song and a tear and then a dream
or two2
II wish might have known him
better." sighed Meade Burrell as he