Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-18

through the cabin door. His hair ana
beard had grown, covering the smooth
cheeks which he had always kept closely
shaven. His eyes glowed with dull pleas
ure as she stood waiting for him. but
there was none OF the old fash and fire
in them; There was a strangeness in his
manner. an uneasiness in the shifting OF
his eyes, which caused the half-defiant
flush to fade slowly from her cheeks be-
fore either had spoken. She had never
known this Jan before, and her fortitude
left her as she approached him, wonder
ingly, silent, her hands reaching out to
him.
JAM she said.
Her voice trembled; her lips quivered.
There was the old glorious pleading in
her eyes. and before it Jan bowed his
unkempt head and crushed her hands
tightly in his own. For a half minute
there was silence, and in that half min
ute there came a century between them.
AT last Jan spoke.
I'm glad to see you again, Melissa. 1t
has seemed like very long time!''
He lifted his eyes. Before them the girl
involuntarily shrank back and Jan freed
her hands. In them she saw none Of the
old love-glow. nothing of their old COM
radeship. Inscrutable, rejecting no visible
emotion. they passed from her to the vio-
lin hanging on the wall.
Il have not played in so long he said.
turning from her, that l believe have
forgotten.
He took down the instrument and his
fingers travelled ciumsily over the strings.
His teeth cleaned at her from out his
half-inch growth of beard. as he said:
"Ah, you must play for me now, Me-
lisse! 1t has surely gone from Jan Tho
reau.'
He held out the violin to her:
Not now, JAM she said. TREMENDOUSLY.
81 will play for you tonight" She went
to the door Of her room. .hesitating for a
moment, with her back to him. Y on
will come to supper, JAM
"Surely, Melissa, il you are prepared.
He hung up the violin as she closed the
door and went from the cabin. Jean de
him and Jean hurried across the open to
meet him..
Il am coming to offer YOU the loan OF
my razor" he cried. gayly. ''Iowaka
says that you will be taken for bear If
"A beard is good to keep off the black
f1ies," replied Jan. 1T is approaching
summer and the black flies love to feast
upon me. Let us go down the trail. Jean.
l want to speak with you"
Wncfe there naO Dccn WOOUCutduS
the deep spruce they sat down. facing
each other. Jan spoke in French.
Il have travelled far since leaving Lac
Bain,' he said. II went first to Nelson
House, and from here to the Wholdaia
1 found them at Nelson House, but not
on the Whoidaia.'
"What?" asked Jean. though he knew
we'll what the other meant.
my brothers. lee de Gravois." an
swered Jan. drawing his lips until his
brothers. les betes de charogne!"
Devil take Croisset for telling you
where they were!" muttered Jean. under
his breath.
IT saw the two at Nelson House." con-
tinued Jan. lone Of them is half wit.
lis worse. Petraud, one of the two who
were at Who1daia, was killed by a Cree
father last winter for dishonoring his
daughter The other disappeared"
Jean was silent, his head leaning for
ward. his face resting in his hands.
$50 you see. Jean de Gravois. what sort
of creature Is your friend Jan Thoreau!'
Jean raised his head until his eyes were
on level with those OF his companion.
81 see that you are a bigger fool than
ever,a. he said. quietly. Gan Thoreau:
what If should break my oath-and tell
Melisse?"
Unfinching the mem eyes met A dull
glare came into JAMS. Slowly he I'M
the snow between his feet. with the
cleaning end Of the blade. pointing to-
ward Gravois. With a low cry Jean
sprang to his feet.
do you mean that. Jan Thoreau? Do
you mean to give the knife challenge to
one who has staked his life for you and
who loves YOU as "a brother?'
YES" said Jan. deliberately. II love
you, Jean. more than any other man In
the world; and yet i will kill you IL you
10 70 Ii
feet and stretched out his hands to the
little Frenchman Jean, wouldn't you do
as l am doing? Wouldn't you have done
as much for Iowaka?"
For a moment Gravois was silent.
81 would not have taken her love with
out telling her. he said, then. THAT is
not what you and I know as honor. Jan
Thoreau. But l would have gone to her.
as you should now go to Meiisse and she
would have opened her arms to me. as
Melissa would open hers to You. That is
what 1 would have done
"And that is what l shall never do.
said Jan, decisively. turning toward the
post 81 could kill myself more easily
That is what l wanted to tell you, JEAN
No one but YOU and l must ever know!
II would like, to choke that fool OF
Croisset for sending you to hunt up those
people at Nelson House and Wholdaia!
grumbled Jean.
st was best for me.
They saw Melissa leaving 1owaka's
home when they came from the forest.
Both waved their hands to her and Jan
cut across the open to the store
Jean went to the Cumm1ns CABIN as soon
as he was sure that he was not observed.
There was little Of the old vivacity in his
manner as he greeted Melissa. He noted,
too that the girl was not her natural self.
There was rednesS under her eyes
which told him that she had been crying.
':Melisse," he said, at last. speaking to
her with his eyes fixed on the cap he was
twisting in his fingers there has come a
great change over Jan.
"A very great change. Jean. II l were
IN puess / should say that his heart has
been broken down on the Nelson trail.
.6Irayois caught the sharp meaning in
her voice, which trembled little as she
smoke. He was before her In an instant.
his CAP fallen to the floor. his eyes blaz-
ing as he caught her by the arms
Eyes, the heart Of Jan -Thoreau is
he cried ''But it has been
broken by nothing that lives on the Nell
son House trail 1t Is broken because OF
YOU"
iI," Melissa drew back from him with
a breathless cry. IL have broken"
II did not say that" interrupted Jean.
IT saw that It is broken because Of you.
Mon Dieu, II ONLY l might tell your
'Do-do, Jean! Please tell met She
put her hands on his shoulders. Her
ewes implored him. Tell me what I have
ione-what can do. Jean!'
II can say that much to You and no
lie said, quietly. ''Only know this.
ma chereltf1at there is a great grief eat
me at. the soul of Jan Thoreau, and that
because OF this grief he Is changed L
know what this grief IL, but am pledged
never to reveal 1t. It is for you to find