Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-05-26

were lost-nad disappeared from the
cabin where they had been left alone
for brief time, and could not be
| found
Everywhere they searched. even to
the new-made mound out beneath the
shadowy pines. but without result.
The camp was in a turmoil OF anxiety.
Andy Kendall, returning from a late
trip to his sluices, joined il the quest
| but with no more success than the
| others, and at last went to his cabin
| to secure lantern.
In the doorway of his abode he dis.
| covered the general who, calm and
| lmperturbable, was standing with
something foreign in his attitude,
| some unaccustomed pose of independ.
ent determination. The miners quick
eye noted the change. 1t was the first
| time he had ever seen him with his
| hands in his pockets and suggestion
| OF swagger. He started hurriedly
away with the lighted lantern, and
then, in quick inspiration closely akip
to dlvination, whirled abruptly at the
loot OF the steps and faced the boy.
JEAN" he asked in a tone of I'm.
usual peremptoriness, do you know
Wnere the little O'Shaughnessy girls
are?"
The general paused for a moment
before answering, which hesitancy
was also marked by his guardian;
then. with slow grace, shrugged his
| shoulders until the right one was ele.
| waited almost to his ear and answered
| very truthfully:
Yes, monsieur, l have them"
The lantern dropped from Big An.
dy's hand to extinguishment, willis
its globe went tinkling away over tha
| rocks in cascade of slivered glass
and he started to say: well, I'll be
-" then thought better Of it. Right
well he knew Jean Guillot Lafayette.
Would you mind telling me, old
man. he said with kindly condescen,
! sion, where they are?"
Again the general considered for an
instant, and then gravely beckoned the
miner inside. He took the suffering
candle from the rough pine table, tip.
| toed to his own bunk, carefully de.
posted it on the edge, shielded the wa.
| ver1ng flame with one tiny hand, and
with the other gently drew back the
| outer blanket
Soundly sleeping beneath, with thei1
hair done up in rough little pigtails,
clad in their white nighties and
clasped in each others arms, were
thin O'Shaughnessy kids"
Big Andy Kendall took one look and
Sc
trail shouting to all he met: 1--WE
found EN-! I've found 'em! No need
to look any farther" And when the
searchers clustered around him with
many questions he explained that the
missing ones were then in his cabin,
and that he would take care of 'em
all right through the night"
The miner tramped slowly up the
hill to where the general was still
standing quietly On the threshold,
went in, closed the door quite softly.
hung his white hat on a peg, and re-
plenished the logs in the fireplace be-
fore speaking.
JEAN" he said, you brought them
here?"
Yes, monsieur"
What are you goin' to do with
them?"
Keep them, monsieur" he respond.
ed with the utmost gravity, seating
himself on the low stool which had
been made for his especial benefit and
watching the sparks that went roar
ing up the blackened vault.
Big Andy waited for moment and
then ventured another question:
How will you care for them?"
"On re money l make-my hundaird
franc Eet ees a fortune, une bonna
fortune" He turned to the big man,
peered across the vivid pathway OF
light from the blazing logs, and then
with great usefulness continued: II.
Jean Guillot Lafayette, am sans fam.
lille. l shall adopt famille. l shah
work vaire hard for famille."
And leave me. Andy spoke
very softly and was very curious, fal.
tering note of bitter heart-breSk in hts
voice; some tone suggesting grievous
disappointment that he who SO loved
+ the boy should not be taken into CON
sideration.
knew he had tried to win this love
and had wooed it with care; but 1t had
always been elusive and unyielding.
Even now, after all these months, he
was but second in the exile's affections
and the barrier seemed unbreakable.
He bent suddenly forward and leaned
his forehead upon his hand, shielding
his eyes from the dancing glare of the
flames
For the first time since they had
met each other the boy crept over to
him unasked, forced himself on the
waiting knee and clasped his arms
around the weather-beaten neck.
Monsieur" he whispered as II
afraid to voice his secret aloud. II
want them vaire bad; but I could not
you leave even for them; because
luf you vaire much"
Big Andy Kendall Rugged him all
most fiercely and gulped out: WELL