Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-07
Copyright. 1911. bu the BObbS-
Merrill Co.

.ICIIul W.
O.-.-.-s-s-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
when be learned that his new associate
had trampcd all the way from the Bar
rem Lands 10 attend the new public
school. he al once invested himself
with the responsibilities of a private
tutor
The school opened In November. and
Jan found himself one of twenty or
so gathered there from 10000 square
miles Of wilderness. Two white
youths and a half breed had come
from the Etawney. the Factor at Mel
son House sent up his son. and from
the upper waters of the Little Church
Ill there came three others.
From the first JAMS music found
him premier place in the interest or
the tutor sent over by the company.
He studied by night as wei! as by
day, and by the end Of the second
month his only competitor was the
youth from Nelson House His great
est source OF knowledge was not the
teacher. but Macdonald. There was
in him no inherent desire for the learn
ing Of the people TO the south: that he
was STORM" away. like n faithful ma
chine. for the use Of Melissa But
Mac Donald gave him that for which
his soul longed-a picture of life as it
existed in the wonderful world be-
vDud the wilderness. TO which some
strange spirit within him. growing
stronger ~ the weeks aud months
passed. seemed projecting his hopes
and his ambitions.
Between his thoughts OF Melissa and
Lac Balm ne dreamed or that other
world. and several times during the
winter M took the little roll from the
Uox OF ms violin and read again and
again the written pages that it con
taiued
Some time will go" he assured
himself always-"some time when
Melissa is little older aud can 80
too"
To Young Macdonald the hoy from
Lac Balm was find" The Scottish
youth was filed with an immense
longing for home. and rs his home
sickness grew he poured more and
more into JAMS attentive ears has
knowledge Of the world from which he
had come
In the spring Jan went back to Lac
Balm with the company's supplies. The
/ next autumn he followed the school to
| York factory, and the third year he
Joined it mt Nelson House Then the
/ cOmpany's teacher died. and no one
came 10 ill his place.
In midwinter OF this third year Jan
returned to Lac Balm. and. huGging
f the delighted Melissa close in his arms
he told her that never again would he
90 away without her. Melissa. tight
ening her arms around his neck. made
his promise sacred by Offering her lit
tie rosebud Of mouth for him TO kiss
Later the restless spirit slumberina
within his breast urged him to speak
TO Cummins.
when Melissa is a little older Should
we not so with her into the southY' he
said. she must not live forever in q
place Ike this"
Cummins looked at him for an in
slant as II he did not understand
| When JAMS meaning struck home his
eyes hardened, and there was the vi
brant ring OF steel in his quiet voice.
Her mother will he out there undel
the old spruce until the end of time,
be said slowly. and We will never
leave her-unless. some day, Melisst
goes alone"
From that hour Jan no longer LOOKED
into the box OF his violin. He strug
gled against the desire that had growu
with his years until he believed that h,
had crushed it and stamped it out Of
his existence. In his life there came 4
be but one rising and one setting of tn,
sun. Melissa was his universe. Sht
crowded his heart until beyond her h'
began TO lose visions of any othel
world
Each day added to his Joy. he call
ed her my little sister" and witt
sweet gravity Melissa called hin
brother Jan" and returned in ful
measure his boundleSs love He mark
ed the slow turning Of her naxen hal
into sunny gold and month by month
watched Joyfully the deepening Of tha
gold into warm shades of brown. Sh,
was to be like her motherl JAMS sou
retoiced. and in his silent way Cum
Minis offered up wordless prayers o
thankfulnCSs.
So matters stood at Post Lac Bail
IN the beginning OF Melisse's mint
year. when up from the south Their
came n ruuor
= Rumor grew into .rumOr. From tn