The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-09-07

was Jan Thoreau. The woman was
his mother
Ihere was silence now, a dead, pulse.
less quiet, broken after moment by
movement. II was Thornton, grop.
ing across the table. Jan felt his hands
touch his arm. They CROPPED farther in
the darkness, until Jan Thoreau's hands
were clasped tightly In rhurnton's.
And that's ALP he questioned
hoarsely
mo, 1t Is but the beginning said
Jan softly. "The curse has followed
me, m'sieur, until | am the unhappiest
man in the world Today | have done
all that Is to be done. When nv IN.
Their died he left papers which my
mother was to give to me when had
attained manhood. When she died
they came to me. She knew nothing
OF that which was in them, and | am
glad, for they told the story that
have told to you, m'sieur, and from
his grave my father prayed to me to
make what restitution | could When
he came into the north for good he
brought with him most Of his fortune.
which was large, m'sieur, and placed
II where no one would ever find tin
the stock Of the great company. A
half Of 1t, he said, should be mine
The other half he asked me to return
to his children and to his real wife II
she were living. | have done more
than that, m'sieur. l have given up
all, for none Of 1t is mine. A half will
go to the two children whom be de.
serted. The other half will go to the
child that was unborn. The mother
k-dead."
After time Thornton said:
"There is more. JAM"
Eyes, there is more, m'sieur," said
Jan. $50 much more that IL were
to tell it to you it would not be hard
for you to understand why Jan Tho
reau is the unhappiest man In the
world. have told you that this Is but
the beginning. | have not told you Of
how the curse has followed me and
life-how 1t has haunted me day and
night, msieur, like a black spirit, de-
stroying my hopes, turning me at last
into an outcast. without people, with
out friends. without-that-w which you,
too, will give up in this girl at Oxford
House M'sieur. am right? You will
not go back to her You will go south
and some day the great God will re-
ward you
He heard Thornton rising in the
dark
"Shall strike light. Missouri"
NO" said Thornton close to him. In
the gloom their hands met. There was
a change in the others voice now,
something Of pride, of triumph. of
a glory Just achieved. Jan" he said
softly. II thank you for bringing me
face to face with a God like yours
You have taught me more than has
ever been preached into me, and this
great, glorious world Of yours is send
ing me back better man for having
come into It. am going-south. Some
day | will return, and will be one Of
this world and one Of your people.<
will come, and l will bring no curse
II | could send this word to her, ash
her forgiveness, tell her what | hav,
almost been and that | still have hop'
-faith-l could go easier down int
that other world"
"You cam" said Jan. II will TAXI
this word for you, m'sieur, an2rI will
take more, for l will tell her what l
has been the, kind fate for Jan Tho
reau to find in the heart of M'sieu
Thornton. She is one of my people
and she will forgive. and love you NOR
for what you have done. For this
m'sieur, is what the Cree god has Civ
EN- to his people as the honor of tn
great SHOWS. She will still love you
and If there is to be hope 1t will burr
In her breast too. M'sieur"-
Something like sob broke through
Thorntons lips as he moved bacl
through the darkness.
"And you'll will find you againi"
"rhey will know where | go iron
Oxford House. will leave word
with her." said Jan.
"Goodby," said Thornton huskily.
Jan listened until his footsteps hat
died away, and for long time afte
that he sat with his head buried in hi
arms upon. the little table. And Ka
Fan, whining softly, seemed to know
that in the darkened room had com
to pass the thing which broke at las
his masters overburdened heart
That night Jan Thoreau passed TO
the last time back into the shelter o
his forests, and all that night he tray
eled, and with each mile that he lief
behind him something larger and bold
err grew In his breast until he cracke
his whip in the old way and shouted
the dogs In the old way, and the bloc
In him sang to the wild spirit of tn
wilderness. Once more he was hom'
To him the forest had always bee
home.
And from above him the stars lool
ed down like billion tiny fires XIII
died by loving hands to light his wa
the stars that had given him must
4. NhnUs n N