Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10

boy OF his violin before he re-entered
The cabin.
The next morning Cummins stood
In the door and said
"How warm the sun Is. The snow
and ice are going, Jan. It's spying.
Veil house the sedges today and
begin feeding the dogs on fish,
Each day thereafter the sun rose
sarlier the day was longer and the air
VAS warmer, and with the warmth
thcre now came the sweet scents OF
She budding earth and the myriad
POUNDS Of the deep. unseen life of the
forest awakening from it's long slum-
Der in its bed Of snow.
The post fell back into its old ways.
Now and then visitor came in from
mt OF the forest. hut he remained for
,nly day or two taking back into
he solitude with him few Of the
accessories of life. williams was busy
preparing his books for the coming Of
he company's chief agent from Lon
Ion. and Cummlns. who was helping
Me factor, had a good deal Of extra
lime on his hands.
Before the last of the snow was
zone he and Jan began dragging in
ogs for an addition which they plan
led for the little cabin. Basking out
n the sun, with huge bearskin for a
door, Melissa looked upon the new
bone building with wonderful demon
,trations of interest. Cummins' face
Flowed with pleasure as she kicked
md scrambled on the bearskin and
gave shrill voiced approval Of their
efforts.
Jan was the happiest youth in the
world. 1t was certain that the little
Melissa. nearly six months old, under
stood what they were doing.
AS the weather grew warmer and
spring changed into summer Jan took
Melissa upon short excursions with
him into the forests, and he picked
FOR her great armfuls Of flowers
and arctic ferns. The grave was new
er without fresh offerings, and the
cabin, with It's new addition complete,
was always filed with the beautiful
things that spring up out Of the earth.
Jan and Melissa were happy, and in
the joys Of these two there was pleas
ure for the others Of the post. as there
had been happiness In the presence Of
the woman. Only upon Cummins had
there settled n deep grief. The
changes Of spring and summer. bring
ing with them all that this dcsolate
world held of warmth and beauty, fill
ed him with the excruciating pain Of
his great grief, as II the woman had
died but yesterday.
At last, his gaunt frame thinned by
sleepless nights and days of mental
torture, he said that the company's
business was calling him to Churchill,
and early in August he left for the
bay. He left Melissa in care Of Jan,
and the child seemed to recognize the
guardianship.
When Cummins came back from
Fort Churchill in the autumn he
brought with him pack full Of things
for Melissa, including new books and
papers, for which he had spent share
Of his seasons earnings. As he was
freeing these treasures from their
wrapping of soft caribou skin, with
Jan and Melissa both looking on, he
stopped suddenly and glanced from his
knees up at the boy.
They're wondering over at Church
III what became of the missionary who
left with the mail. Jan. They say he
was last seen at the Etawney."
"And not here?" replied Jan quickly.
mot that they know Of" said Cum
Minis, still keeping his eyes on the
boy. ''The man who drove him never
got back to Churchill. They're won
aering where the driver went too. A
company officer has gone up to the
Etawney. and 1t is possible he may
come over to Lac Balm. l don't believe
he'll find the missionary"
Neither do l." said Jan quite coolly.
HE is probably dead, and the wolves
and foxes have eaten him before this
or mebby re feesh"'
Cummins resumed his task of I'M
packing, and among the books which
he brought forth there were two which
he gave to Jan.
"The supply ship from London came
In while was at Churchill. and those
came with it," he explained. They're
schoolbooks. There's going to be n
school at Churchill next winter, and
the winter after that 1t will be at York
factory, down on the Hayes" He set
tied back on his heels and looked at
Jan. ITS the first school that has ever
come nearer than 400 miles Of us.
That's at Prince Albert"
For many succeeding days Jan tool,
long walks alone In the forest trails
and silently thrashed out the two prob
lens which Cummins had brought back
from Churchill for him. Should he
warn Jean de Gravois that company
officer was investigating the disappear
ance of the missionary?
At first his impulse was to 60 at once
into Jeans haunts beyond Fond du Lac
and give him the news, but even if the
officer did come to Post Lac Balm how
would he know that the missionary
was at the bottom Of the lake and tina
Jean de Gravois was accountable To-
It? SO In the end Jan decided that 4
would be folly to stir up the little hunt
er's fears. and he thought no more o
the company's investigator who hat
gone up to the Etawney.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
SEPTEMBER JINGLE.