Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-14

all. for none Of II Ia mine. A half will
go to the two children whom be de-
serted. The other half Will 80 to the
child that was unborn. The mother
is-dead."
After a time Thornton said:
"There IL more, JanT"
"Yes, there ID more, m'sieur," said
Jan. $50 much more that II ! were
to tell Il to you II would not be hard
for you to understand why Jan Tho
reau IL the unhappiest man in the
world. I have told you that this Is but
the beginning. I have not told you of
how the curse has followed me and
robbed me Of all that 10 greatest In
life--how It has haunted me day and
night, m'sieur, like a black spirit, de.
stroying my hopes. turning me at last
into an outcast. without people. with.
out friends. without that-which you,
too. will give up In this girl at Oxford
House. M'sieur, am ! right? You will
not 20 back to her. You will go south
and some day the great God will re-
ward you"
Tie heard Thornton rising In the
dark
"Shall I strike a light, m'sieurT'.
mo" said Thornton close to him. In
the gloom their hands met. There was
n change in the others voice now.
something Of a pride. Of triumph. of
a glory 1ust achieved. Jan" he said
softly. II THINK you for bringing me
fnce 10 face with God like yours.
You have taught me more than has
ever been preached into me. and this
great. glorious world of yours IL send
Ing INC back q better man for having
some into It. am going-sourn. some
day 1 will return. aAd will be one Of
this world and one Of your people. I
will come. and I will bring no curse.
II l could send this Word to her, ask
her forgiveness, tell her what ! have
almost been and that still have hope
--faith-l could 90 easier down into
that other world"
this word for you, msieur. and l will
take more, for l will tell her what It
has been the kind fate for Jan Tho
reau to find In the heart of M'sieur
Thornton. She is one of my people.
and she will forgive. and love you more
for what you have done. For this.
msieur, Is what the Cree god has Civ.
en- to his people as the honor of the
great SHOWS. She will still love you.
and If there is to be hope 1t will burn
In her breast too. M'sieur"-
Something like a sob broke through
Thorntons lips as he moved back
through the darkness.
And you'll will find you again.
They will know where ! 90 from
Oxford House. will leave word
with her." said Jan.
"Goodby." said Thornton huskily.
Jan listened until his footsteps had
died away. and for long time after
arms upon the little table. And Ka-
Fan. whining softly. seemed to know
that in the darkened room had come
to pass the thing which broke at last
his masters overburdened heart.
That night Jan Thoreau passed for
the last time back into the shelter Of
his forests. and all that night he trav.
ced. and with each mile that he left
behind him something larger and bold.
er grew in his breast until he cracked
his whip In the old way and shouted to
the dogs In the old way. and the blood
In him sang to the wild spirit Of the
wilderness. Once more he was home.
r. 1T k~.S1 nj,
home.
And from above him the stars look.
ed down like a billion tiny fires kin
died by loving hands to light his way
the stars that had given him music
peace. since he could remember and
that had taught him more OF the silent
power Of God than the lips Of man
could ever tell. From this time forth
Jan Thoreau knew that these things
would be his life. his god. He had
loved the forest-now he worshiped
IT, In its vast silence he still possess
ed Melissa.
Nearly month passed before he
reached Oxford House and found the
sweet faced girl whom Thornton low
ed. He did as Thornton had asked and
went on-into the north and east. HI
had no mission now except to roam II
his forests. He went down the Hayes
getting his few supplies at Indiar
camps and stopped at last, with thu
beginning Of spring. far up on the Cut
away. Here he built himself a caml
and lived for a time. setting dead fall!
for bear. Then he struck north agail
and still east, keeping always ava!
from Lac Balm. When the Hrst chill
winds of the bay brought warning O
winter down to him he was filled TO
a time with a longing to strike nortl
and west, to 60 once more back to hi
Barren Lands. But, instead, he wen
south. and 20 II came to pass that ,
year after he had left Lac Balm h,
built himself cabin deep In the for
est Of Gods river. Hfty miles from OK
ford House. and trapped once NOR
for the company. He had not forgot
ten his promise to Thornton. and a
. Oxford House left word where he coul,
be found II the man from civiliza tiol
should return.
In late midwinter Ian returned Il
} Oxford House with bis furs. 1t wa
on the night of the day that he cam
J into the post that he heard q French
man who had come down from tn
. north speak Of Lac Balm. None no
, ticed the change In JAMS face a. h
hung back in the shadows Of the com