Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17

the laughing voices which they now
hrd. the melodramatic little French.
In pulled Jan to the door. Halfway
TOSS the open were Melissa and
waka carrying a large Indian bas-
between them and making merry
Dr. the task. when they saw Ora
Is and Jan they set down their bur-
b and waved an invitation for the
q men to come to their assistance.
You should be the second happiest
IN in the world. Jan Thoreau," ex-
tined Jean. 1.-THE 6rst Is Jean de
avois!"
le set of like a bolt from a spring
n in the direction Of the two who
Ire waiting for them. he had hoist.
the basket upon bis shoulder by the
be Jan arrived.
Are you growing old. too, JanT
Inferred Melissa as she dropped a few
bps behind Jean and his wife. "You
me so slowly"
4 think I'm twenty.nine."
30 looked at her steadily. the grief
hich he was fighting to keep back
khtening the muscles about bis
buth.
Like the quick passing Of sunshine
fun swept from her face. leaving
r blue eyes staring up at him. filed
til pain which he had never seen
them before. In moment he knew
at she had understood him. and he
uld have cut out hls tongue. Her
nd reached his arm. and she stopped
| m. her face lifted pleadingly, the
ars slowly gathering in her eyes.
Forgive meg' she whispered. her
Pice breaking into sob. "Dear.
bar Jan, forgive mel Today Is your
friday. Jan-yours and mine, mine
I'D yours-and we will always have II
at way, always. won't we. JAM"
pan was glad when the evening
me and was gone. Not until Jean
ID Iowaka had said good night with
toisset and his wife and both Cum.
|ins and Melissa had gone to their
|oms did he find himself relieved Of
|e tension under which he had strug.
ed during all of his playing and that
|ght's merrymaking in the cabin.
From the first he knew that his
Erves were strung by some strange
I'D lndefnable sensation that was
lowing within him-something which
could hardly have explained at first.
BIT which swiftly took form and mean.
IL and oppressed him moro as the
burs flow by.
AFTER the others had gone Cummins
It up to smoke a pipe. When he had
blshed ne went to his room. Jan
las now sleeping In room at the
|mpany's store, and after a time he
Use silently to take down his cap and
bat He opened the outer door quiet.
50 as not to arouse Melissa, who
I'D gone n bed half an hour before.
As he was about to go out there
me a sound. a low, gentle, whisper.
\ word:
|"Jani"
he turned. Melissa stood in her
Dor. She had not undressed, and her
hir was still done up in its soft coils,
It'll the crimson bakneesh shining 10
She came to him hesitatingly IN.
she stood with her two hands upon
Is arm. gazing into his tense face
18th that same question In her eyes.
Jan, you were not pleased with me
might" she whispered. "Tell me
|hy."
II was pleased with you. Melisse."
E replied.
He took one Of her hands that was
iuging to his arm and turned his
ice to the open night Countless stars
canned in the sky, as they had shons
q another night fifteen years ago.
uddenly there leaped up from Jan
horeau's breast 4 breath that burst
'om his lips in low cry:
"Melisse! Melissa! II was Just ff-
en years ago that I came In through
lat forest out there. starved and dy-
g. and played my violin when your
other died. You were a little baby
len. and since that night you have
ever pleased me more than nowr'
He dropped her hand aud turned
luarely to the door to hide what be
new had come into his face. He
card a soft, heartbroken little sob be-
ind him.
"Jan, dear Janw
She laughed. happy and trembling.
er lips held up to him.
:" didn't please You today" she whis.
cred. Il will never do up my hair
gainw
he kissed her, and his arms dropped
'0m her shoulders.
Never. never again-until you have
,rgotten to love me-" she repeated.
Good night, Brother Jan"
Across the open, through the thinned
dye OF the black spruce, deeper and
eeper into the cold, unquiveripg life
'ssness Of the forest Jan went from
ne door that closed between him and
[elisse, her last words still whisper.
lg In his ears. the warm touch of her
air on his cheeks and the knowledge
what this day had meant for him
Witty surging upon him, bringing
nth 1t torment which racked him to
ne soul.
He went on until ne came to where
be beaten trail swept up and away
rom a swamp. He plunged into 1t,
licking his tangled way until be stood
pom a giant ridge. from which he
'oked out through the white night into
ne limitless barrens to the north.
She was no longer the little Melissa.
is sister. he thought. And yet
He was almost saying her last words
loud: