The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-08-29

him in the best of moods.
Melissa sat opposite Jan at the table.
She had twisted a sprig of red bak
neesh into her glossy braid, and a clus-
ter Of 1t .Destled at her throat, but Jan
gave no sign that he had noticed this
little favor. which was meant entirely
for him.
HAS Mncveigh put in i1is new trap
line?" 'Cummins inquired after asking
Jan many questions about mis- trip.
II don't know" replied Jan. 81 didn't
go to MacN'eigh's.'
4 Purposely he held his eyes from Me.
/ lisse. She understood his effort. and o
quick flush gathered in her cheeks.
] 1T was NacVeigh who brought In
word of YOU
! IL met him in the Cree lake, country,
but he said nothing of his trap lines"
He rose from the table with Cum
nins and started to follow him from
the cabin. Mebsse came between. For
a moment her hand rested upon his
arm.
You are going to stay with me,
jan" she smiled. II want your help
with the dishes. and then we're going
to play on the vioiin."
She pulled him into a chair as Cum
Minis left and tied an apron about Ills
shoulders.
CLOSE your eyes aud don't move"
she commanded. laughing into his sur
prised face us she ran into her room.
A moment later she returned with
one hand held behind her back. There
came the snip of scissors and little
nervous laugh close to his head.
ITS terribly long, Jan!" Her soft
hand brushed his bearded cheek.
"Ugh.' she shuddered. "You must
take that off your face. II you don't"-
"Why?' he asked through lack of
anything else TO say
She lowered her head until her cheek
pressed against his own.
Because 1t feels like bristles." she
whispered.
She Redeemed hercely when be- re-
manned silen(, and the scissors shipped
more rapidly between her fingers.
"I'm going to prospect the big
swamp along the edge of the Barrens
this summer" he explained soon.
laughing to relieve the tension. "A
beard will protect me from the black
flies
you can grow another"
She took the apron from about his
shoulders and held 1t so that he could
see the result of her work. He looked
up, smiling
THANK you, Melissa"
She went to the cupboard behind the
stove and brought out her fathers
shaving mug and razor.
Il insist that you shall use them"
she said. stirring the soap into lath-
or and noting the indecislon in his
Nce. II am afraid of you"
Afraid of me?'
He stood for a moment In front Of
the little miro. turning his face from
side to side. Melissa handed him the
razor and cup.
"You don't seem like the Jan that
used to know once upon time. There
has been great change In you since
iince"-
She hesltaled.
"Since when. Mellsse?'
"Since the day we came in from the
mountain and | put up my hair"
With timld sweetness she added, 81
haven't had II up again, jan"
She caught glimpse of his lathered
face in the glass staring Mt her with
big, seeking eyes. She had washed
the dishes before he finished shaving,
Then she took down the old violin
from the wall and began to play. her
low. sweet voice accompanying the in
strument In a Cree melody which To-
waka had taught her.
Surprised, he faced her. his eyes
glowing as there fell from her lips the
gentle love song of heartbroken In
dian maiden, filed with its infinite sad
ness and despair. He stood silent un-
til she had finished, staring down upon
her bowed head. When she lifted her
eyes to him, he saw that her long lash
es were wet and glistening In the lamp
glow.
She played again, her voice humming
with exquisite sweetness the wordless
music which he had taught her. AT
last she gave him the violin.
"Now you must play for me-"
81 have forgotten a great deal, Me-
lisse."
She was astonished to see how clum-
silly his brown fingers Travelled over the
strings. AS she watched him her heart
thrilled uneasily. 1t was not the old
Jan who was playing for her now, but
, a new Jan, whose eyes shone dull and
passionless, In whom there was no stir
of the old spirit of the violin. He wan
dered listlessly from one thing to an
other, and after few minutes gave
her the instrument again.
, without speaking, she rose from her
chair and hung the violin upon the
, wall.
"You must practice a great deal,