Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-21
7 he Honor
BY James
Oliver GUrW@0@
CHAPTER <.
A Kiss ana the Consequences.

n LI4SSE saw ult!e OF Jan our
N ing the day. AT noon, Dixon
told her that be had made
4 \ ID his mind not TO accom-
pany Thoreau on the trip south. The
following morning. before she was up,
Jan had gone. She was deeply hurt
Never before had he left on one OF
bis long trips without spending his
last moments with her. Outside OF her
thoughts Of Jan. the days and even
ings that followed were pleasant ones
for her The new agent was as jolly
as he was Fat. and took an immense
liking 20 Melissa. Young Dixon was
good looking and trimming with life,
and spent a great deal of his time in
her company. For hours at a time she
listened TO his stories of the wonder
ful world across the sea.
One day, a week after Jan had gone,
he told her about the women in the
world which had come 10 be a fairy
land TO Melissa.
They are all beautiful over there"
she asked wonderingly, when he had
finished.
Many OF them are beautiful, but
none 50 beautiful as you, Melissa" he
replied. leaning near Ia her, his eyes
shining. DO you know that you are
beautiful
His words frightened her so much
that she bowed her head 10 hide the
signs Of il in her face. Jan had often
spoken those same wOrds-a thousand
times he had told her that she was
beautful-but there had never been
this fiutteriuC Of her heart before.
There were few things which IOwaka
and she did not hold in secret between
them. and a day or two later Melissa
told her friend what Dixon had said.
For the first time lowaka abused the
confidence placed I'm her and told Jean.
The DEVIL" gritted Jean, his face
blackeuinC.
He said no more until night, when
the children were asleep. Then he
drew Iowaka close beside him on a
bench near the stove and asked care
leSsly:
My angel. II one makes an oath TO
the blessed Virgin and breaks il what
happens:"
lie evaded the startled look in his
wife's big black eyes.
1T means that one will he forever
damned unless he confesses TO n priest
soon after. doesn't IL? And II there is
no priest nearer than 400 miles il is d
dangerous thing to do. is It not?"
\ fierce snarliug and barking Of dogs
brought GravOis TO the door. They
could hear Croisset's raucous voice anc
the loud cracking Of his big whip.
"I'l Doe bnck soon" said Jean. closinG
the door after him, but instead OF ap
preaching Croisset and the fghtinl
dogs he went I'm the direction OF Cum
MUS cabin. He gritted his teeth a,
young DiNon's laugh sounded loudly
I'm the cabin Two foolsw he went or
communing with himself "Cummin'
Jan ThoTeau-both fools"
During the week that followed Jean,
little black eyes were never far dis
taut from Cummins' cabin Withou
being observed he watched Melissa an
Dixon, aud not even TO Iowaka did
give hint OF his growing suspicion
llNtu WIS a man NnOlu most ONut
men liked. There were fascinatin
frankucss IN his voice aud manne
strength in his broad shoulders and
general air OF COmradeship about hi
which won all but Jean.
The trap line runners began leaviI
the post at the end Of the second wee
and after this Melissa and the youI
Euglishmau were more together tina
ever. Dixon showed no inclination
accompany the sledges. and when the
We're gone he aud Melissa began takiI
walks in the forest when the sun W;
high and warm.
II was ON one Of these days that JET
had gone along the edge " the carib,
swamp that lay between the Barrel
and the higher forest. He heard Il
sound Of voices ahead Of him. and
moment later he recognized them
those of Melissa and Dixon. His ia
cloudcd, and his eyes snapped fire.
He pccred forth from the bushes,
loyal heart beating a wrathful TAFT
when he saw that Dixon dared put /
hand on NciiSSe'S arm. They we
coming very slowly, the EngliShm
bending low over the girls bowed heG
talking 10 her with strange earne