Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07


vas two months before he appeared III
ne post again. and then he remained
mly long enough TO patch himself up
and secure fresh supplies.
Melissa had suffered quietly during
,hese two months. grief and loneli-
less filing her heart which none knew
hut herself. Even from lownka she
kept her unhappiness Il secret, ana
ret when the gloom had settled heaVi-
est upon her she was still buoyed M
by n persistent hope Until JAMS last
visit to Lac Balm this hope never quite
went out.
The first evening after his arrival
rom the swamps to the west he came
20 the cabin. His beard had grown
again. His hair was long and shaggy
md fell In shining DISAGREEMENT upon
his shoulders The sensitive beauty OF
his great eyes. once responsive to cv-
cry passing humor in Melissa, flashing
fun at her laughter. glowing softly in
their devotion, was gone.
This time Melissa knew that there
was left not even the last comforting
spark Of hope within her bosom. Jan
had gone out Of her life forever, leav-
ing to her as haunting ghost of what
they two had once been to each other
the old violin on the cabin wall.
After he went away again the violin
became more and more to her what 1t
had once been to him. she played it
as he had played it. sobbing her lonei-
ness and her heart break through its
strings. in lone hours clasping it to her
breast and speaking to it as Jan had
talked to it in years gone by
Once during the autumn Jan came in
for supplies and traps and his dogs and
sledge. He was planning to spend the
winter 200 miles to the west, in the
country Of the Athabasca. He was at
Lac Balm for a week, and during this
time mail runner came in from Fort
Churchill.
The runner brought new experience
Into the life of Melisse-her first letter
1t was from young DiXon-twenty or
more closely written pages Of it, in
which he informed her that he was
going to spend part of the approach
ing winter at Lac Balm.
She was reading the last page when
Ian came into the cabin. Her cheeks
we're slightly flushed by this new ex
element, which was reflected in hel
Eyes as she looked at Jan.
"a letter." she cried. holding out hel
two hands filed with the pages. "a
letter to me. Jan. all the way from
Fort Churchill"
"Who in the world he began
milling at her. and stopped
ITS from Mr.. Dixon" she said. the
lush deepening in her cheeks. He :
Eoing to spend part of the winter
With u.s."
quietly. II like him and would like to
know him better"
He did not see her again until six
months later, when he came in to the
caribou roast with his furs. Then he
learned that another letter had come
to Melissa and that Dixon had gone to
London instead Of coming to Lac Balm
The day after the carnival he went
back into the country Of the Athabas-
"a. Spring did not see him at Lac
Balm. Early summer brought no news
Df him. In the foods Jean went by
the waterway to the Athabasca and
found Thoreau's cabin abandoned
There had no: been life in 1t for n
long time. The Indians said that
since the melting SHOWS they had not
seen Jan. A halfbreed whom Jean
met at Fond du Lac said that he had
found the bones Of white man on
he Beaver with Hudson's bay gun
and a horn handled knife beside them.
Jean came back to Lac Balm heavy
at heart.
There Ia no doubt that he Is dead"
he told Iowaka. II do not believe that
Il will hurt very much If you tell Me-
hsse.'
One day early in September a lone
6gure came into the post at noon
when the company people were at din.
ner. He carried pack, and six dogs
srailec at his heels, 1t was Jan Tho.
reau.
II have been down to civilization"
was his explanation. II have return.
I'd to spend this winter at Lac Balm"
On the first snow came young Dixon
rom Fort Churchill Jean de Gravois
net him on the trail near Ledoq's.
BLESS me, II it isn't my old friend
Jean" he cried. 81 was just thinking
IF you, Gravois. and how you trim
med me to II finish two winters ago
I've learned a lot about you people "
here in the SHOWS since then, and II
never do anything like that again
How is Mrs. Gravois and the little
Gravois-and Meissey" he added be
fore Jean had spoken.
"All well. M'seur Dixon" replied
Jean. "Only the little -Gravois have
almost grown into man and woman
An hour or so later he said to 10
waka:
II can't help liking this man Dixon
md yet don't want to- Why is it, DE-
'ou SUPPOSED"
is 1t because you are afraid tha
Melissa will like him" asked his wife
milling over her shoulder.
BLESSED saints, believe that is It,!
said Jean frankly. II hate foreigners
and Melissa belongs to Jan"
"A woman will not wait always,
said Iowaka softly. "Jan ThOreau has
waited too long!'
A week later as they stood together
In front OF their door they saw Dixor
and Melissa walking slowly in the cdg,
nj Ia