The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-08-31
CHAPTER XII.
Jan Returns.

swamps and low ridge noun
a = tains along the Barrens. 1t
was two months before he appeared at
the post again, and then he remained
only long enough to patch himself up
and secure fresh supplies.
Melissa had suffered quietly during
these two months. grief and loneli-
ness filing her heart which none knew
but herself Even from Iowaka she
kept her unhappiness secret, and
yet when the gloom had settled heavi-
est upon her she was still 'buoyed up
by n persistent hope. Until JAMS last
visit to Lac Balm this hope never quite
went out.
The first evening after his arrival
from the swamps to the west he came
to the cabin. His beard had grown
again. His hair was long and shaggy
and fell in shining DISAGREEMENT upon
his great eyes, once responsive to ev-
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 1t
as he had played 1t, sobbing her loneli-
ness and her heart break through its
strings, in lone hours clasping 1t to her
breast and speaking to 1t as Jan had
talked to 1t 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 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
Jan came into the cabin. Her cheeks
were slightly flushed by this new ex-
element, which was reflected in her
eyes us she looked at Jan.
"a letter. she cried holding out her
two hands filed with the pages. "a
letter to me, Jan, all the way from
Fort Churchill"
"Who In the world he began,
smiling at her, and stopped.
"It's from Mr.. Dixon" she said, the
flush deepening in her cheeks. Hes
going to spend part of the winter
with u.s.
I'm glad of that. Melissa" said Jan
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-
ca. Spring did not see him at Lac
Balm. Early summer brought no news
Of him. In the floods Jean went by
the waterway to the Athabasca and
found Thoreau's cabin abandoned
There bad no. been life i'm It for a
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 n white man on
The Beaver with n Hudson's bay gun
and q horn handled knife beside them
Jean came back to Lac Balm heavy
Mt heart.
"There Is no doubt that he Is dead,
he told Iowaka. II do not believe that
1t will hurt very much If You tell Me-
lisse.'
One day early in September lone
figure came into the post at noon
when the company people were Mt din
ner. He carried n pack, and six dogs
trnIIeu ut MS necIs. II was Jan mo
reau.
~ have been down to civilization
was his explanation. II have return
ed to spend this winter at Lac Balm"
On the first snow came young Dixol
from Fort Churchill. Jean de Gravoi
met him Oh the trail near Ledoq's.
"Bless me, If 1t isn't my old frient
Jeanv' he cried. II was Just thinkin!
of you, Gravois, and how you trim
med me to u finish two waters ago
I've learned lot about you people NJ
here In the SHOWS since then, and III
never do anything like that again
How Is Mrs. Gravois ana the llttl,
Gravols-and MelisseT he added be
fore Jean had spoken.
"All well, M'seur Dixon" replied
Jean. "Only the little Gravols hay,
almost grown into man and woman.
An hour or so later be said 10 10
waka:
81 can't help liking this man Dixon