Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-28
7 he Honor
BY James
Oliver GurW@0d
CHAPTER XII.
Jan Returns.


only long enough to patch himself up
and secure fresh supplies.
Melissa had suffered quietly during
these two months, a grief and loneli-
ness filling her heart which none knew
but herself Even from Iowaka she
kept her unhappiness q secret, and
yet when the gloom had settled heavi-
est upon her she was still buoyed up
by persistent hope. Until JAMS last
visit 20 Lac Balm this hope never quite
went out.
The FIRST evening after his arrival
from the swamps to the west be came
20 the cabin. His beard had grown
again. His hair was long and shaggy
and fell in shining DISAGREEMENT upon
his shoulders. The sensitive beauty of
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 It
as he had played It, sobbing her loneli-
ness and her heart break through its
strings. in lone hours clasplng 1t 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 n mail runner came In from Fort
Churchill.
The runner brought new experience
into the life of Melisse-her first letter
IL was from young Dixon-twenty or
more closely written pages of It, in
which he informed her that be was
going 10 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 as 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 Churchlll!"
who in the world he began,
smiling at her, and stopped.
Its from Mr.. Dixon" she said. the
fush deepening in her cheeks. He's
going to spend part Of the winter
with us"
I'm glad OF that. Mellsse." said Jan
quietly. 81 like him aud 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
20 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 Athaba
ca. Spring did not see him at Lac
Balm. Early summer brought no news
Of him. In the hoOdss Jean went by
the waterway to the Athabasca anC
found Thoreau's cabin abandoned
There had no. been life in II for {
long time. The Indians said tina
since the melting SHOWS they had no
seen Jan. A halfbreed whom JeaI
met at Fond du Lac said that he haC
found the bones Of white man oil
the Beaver with a Hudson's bay guI
and horn handled knife beside them
Jean came back to Lac Balm hesV!
NJ heart.
There Il no doubt that he Is dead.
he told Iowaka. 81 do not believe tina
II will hurt very much II you tell Me
lisse."
one day early In September a Ion
figure came into the post at moo
when the company people were at din
ner. He carried a pack. and six deg
trailed at his heels. II was Jan Tho
Teau
Il have been down to civilization,
was his explanation. Il have return
ell 10 spend this winter at Lac Balm"
On the first snow came young Dixo
from Fort Churchill. Jean de Gravo
AAAiA nun vi AAAN II aAt hNaA A<OhNN
Bless me, II II isn't my old frien
Jean" he cried. Il was just thinkin
II YOU. Grayols. and how you trim
med me 10. finish two winters ag
I've learned a lot about you people u
here In the SHOWS since then. and /
never do anything like that agai
How Is Mrs. Gravois and the lit
Gravois-aud Melisse?' he added b
fore Jean had spoken.
"All well. M'seur Dixon" reptile
Jean. only the little Gravois hav
almost grown into a man and woman
IN hour or 80 later he said 10
wnka:
Il can't help liking this man Dixo
and yet l don't want TO. Why is it, {
you supposeT'
is IL because you are afraid tn
Melissa will Ike himg" asked bis vii
smiling over her shoulder.
Blessed saints, believe that is II
said Jean frankly. Il hate foreigne
and Melissa belongs to jan
~ woman Will not wait always
SAIL Iowaka softly. -Jan Thoreau b
waited too Iong!'
\ week later as they stood togeth
in front OF their door they saw DIX
and MellSSe walking slowly in the ed