Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17

but, instead Of dispieasing him, 1t 81
vague sensation Of pleasure trillin
like q new song within him
when they reached the post Meliss
went to the cabin with her baknees
and Jan to the company's store, whel
he met Jean de GravOis.
BLESSED saints. man. but is she nj
growing more beautiful every day
said Jean.
YES" said Jan. She will soon be
wor1an."
"A womanw shouted Jean. who. nd
having his caribou whip. jumped d
and down to emphasize his word
"She will soon be woman. did 20
say. Jan Thoreau? And II she Ii not
woman at thirty with two children1
God send others like them!-when VT
she be. | ask your
81 meant Mclisse." laughed Jan.
And | meant lowaka." said lea
He hoped out like cricket overbu
dened with life, calling loudly to h
wife. who came to meet him, and 50
ing to JAM
Hurry to the cabin. Jan, and Sc
what sort Of a birthday gift Meliss
has got for you"
The big room was empty when in
came quietly through the open doc
He stopped to listen and caught
faint laugh from the other room an
then another, and to give warning
his presence he coughed loudly an
scraped a chair along the 6oor. A md
ment's silence followed. The farthe
door opened little. and then 1t opene
wide. and Melissa came out.
Now, what do you think of md
brother Janr
She stood in the light of the window
through which came the afternoon SUI.
her hair piled In glistening coils upo
the crown OF her head as they had see
them In the pictures. her cheeks fiust
ed. her eyes glowing questioningly
Jan.
You are prettler than have eve
seen you. Melisse," he replied softly.
III am prettier and you like m
this way. why don't you
She finished with a sweet, upturne(
pouting Of her mouth. and with a sud
den. laughing cry Jan caught her L
his arms and kissed the lips she hell
up to him. 1t was but an instant, AMI
he freed her. hot blush burning q
bis brown cheeks.
"My dear brotherr' she laughed a
him. gathering up the bakneesh on tn |
table. II love to have ycn kiss md
and now l have to make you DO II
Father kisses me every morning whe
he goes to the store. l remember whe
you used to kiss me every time yo%
came home, but now you forget to d
1t at all. Do brothers love their sister
less as they grow olderT"
Sometimes they love the sister les
and the other girl more. Melisse." cam
quick voice from the door. and lea
de Gravois bounded In like a playful
cat scraping and bowling before Mo
lisse until his head nearly touched thu
floor. Lovely saints. Jan Thoreau
but she Is a woman. Just as my lows
ka told me!'
you're terribly in love. JEAN" cried
Melissa. laughing until her eyes wer|
wet; "1ust like some Of the people ID
the books which Ian and read"
"And l always shall be. my dear"
Melissa dung the red shawl over heI
head. still laughing.
II will 20 to see her, Jean"
"Well." said Gravois. looking search
ingly at Jan when abe had left, "shaI
I give you my best wishes. Jan Tho|
reau? Does It signify"
"Signify-whatT
The little Frenchman's ayes snapped
"Why, when our pretty Cree maide1
becomes engaged she puts up her hail
for the nrst time; that Is all. my deal
Jan"
He stopped suddenly, startled int@
silence by the strange look that had
come into the others face. For a full
minute Jan stood as II the power oj
movement had gone from him.
"No; it-means-nothing," he said
finally. speaking as II the words wer(
forced from him one by one. He drop
ped into a chair beside the table lik(
one whose senses had been dulled 81
an unexpected blow.
Jan Thoreau," whispered Jean soft|
~. "have you forgotten that 1t was
who killed the missioner for you. and
that through all of these years Jea4
de Gravois has never questioned yoq
about the fight on the mountain topt
Is there anything Jean de Gravoi}
can do?"
He sat down opposite Ian. his thin
eager face propped In his hands. and
watched silently until the other lifted
his head Their eyes met. steady. uni
finching. and in that look there wer(
the oath and the seal of all that th(
honor of the big SHOWS held for thosd
two
Still without words Jan reached with
III his breast and drew forth the LITTLE
roll wnich ne Ia. O. ,'''A' MS VIZ
lin. One BY one he handed the page1
over to Jean de Gravois.
My God" said Jean, when be bag
finished reading. He spoke no othee
words. White faced. the two mel
stared, JAMS throat twitching. Gravois
brown fingers crushing the rolls NJ
held.
THAT was why l tried to Kill thu
missioner" said Jan at last And
that-that-is why 1t could not signify
that Melissa has done up her hair.
He gathered up the papers so that the1
shot back into the little cylinder shaped
roll again
II understand" replied Jean In low
voice II understand and | praise th(