Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-28

him. her face lifted pleadinEly. the
tears slowly gathering in her eyes.
'Foryive me- she whispered. her
voice breaking into a sob. Dear.
dear Jan. forgive me-! Today is your
birthday. Jan-yours and mine. mine
and yourS-and we will always have II
that way. always. won't We JAM"
Jan was glad when the evening
came and was gone. Not until Jean
and Towaka had said good night with
CroiSset and his wife and both Cum
minis and Melissa had gone to their
rooms did he find himself relieved Of
the tension under which he had struc-
gIed during all Of his playing and that
nights matchmaking in the cabin.
From the first he knew that his
nerves were strung by some strange
and indetnabIe sensation that was
growing within him-sOmething which
he could hardly have explained at first.
but which swiftly took form and mean
ing and oppressed him more as the
hours few by.
sat up to smoke pipe. When he had
finished he went to his room. Jan
was now sleeping In n room at the
company's store. and after a time he
rose silently to take down his cap and
coat. He opened the outer door quiet
ly so as not to arouse Melissa. who
had gone to bed half an hour before.
AS be was about to go out there
came a sound. a low, gentle. whisper
ed word:
Jan"
He turned Melissa stood In her
door. She had not undreSsPd. and her
hair was still done up in its soft coils.
with the crimson takneesh shining In
1t. She came to him hesitatingly IN
til she stood with her two hands upon
his arm. gazing into his tense face
with that same question in her eyes.
Jan, you were not pleased with me
tonight" she whispered. Tell me
why"
81 was pleased with you. Mellsse."
he replied.
He took one of her hands that was
clinging to his arm and turned his
face to the open night. Countless stars
on another night fifteen years ago.
Suddenly there Ieaped up from Jan
ThOreau's breast breath that burst
from his lips in low cry:
"MeIisse. Melissa. 1t was just fif-
teen years ago that came in through
that forest out there. starved and dy
ing. and played my violin when yOnr
mother died You were a little baby
then. and since that night ynm have
never pleased me more than now"
He /dropped her hand and turned
Sqmrply to the door to hide what he
knew had come into his face. ~"
heard Il soft. hrartbr"krn little sob bn
hind him
Ian. dear Iam.''
She laughed. halrv AMI trembling
her lips held UP /" MIN
IL didn't rIrnes. vou to-day" she "'lt:s
pered 81 will never do up my hal.
aguip"
He kissed her. ana his arIus druppen
from Der shoulders.
Never. never again until yuu have
forgotten to love me-" she repeated
"Gund night. Brother Jan!
ArrosatlI" open. through the thinned
edge Of the black spruce, deeper ana
deeper into the cold. unquivrrinG life
IeSSIIeSS of the forest. Jan went from
the door that closed between him ana
MeiSSe. her last words still whispers
ing III his ears. the warm touch of her
hair on his cheeks and the knowledge
of what this day had nf7Imt for him
swiftly Surging upon him. bringing
with ii Il torment which rarked him To
the soul.
He went on until he came TO where
the beaten trail swept up and AWAY
from swamp He plunged into it.
picking his tangled way until he StnoG
upuu a giant ridge. from which hr
looked out through the white night into
the iinitIeScS Darrrn> to the north
She was no longer the little MrIiSSe
his sister. he thought And yet
liz was almost saying her hast words
aloud:
'GuOd night, Brother IAN"
She had come 10 him that dIy to let
him kiss her as Sh" lEu: come to him Il
thousand times before. bun hp n;lh EOl
kissed her in the old way. 1t wI> n
different love that his lips Ind given
and even now the hot blood Surged
again into his face rs he thought 81
what he had done. In that which mad
stirred his blood. thrilling him with
strange joy as he held her in MS arms.
he saw more than the shadow of sin
SH"riIp2e against Il thing which WAS
more precious to hin than life.
CHAPTER TX.
Tho Nnv Lie