The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER XII.
s4isrsPromise Kept.


~ across the open to meet him.
II am eeming to offer you the loan
of my razor" he cried gaily. "Iowaka
says that syon will be taken for bear
II the trappers see you"
"A beardis good to keep Off the black
flies" replied Jan. 1T is approaching
summer and the black flies love to
feast upon me. Let us go down the
trail, Jean. Iwant to speak with you"
Where there had been wood cutting
in the deep spruce they sat down, fac.
ing each other Jan spoke in French.
81 have travelled far since leaving
Lac Bain," he said. 81 went first to
Nelson House, and from there to the
Wholdaia. l found them at Nelson
House, but not on the Wholdaia."
"WhatT asked Jean, though he
knew well what the other meant.
MY brothers, Jean de Gravois," an
swered Jan, drawing his lips until his
teeth Cleaned in sneering smile.
"My brothers the carrion! I saw the
two at Nelson House. One of them Is
half wit, and the other'--he hunched
his shoulders-"is worse Petraud,
one Of the two who were at Wholdaia,
was killed by Cree father last winter
for dishonoring his daughter. The 9TH
er disappeared. So you see, Jean de
Gravois, what sort Of creature is your
friend Ian Thoreaur'
Il see that you are bigger fool
than ever" Jean said quietly. Jan
Thoreau, what II I should break my
oath-and tell Melissef"
Unflinehing the mebs eyes met. A
dull glare came into Cans. Slowly he
unsheathed his long knife and placed
It upon the snow between his feet
with the cleaning END of the blade
pointing toward Gravois With a low
cry Jean sprang to his feet.
"Do you mean that, Jan Thoreau?
Do you mean to give the knife chal-
lenge to one who has staked his life
for you and who loves you as a
brotherT'
"Yes," said Jan deliberately. az
love you, Jean, more than any other
man in the world. And yet will kill
you If you betray me 10 Melisser He
rose to his feet and stretched out his
hands 10 the little Frenchman. "Jean,
wouldn't you do as am doing?
Wouldn't you have done as much for
{owaka?"
For a moment Gravois was silent.
81 would not have taken her love
without telling her, he said then.
''That Is not what you and ! know as
honor, Jan Thoreau. But would
have gone to her, rs you should now
60 to Melissa, and she would have
opened her arms to me, as Melissa
would open hers to you. That is what
] would have done"
"And that is what shall never do"
said Jan decisively. turning toward
the post. II could kill myself more
easily. That is what wanted to tell
you, Jean. No one but you and must
ever known
Il would like to choke that fool OF n
Croisset for sending you to hunt up
those people ut Nelson House and
Wholdaia" grumbled Jean
ut was best for me-"
They saw Melissa leaving Iowaka's
Ao'na when they came from the forest
Both waved their hands to her, and
Jan cut across the opcn 10 the store.
Jean werA to the Cunmps cabin as
soon as he was sure that he was not
observed. There was little of the old
vivacity In his manner as he greeted
Melissa. He noted, too. that the girl
was not her natural self There WINS a
redness under her eyes which told him
that she had been crying.
"Mellsse," he said at last, speaking to
her with his eyes fixed on the cap he
was twisting In his fingers, there has
come great change over Jan"
"A very great change, lean. IL |
were to guess should say that his
heart had been broken down on the
Nelson trail"
Gravois caught the sharp meaning In
her voice, which trembed little as
she spoke. He was before her in an
instant, his cap fallen to the door, his
eyes blazing as he caught her by the
arms.
Eyes, the heart Of Jan Thoreau is
DIohtus ne CIltu buN ~ nus pVti
broken by nothing that lives on the
Nelson House trail. 1t is broken be
cause of-your
I'll" Melissa drew back from him
with breathless cry, 81 have bro
KEN
81 did not say that" interrupted
Jean. II say that 1t is broken because
of you. If only ] might tell your
"Do-do, Jean! Please tell meH' She
put her hands on his shoulders. Hell
eyes implored him. Tell me what
have done-what can / do, Jean"
81 can say that much to you, and nc
more he said quietly. only know
this, my dear-thnt there is n great grlei
eating at the soul Of Jan Thoreau, and
that because of this grief he is changed
/ know what that grief is, but | an
pledged never to reveal IT, 1t Is for yor
to find out. and to do this, above al