Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07
ibid I not say that Jan had waited


aticn.
Deep down in his soul Jan knew that
each day was bringing the end or II
all much nearer for him. He did not
tell Melissa that he bod returned to
Lac Balm to be near her once more,
nor did he confidc in Jean. Day after
day he saw Melissa and the English
mnn together and. while they awak-
cned in him none of the fiery jealousy
which might have ranked In the bos-
ON Of Jean dc Gravois, the knowledge
that the girl was ut last passing from
him forever added Il deeper grief to
that which was already eating at his
heart.
Dixon made no effort to conceal his
feelings. He loved helisse. Frankly
he told this to jean opr day when they
were on the Churchill troil. In his
honest way he said things which broke
down tie last Of Jeans hereditary
prejudice,
II like him" he said to himself,
land yet I would rather see him In the
blessed hereafter than have him take
( Melissa from Janw
! The big SHOW decided 1t came
early in December. Dixon had set out
alone for IeGoq's early In the morn
ing. BY noon the sky was leaden
black. and little later one could not
see dozen PAGES ahead of him for the
snow The Englishman did not return
that day. The next day he was still
/ gone and Gravois drove along the top
/ of the mountain ridge until he came
/ to the Frenchman's. where he found
that Dixon had started for Lac Balm
the preceding afternoon. He brought
word back to The post Then he went
to Melissa
1T is as good as death to go out in
search of him." he said. I'VE can no
longer use the dogs. Snowshoes will
sink like leaden bullets by morning,
and to 90 ten miles from the post
means that there will be bones to he
picked by the foxes when the crust
comesw
It was dark when Jan came into the
cabin. Melissa started to her feet with
little cry when he entered, covered
white with the snow. A light pack
was strapped to his hack. and he car
ried his rifle in his hand
II am going to hunt for him." he
said softly. "If he is alive will bring
him back to you"
She came to him slowly. and the
beating Of JAMS heart sounded to him
like the distant drumming of par
fridge wings. All, would he ever for.
get that look? The old glory was in
her eyes, her arms were reaching out,
her lips parted. He saw her face so
near to him that he felt the touch OF
her sweet breath. and he knew that
one of his rough hands was clasped in
ment 1t was crushed tightly against
her bosom.
Gan. my hero
He struggled back, almost sobbing
as he plunged out into the night again.
He heard her voice crying after him.
but the wild waiting Of the spruce and
the storm in his brain drowned her
words He had seen the glorious light
Of love in her eyes-her love for Dixon !
Ana ne would fnd him!
He went to Ledoq's now, following
the top of the mountain. and reached
his cabin in the late dawn. The French
man stared at him in amazement when
he learned that he was about to set
nut on search for Dixon.
you will not find him." lie said slow.
ly in French. "but If you are determin.
I'd to 20 l will hunt with you 1t is
big chance that we will not come back"
II don't want you to CO." objected
Jan. lone will do rs much ms two I'm.
less we search alone. l came your way
TO find IL 1t had begun to snow before
Dixon left"
IAN hour after he had gone you could
rot see your hand before your face"
replied Ledoq, preparing his pack.
There is no doubt but that he circled
out over Lac Balm. We will go that
far together and then search alone"
They went back over the mountain
md stopped when instinct told them
that they were opposite the spruce for.
ests Of the lake. There they separated.
Jan going rs nearly as ne could guess
Into the northwest. Ledoq trailing slow
~ and hopelessIy into the south
1t was I'D great sacrifice for Jan. this
struggle with the hig SHOWS for the
happiness of Melissa, What it was to
I.edoq no man ever guessed or knew.
for 1t was not until the late spring
SHOWS had gone that the people at Lac
Balm found what the foxes and the
wolves had left Of him far to the south.
Fearlessly Jan plunged into the white
world Of the lake. There was neither
rock nor tree to guide him, for every
where was the heavy ghost ralment of
the Indian god. Day came, only lit
tie lighter than the night. He crossed
the lake, his snOwshoes sinking ankle
deep at every step. and once each half
hour he fired single shot from his
rifle. He heard shots to the south and
knew that 1t was Ledoq, each report
coming to him more family than the
last until they had died away entirely.
Across the lake he struck the forest
again. and his shouts echoed In futile
inquiry in its weird depths. At noon
Jan stopped and ate his lunch; then he
went on, carrying his rifle always upon
his right shoulder, so that the steps OF
his right leg would be shortened and he
would travel In a circle. as he believed
Dixon had done.
The storm thckened with the falling
OF NIGHT and hn hurrowo6 him colf n