Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-28
CHAPTER VIII.
Remuneration.
Copyright. on.
bp the BobbS HerriII Co.


tivaI that they were to have in the
cabin that night High mp on the face
OF Jagged rock Jan saw bit of the
crimson vine thrusting itself out into
the sun, and, With Melissa laughing
and encouraging him from below, he
climbed up until he had secured it
He tossed 1t down to her.
Its the last one" she cried. seeing
his disadvantage, land Fm going home.
You cant catch me-"
Jan slackened his steps. 1t was a
Joy to see Melissa springing from rock
to rock and darting across the thin
openings close ahead Of him. her hair
loosening and sweeping out in the sun.
her slender figure fleeing with the light.
ness Of the pale sun shadows that ran
up and down the mountain.
He would not have overtaken her OF
his own choosing. but at the foot of
the ridge Melissa gave up. Never had
he seen her so beautiful. still daring
him with her laugh, quivering and
painting. fiinging back her hair. Half
reaching out his arms, he cried:
"MeIlsse. you are beautlful-you are
almost woman! If you did your hair
no like the pictures we have in the
books you would be a woman" he an
severed softly. "You are more beauti.
full than the pictures!"
.'You say that l am pretty and that
] atn almost woman" she pointed.
'.nnG yet She shrugged her shout
ders ut him In mock disdain. "Jan
ThoreaD, this is the third time In the
last week that you have not played
the game right. won't play with
you pny moreT
In a fash he was at her side, her
face between his two hands. and.
beading down, he kissed her upon the
mouth.
"There,. she said as he released her.
Isn't that the way we have played 1t
ever since | can remember? Whenever
you catch me you may have that"
IL am afraid. Melissa" he said Sc
riously. "yoE are growing so tall and
30 pretty that am afraid"
Afraid. Ny brother afraid to kiss
me! And what will you do when i
get to be woman. Jan, which will be
I very soon, you say"
Il don't know. Melissa"
She turned her back to him and
flung ont her hair. and Jan. who had
done this same thing for her hun
dred times before, divided the silken,
mass into three strands and plated
them into a, braid.
II don't believe that you care for me
as much as you used to. Jan. / wish
We're q woman. so that ! might
know II you are going to forget me
entirely
Her shoulders trembled. and when
he had finished his task he found that
she was laughing and that her eyes
were swimming with a new mischief
which she was trying to hide from
him. In that laugh there was some
thing which was not like Melissa
Slight as the change was he noticed it;
but. Instead of displeasing him, it set
vague sensation of pleasure trilling
like new song within him.
"
went to the cabin with her bakneesh
and Jan to the company's store, where
he met Jean de Gravois.
Blessed saints. man. but is she not
growing more beautiful every day?"
said Jean.
EYES," said Jan. "She will soon be a
woman"
"a womanr' shouted Jean. who. not
having his caribou whip, jumped up
and down to emphasize his words.
she will soon be a woman, did you
say. Jan Thoreau? And If she is not a
woman at thirty with two children
God send others like them!-when will
she be, ask you?'
81 meant Melisse." laughed Jan
And l meant Iowaka." said Jean.
he hoped out like n cricket overbur-
dened with life, calling loudly to his
wife. who came to meet him, and say
: ing to Jan:
Hurry TO the cabin. Jan, and see
what. sort of birthday gift Melissa
has got for you"
The big room was empty when Jan
came quietly through the open door.
He stopped to listen and caught a
faint laugh from the other room and
then another. and TO give warning of
his presence he coughed loudly and
scraped chair along the floor. A mo-
ment's silence followed. The farther
door opened a little, and then it opened
wide and Melissa came ont
Now, what do you think Of me,
brother Jan?"
She stood in the light Of the window.
through which came the afternoon sun.
her hair piled in glistening coils upon
the crown Of her head as they had seen
them in the pictures. her cheeks flush
ed. her eyes glowing quesuontngly at
Jan.
"You are prettier than have ever
seen you, Mellsse," he replied softly.