Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-14

forest awakening from It's long slum
Der In its bed OF snow.
The post fen back into tn old ways
Now and then q visitor came In frcu
out OF the forest but he remained fol
only q day or two. taking back into
the solitude with him few OF the
necessaries OF life. williams was busy
preparing his books Tor the coming Of
the company's chief agent from Lon.
don. and Cummins. who was helping
the factor. had good deal Of extra
time on his hands.
Before the last Of the snow was
gone he and Jan began dragging In
logs for an addition which they plan
ned for the little cabin Basking ont
In the sun. with huge bearskin for q
door. Melissa looked upon the new
home building with wonderful demon
STATIONS OF interest Cummlns' face
glowed with pleasure as she kicked
and scrambled on the bearskin and
gave shrill voiced approval Of their
efforts.
Jan was the happlest youth In the
world 1t was certain that the little
Melissa. nearly six mouths old. under
stood what they were doing.
As the weather grew warmer and
spring changed into summer Jan took
Melissa upon short excursions with
him into the forests. and be picked
Tor her great armfuls OF flowers
and arctic ferns. The grave was new
er without fresh offerings and the
cabin. with It's new addition complete.
was always filled with the beautiful
things that spring up out Of the earth.
Jan and Melissa were happy, and in
the joys or these two there was pleas
ure for the others Of the post. as there
had been happiness In the presence OF
the woman. Only upon Cummins had
there settled a deep grief The
changes OF spring and summer. bring
ing with them all that this desolatc
world held Of warmth and beauty. tll-
ed him with the excruciating pain OF
bis great grief. as II the woman had
died but yesterday.
At last. his gaunt frame thinned BY
eIeepless nights and days OF mental
torture. he said that the company's
business was calling him to Churchill,
and early In August be left FOR the
bay. He left Melissa "a care Of Jan,
and the child seemed to recognize the
guardianship
When Cummins came back from
Fort Churchill IN the autumn be
brought with him pack fun Of things
for Melissa. including new books and
papers. for which he had spent q share
Of bis seasons earnings. As be was
freeing these treasures from their
wrapping Of soft caribou skin. with
Jan and Alelisse both looking on. be
stopped suddenly and glanced from his
knees up ut the boy.
They're wondering over at Church.
IN what became Of the missionary who
left with the mail. Ian they say be
was iiist seen dt the Etnwney
-And NOT nereg replied Jan quickly
Not that they know Of. . said Cum,
minis, sin keeping his eyes Oh the
hoy, 'srhe man who drove him never
rot back 10 chnrchill They're wnn.
dpring where the driver went roo A
company officer has gone up to the
Etawney. and it is possible be may
come over 10 Lac Bain. don't believe
he'll find the missionary.
.sEeithpr do |. said Jan quite cooIly.
he Is probably dead. and the wolves
and foxes have eaten him before this
or mebby ze feeshT
Cummins resumed bis task Of I'M
packing. and among the books which
be brought forth there were two which
be gave to Jan.
The supply ship from London came
In while was at Churchill. and t;iose
came with It be explained They're
schoolbooks. There's going to be
school at Churchill next winter. and
the winter after that It viii be at York
factory. down on the Hayes He set
tied back on his heels and looked at
Jan. Its the tirst school that has ever
come nearer than 400 miles Of rs
That's at Prince Albert"
For many succeeding days Jan took
long walks alone IN the forest trails
and silently thrashed out the two prob
lens which cnmmins had brought back
from Churchill for him. Should he
warn Jean de Gravois that a company
officer was Investigating the disappear.
ance OF the missionary?
At first bis impulse was TO 60 at once
into Jeans hannts beyond Fond du Lac
and give him the news. but even II the
oficer did come to Post Lac Balm how
would be know that the missionary
was at the bottom of the lake and that
Jean de Grnyols was accountable for
It? So In the end Ian decided that 1t
would be folly to stir up the little hunt
er's fears. and be thought no more Of
the company's investigator who had
gone up to the Etawney.