The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-03
The Honor
 By Oamn@s Oliver GWrW@0G
@W O@M0@S
(Continued.)

-~NN-~- at heart.
 There is no doubt that he is dead" he told Iowaka 'sI do not believe that it will hurt very much if you tell Me isse''
 One day early in September q lone figure came into the post at noon when the company people were at dtn- ger. He carried a pack, and six dogs srailed at his heels. It was Jan Tho reau
 'sI have been down to civilization" was his explanation. fI have return ed to spend this winter at Lac Bain." On the first snow came young Dixon from Fort Churchill Jean de Gravois met him on the trail near Ledoq's.
 Bless, me, if it isn't my old friend Jean!' he cried. 'I was just thinking of you, Gravois, and how you trim med me to a finish two winters ago. I've learned lot about you people up here in the snows since then, and I'll never do anything like that again. How is Mrs. Gravois and the little Gravois-and Melisse?" he added be- fore Jean had spoken.
 "Au well, M'seur Dixon,' replied Jean. HOnlys the little Gravois have almost grownkinto a man and woman" An hour orSso later he said to To- waka:
 q can't help s1ikfng this man Dixon, and yet don'ttwant to. Why'is it, do you supposeT
 ''Is it because you are afraid that Melisse will like him T' asked his wife, smiling over her shoulder. Blessed saints, I believe that is it!' said Jean frankly. q hate foreigners and MeI1sse belongs to Jan.''
 rxyIn al said Iowaka softly. "Jan Thoreau has waited too longr'
 A week later as they stood together in front of their door they saw Dixon and Melisse walking slowly in the edge of the forest. The woman laughed into Jeans face.
 'Dfd I not say that Jan had waited too long?'
 Jeans face was black with disappro- bation. He was angered at the cool ness with which Jan accepted the situ- ation.
 Deep down in his soul Jan knew that each day was bringing the end of fl all much nearer for him. He did not tell Melfgse that he had returned to Lac Bain to be near her once more, nor did he conf1de in Jean. Day after day he saw Melisse and the English
 
 ened in him none of the fiery Jealousy which might have ranked in the bos- om of Jean de Gravois, the knowledge that the girl was at last passing from him forever added a deeper grief to that winch was already eating at his heart.
 Dixon made no effort to conceal his feelings. He loved AGelisse. Frankly he told this to Jean one day when they were on the Churchill trail. In his honest way he said things which broke down the last of Jeans hereditary prejudices.
 NI like him." he said to himself, "and yet would rather see him in the blessed hereafter than have him take Melisse from Janv'
 early in December. Dixon had set out alone for Ledoq's early in the morn ing By noon the sky. was a leaden black, and a little later one could not see a dozen paces 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 be came to the. Frenchman's, where he found that Dixon had started for Lac Bain the preceding afternoon. He brought word back to the post. Then he went to Melisse.
 'Tt is as good as death to go out in search of him. he said. eve can no longer use the dogs. Snowshoes will sink like leaden Bullets by morning, and to go ten miles from the post means that theFD will be bones to be picked by the foxes when the crust comesr'
 It was dark when Jan came into the cabin Melisse started to her feet with a little cry when he entered, covered white with the snow A light pack was strapped to his back, and he car ried his rife in his hand
 'I am going to hunt for him,'' he said softly. "If he Is alive I will bring him back to you"
 She came to him slowly, and the beating of Jan's heart sounded to him like the distant drumming of par fridge wings. An, 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 both of her own and that after a mo- rnent it was crushed tightly against her bosom.
 ''Jan, 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 wailing 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! And he would find 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