Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-24

Ledoqs"
With a crack of his whip and
shout, Jan swung the dogs across the
open. with Melissa running lightly at
his side. From their cabin Jean ana
Iowaka called out shrill adieus.
"The day is not far or when they
two will be as you and l. my 1owaka,"
said Jean in his poetic Cree. II wager
you that it will be before her next
birthday"
And Melissa was saying:
81 wonder IL there are many people
as happy as Jean and Iowaka"
She caught her breath. and Jan crack.
cd on the dogs in squirt that left her
painting. a full dozen rods behind him.
With a wild halloo he stopped the
team and waited.
"That's unfair. Jan! You'll have to
put me on the sledge."
He tucked her in among the furs,
and the dogs strained at their traces,
with JAMS whip curling and swapping
over their backs. until they were leap
ing swiftly and with unbroken rhythm
of motion over the smooth trail. Then
to the leader. his moccasined feet TAX
ing the short. quick. light steps Of the
trained forest runner, his chest thrown
little out. his eyes upon the twist
ing trail ahead.
Mile after mile slipped behind, and
not until they reached the mountain
on which he had fought the mission
TDy, II tn
Melissa jumped from the sledge and
ran quickly to his side.
II can beat you to the top now"
she cried. "If you catch me- There
was the old witching challenge in her
eyes.
She sped up the side Of the ridge.
Painting and breathless, Jan pursued
with the dogs. Her advantage was
too great for him to overcome this
time. and she stood laughing down at
him when he came to the top of the
ridge.
you're as pretty as fairy, Me
lissew ne exclaimed, his eyes shining
with admiration. "Pretticr than the
fairy in the book!'
i uduk you. DTOtUeT UllUc! i Oc-
lieve you do still love me little"
more than ever in my life,' replied
Jan quickly though he tried to hold
his tongue.
AS they went on to LedOQs he found
that the joyousncss of the morning
was giving way again to the old gloom
and heartache. brother Jan Brother
, Jan. Brother Jam The words pound
ed themselves necessarily in his brain
until they seemed to keep time with
his steps beside the sledge.
Ledoq was stripping the hair fat
from fox skin when the team pulled
up in front of his cabin. When he
saw the daughter Of the factor at Lac
Bain with Jan he jumped briskly TO
his feet. flung his cap through the door
of the shack and began bowling and
scraping to her with all his might
Melissa laughed merrily as Ledoq
continued TO bow before her. rafting
away in a delighted torrent Of French
"Ah, thes ees wan gr-r-reat complee-
man. M'selle Melisse," he said. Then
he turned to Jan. did you meet the
strange team"
1--WE met no team"
Ledoq looked puzzled. Half a mile
away the top Of snow covered ridge
was visible from the cabin. He point
cd to It.
IAN hour ago I saw it going west
ward along the mountain three men
and six dogs. Whom have YOU out
from Lac Rain?"
'No one" replied Jan. at must have
been the new agent from Churchill
We expect him early this winter. Shall
we hurry back. Melissa. and see if he
has brought our books and violin
strings:"
"Yon must have dinner with me-"
objected Ledoq.
Jan caught a quick signal from Me-
lsse
"Not today, Iedoq It's early and
we have lunch for the trail. What
do you say, Mellsse?"
IF you're not tired. Jan"
'Tiredv'
He tossed the last package from the
sledge and cracked his long whip over
the dogs backs az they both cried out
their farewell to the little Frenchman.
'"IYredv' he repeated. running close
beside her as the team swung lightly
back into the trail and laughing down
into her face "HOw could ever get
tired with you watching me run, Nc
lisse?"
Il wouldn't mind if you did-just
little, Jan. Isn't there room for twow
She gave coquettish little shrug of
her shoulders. and Jan leaped upon the
moving sledge, kneeling close behind
her.
always. always, l have to ask your
she pouted. You needn't get too near,
you know. If you don't want tor
The old, sweet challenge in her voice
was irresistible, and for a moment Jan
felt himself surrendering to it. He
leaned forward until his chin was
buried In the silken lynx fur of her
coat, and for single breath he felt
the soft touch of her cheek against his
own. Then he gave sudden shout to
the dogs--so loud that it startled her
and his whip wrthed and snapped
twenty feet above their heads like a
thing filed with life.
He sprang from the sledge and again
ran with the team, urging them ON
faster and faster until they dropped
into painting walk when they came
to the ridge along which Ledoq two
! he