The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-20

oVu H. SoIu NOuotuuCes uluue III
end Of her pencil.
Lois glanced at the slip Of paper bt
side her. "L'Hommedieu," she spelle
out slowly. First name Paul. Wha
does that mean, Connie?"
Man Of God. doesn't It. or God
man. Very medieval. isn't It? Hav
you seen him."
Lois nodded absently. her hands idl'
on her lap. her eyes looking out of th'
west window to where the falls sweep
over the dam in a great flashing horse
shoe OF light and foam. Above it III,
logs We're piled high in Jam. From
the window she could see the ne,
working on them. prying pushing try
ing TO release them.
It's the second day" Constance
talked on with the easy cheerfulncss
OF sixteen She was fresh from the
convent up II Grandierc. the quaint
ola canadian town across the Straits
here IN the white pine country of the
| >"'hSuit size seemed lOSt,
Lois was different. Years ago when
Doth girls were children, a man had
ridden one day up through the great
forests from the lake settlements, and
ne carried child before him on the
saddle. a girl with great, dark.lashed
blue eyes like his own. and short curly
brown hair.
She had for mother French girl
down Charlevoix way" he told Con-
stances mother and father. who kept
the Dig log house boarding place above
the falls. where the loggers lived in
the season. she Is very quiet little
girl. She will not bother anybody. |
VIII take care Of her. and pay for her"
You any relation to herr" asked
Betty Morgan. in her cheerful way that
no one took offense from "She looks
Just like you"
She is my daughter" the man told
her simply, Tier mother is very beau
tiful girl"
Where Is she?" asked BETTY blunt.
~ cycling the child, and noting the
good quality of her clothes This was
no logeer's child, she decided
She is dead. but one month now"
he answered gravely. one hand upon
the chld's head. after this Lois and
myself wc have to grow up together,
ch l.ois?"
lie had stayed there in the white
pine country for years. making few
friends. living at the Morgans, work
ing steadily. happy to watch the child
grow and blossom She was tall.
strong limbed girl. unlike the fluffy.
haired, blue-eyed Constance. She could
step from log to log like the men. and
loved to climb on the piled up mass Of
a jam above the falls. and peer over
at the foaming. leaping water far be.
low.
III makes me dizzy to do that. Lois"
Connie would say How can you! You
are like a boy"
"Ah. II she had been a boy. history
would have been all changed" her
father would exclaim, a sudden glow
tightening his eyes. Then she would
have taken up my work and finished |
II; now ! must leave II go for her
sake. and rest always beside her"
As she grew older the words had a
new meaning for Lois.
There Is somebody you would take
revenge on" she asked one day. with
a touch OF his own abruptness lie
met her gaze in silence for minute
How old are YOU. Lois?"
Nearly sixteen"
Your mother was nineteen when
you were bonn She Is so beautiful,
Lois; ] can never toll you how bcnui.
ful she was And there Is one man
who hates me always because | have
her He followed me down
rom the Straits. then back up through
he Territory, then down again, always
We know he is just there. behind us.
And finally. one night he came 10 our
place, our house. and she sits by The
ire rocking you 10 sleep. We Ar" far
n the woods, SO We give alwas- The
lights shelter to anybody who + lost
But when | see his face ! remember
lin. and your mother put you doHn
quickly. and comes between us even
While he lifts his gun and shoots at
ne"
Lois strong young hand clasped lis
'ghtly Her cheek was pressed against
is knee as she knelt beside him
ibid he get away"
Yes. have to look after her fret
"He patted her hair gently some
ay maybe We will find him"
IF we ever do" whispered Lois 1T
,on't make any difference, my being
irl. I will help you, father"
But the breath of life slipped og' Of
Id Fontaine before his hearts Gosire
anne true, and Lois had bcen left
lone al the Morgans. Connie fera' 70 !,
AZ tOHNtut, DHt Siic itfiidiHta #i'.--' III
he woods, with old Mrs tnrr n.
hen every spring when the Jog .rre a
Dated down the river. thor '8e =
aul L'IIommedieu up from a. :!
ettlements TO work in the * .
amp Ne was the first n =
yes had looked straight IT, r. u
hocn broad yol-np cbntr1Ffr = Z
,pped her own, who was d =
her keen wit and swift '.e II II