Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-23

when M'Sleur Simpson was factor and
la Madame took a great fancy to her
and taught her a great deal that civil.
lied people know. Then she died, la
Madame. and the new factor and his
Cree wife came to the Post. Mabala
loved her adopted people, and for that
all the Crees hated her and Stunned
her. The factors Cree wife hated her
most of all. more than she hated the
Sarcees. Three times a year Lone Ar
rows son came to the Post with what
was left Of his fathers tribe. ana
brought their furs, and it was at these
times that the young people, grown
now to manhood and womanhood.
found their hearts beating with love-"
Pierrot rose TO his feet and looked
far up the river, with his back to
Philip.
THE Sarcee band came last to the
Post six weeks ago." he finished. "A
little before that the new Missioner
had come over from Churchill. He
was bad, M'sieur. He attempted to in
suit Maballa in way which is COM
mon to the followers of the civilized
mans God. Maballa fled to the Sar.
Gee camp. and Sakimay, the pagan
son of Lone Arrow. hunted the Mis-
sioner out and they fought. The
Missioner was killed. so was Sakimay
Their two graves are side by side, so
close that You may reach from one to
the other. over the Missioner's grave
is the white cross of God; around
Sakimay's there is fence Of sapling
pickets, tins filled with meat. tiny
canoe, a tepee as large as your hand
and such weapons. made of wood. as
he will need in the hereafter. There
are ten or fifteen OF the Sarcees, and
they have drawn back few miles. and
guarded themselves. There has been
a little fighting. and it is fortunate for
the Sarcecs that Cree and a half
breed have been killed. do not I'M
derstand why the Sarcees remain, for
some day will find them all dead un
less they move think, M'sieur. II
must be because of Maballa. For
each day two women come to the
graves with their offerings for the
dead. One OF these is the Missioner's
Indian wife, who has turned Chris.
tian. and the other is Maballa, the
pagan Cree
For days after this stop al the port
age Jean Pierrot spoke no more of
Maballa and her people. except to an
swer Philips questions. He dropped
into the moody silence of the forest
man, saying no moro than a dozen
words at night when they stopped to
camp. even when Philip brought up
again and again the question of the
three Gods. The half-breed was al
ways sitting beside the fire when he
went to his blankets, and once he
awoke, long after midnight, to find
Jean sitting where he had left him
la
ceased TO question him, and began 20
study him in another way He knew
that something was troubling Jean
Several times, when Jean thought him
asleep, he saw Pierrot take the ivory
cross from his breast and hold 1t in
his hands; and one night, when the
spring wind was wailing mournfully
through the spruce tops, Jean stood up
in the light of the campfire with his
hands and the cross stretched above
his head as If in an attitude Of prayer.
The night before they came to the
Post on the Beaver Pierrot raised his
head from between his hands and
looked across the fire at Philip, who
was smoking his pipe.
"M'siour," he exclaimed suddenly, Il
have never seen a more beautiful
woman than Maballa, even in Montreal
and Quebec. | have seen her with her
hair down, Msieur, falling to her
knees. glstening like a ravens wing
in the sun. Her voice Is like that OF
the bird-futes which we make of reeds
for she s a Cree. swear to God
il she was not a pagan | would fight
for her, and for her people"
In an instant Philip had gone to his
} side, and reached down hand.
Jean Pierrot," he said quietly. "You.
too love this girl"
Jean lifted his head slowly. His
} slim, dark hand met Philips; in his
J eyes there glowed soft light
Yes, NJ 'sieur, love her"
He dropped his head again, slowly
and said: But she has betrayed her
, God, II went to her now, after SAX
, imay is dead. and gave her my love,
and fought for her, l would be betray'
ing my God-the God of the Virgin
for a woman. For she is pagan"
AS the halfbreed walked out into
= the Gloom Philip watched him until
his form disappeared among the fores,
shadows, wondering what the world
} would be If the God Of all people were
as omniscient as this God of Jean
, Pierrot's,
5 that promised rain when the canoe OF
! Philip and Jean Pierrot came into The
+. last straight-water of the Beaver, a
2 quarter of mile from the Post Above
/ the thick spruce and balsam there was
. an unusual glow in the sky, and wher
1 their canoe ran into the landing they
= were greeted by mad rush of howl
3 ing dogs and crowd Of Cree masters
= who dashed right and left with short
J. whips, while dozen Indian boys
0 shouted and kicked In the faces Of thu
s savage huskies. Philip noticed tina
J. most of the men carried rifles.
The tumut brought Cockhurn, tn
j. factor. to the door of the Compan!
e store. and when he saw that one of TIT
|, newcomers was Jean Pierrot he los
I no time in shaking hands with Philip
e who introduced himself before Jeal
could speak. Then he locked the door
"You saw them" he said, rubbin
@ his hands together nervously. "Thirt
of the cussedest, blood-thirstiest Cree
you ever laid eyes on, and you're her
d Just in time to put the stamp OF tn
Q law on what they're going to do tc
s morrow. cant hold them In anothe
e minute"
"I,va got a nretty good idea Of th