Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-04-04
CHAPTER X.
A Kiss and the Consequences.

KISS end tho Consequences.
n n ELISE saw little OF Jan dur
IV ing the day. At noon, Dixon
told her that he had made
a 4 up bis mind not to accom-
pany Thoreau on the trip south. The
following morning. before she was up,
Jan had gone She was deeply hurt
Never before had he left on one OF
his long trips without spending his
last moments with her. Outside Of her
thoughts OF Jan. the days and even
ings that followed were pleasant ones
for her. The new agent was as jolly
as he was fat. and took an immense
liking TO Melisse. Young Dixon was
good looking and brimming with life.
and spent great deal OF his time in
her company. For hours at time she
listened to his stories OF the wonder
ful world across the sea.
One day. n week after Jan had gone.
he told her about the women In the
world which had come to be q fairy
land 20 Melisse.
"They are all beautiful over there?"
she asked wonderingly, when he had
finished.
"Many of them are beautiful but
none so beautiful as you, Melisse." he
replied. leaning near to her. his eyes
shining. "Do you know that you are
beautifully"
His words frightened her so much
that she bowed her head to hide the
signs Of 1t In her face. Jan had often
spoken those same words--a thousand
times he had told her that she was
beautiful-but there had never been
this tiuttering of her heart before.
There were few things which Iowaka
and she did not hold In secret between
them, and day or two later Melisse
told her friend what Dixon had said.
For the first time lowaka abused the
confidence placed In her and told Jean.
"'rhe devili' gritted Jean. his face
blackening.
He said no more until night. when
the children were asleep. Then he
drew lowaka close beside him on a
bench near the stove and asked care
lessly:
MY angel, II one makes an oath to
the blessed Virgin and breaks 1t what
happensF
He evaded the startled look in his
wife's big black eyes.
"lt means that one will be forever
damned unless he confesses to priest
soon after. doesn't It? And II there is
no priest nearer than 400 miles it Is a
dangerous thing to do. is it notf"
A fierce snarllng and barking OF dogs
brought Gravois TO the door. They
could hear Croisset's raucous voice aud
the loud cracking Of his big whip.
"I'll be back soon." said Jean. closing
the door after him. but instead Of APP
proaching Croisset and the lighting
dogs he went in the direction Of Cum.
Minis cabin. He gritted his teeth as
young Dixon's laugh sounded loudly
In the cabin. 1.-TWO foolsl' he went on
communing with himself. 'Cummins
Jan Thoreau-both foolsw
During the week that followed jeans
little black eyes were never far dis
tant from Cummins' cabin. Without
being observed he watched Melisse and
Dixon, and not even to Iowaka did he
give hint of his growing suspicious.
Dixon was q man whom most other
men liked. There were fascinating
frankness In his voice and manner,
strength In his broad shoulders and a
general air Of comradeship about him
which won all but Jean.
The trap line runners began leaving
the post at the end Of the second week,
and after this Melisse and the young
Englishman were more together than
ever. Dixon showed no inclination to
accompany the sledges, and when they
|. were gone he and Melisse began taking
walks In the forest when the sun was
high and warm.
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