Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-05-16
Copyright. on.
nn toe Bohbs Merrill Co
lcontinued from paae sd


she were living. have done more
than that. m'sleur. have given up
all, for none OF II Is mine. A half viii
go to the two children whom he de.
serted. The other half win so to the
child that was unborn. The mother
is-dead."
After time Thornton said:
There Is More, Ian?"
"Yes, there is more. m'sieur." said
Jan, $50 much more that if were
to tell II to you II would not be hard
for you to understand why Jan Tho
reau Is the unhappiest man In the
world, have told you that this Is but
the beginning. have not told you Of
how the curse has followed me and
robbed me of all that is greatest In
llfe-how II has haunted me day and
night, m'sieur. like black spirit, de-
stroying my hopes. turning me at last
into an outcast. without people, with
out friends, without-that-which you.
too. will give up In this girl at Oxford
House. M'sieur. am right? You viii
not go back to her. You win go south
and some day the great God will re
ward you"
He heard Thornton rising In the
kark
shall | strike a light, m'sieurT
No" said Thornton close TO him, "
the gloom their hands met. There was
a change III the others voice now
something OF pride. of triumph. oil
a glory Just achieved. Jan" he said
softly. II thank you for bringing mt
face to face with God like yours
You have taught me more than has
ever been preached into me. and this
great. glorious world OF yours is sen1
ing me back a better man for having
come into It. am going-south. Some
day | will return. and will be one of
this world and one of your people. ]
will come, and | will bring no curse.
If / could send this word to her, ask
her forgiveness, tell her what have
almost been and that still have hope
-faith-I could 30 easier down into
that other world"
"You cam" said Jan. II will take
this word for you, m'sieur. and will
take more, for | will tell her what 1t
has been the kind fate for Jan Tho
reau to find in the heart of Msieur
Thornton She is one of my people,
and she will forgive, and love you more
for what you have done. For this.
m'sieur, is what the Cree god has Civ.
en- to his people as the honor of the
great SHOWS. She will still love you,
and If there Is to be hope 1t will burn
In her breast too. M'sieur"-
Something like a sob broke through
Thornton's lips as he moved back
through the darkness.
And you'll will find you againi"
"They will know where | go from
oxford House. will leave word
with her," said Jan.
"Goodby." said Thornton huskily.
Jan listened until his footsteps had
died away, and for long time after
that he sat with his head buried In his
arms upon the little table. And Ka.
zan, whining softly. seemed to know
that In the darkened room had come
to pass the thing which broke at last
his masters overburdened heart.
That night Jan Thoreau passed for
the last time back into the shelter of
his forests, and all that night he trav'
eled, and with each mile that he left
behind him something larger and bold
er grew in his breast until he cracked
his whip In the old way and shouted tc
the dogs in the old way, and the blood
In him sang to the wild spirit of the
wilderness. Once more he was home
To him the forest had always beer
| home.
And from above him the stars look
ed down like a billion tiny fires kin
died by loving hands to light his way
the stars that had given him music
peace, since he could remember ant
| that had taught him more of the silen
power of God than the lips of mar
could ever tell. From this time forti
| Jan Thoreau knew that these thing!
would be his life, bis god. He ha(
loved the forest-now he worshipet
1t. In its vast silence he still possess
ed Melisse.
Nearly month passed before hi
reached oxford House and found th'
sweet faced girl whom Thornton lov
ed. He did as Thornton had asked ant
went on-.into the north and east. HI
had no mission now except to roam fl
his forests. He went down the Hayes
getting his few supplies at Indial
camps and stopped at last. with tn
beginning of spring. far up on the Cut
away. Here he built himself CAM
and lived for time, setting dead fall
for bear. Then he struck north agall
and still east, keeping always ava.
from Lac Balm. When the first chi
winds Of the bay brought warning o
winter down to him he was filed 70
a time with longing to strike mort
and west, to go once more back to hi
Barren Lands But instead. he wen