Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-05-09
THE HONOR OF
THE BIG SHOWS
Continued from page 81
Continued from page 81
the earthr

| uornton Strengthened himSelt ana
wiped his pale face. Suddenly he rose
to his feet and motioned for Jan to fol.
low him. He walked swiftly out into
the night aud still faster after that un.
Ill they passed beyond the town. From
where he stopped they could look over
the forests far into the pale light Of
'!ie south.
That's hell for me@ said Thornton.
pointing, "It's what we call civillxa.
tion-but it's mostly hell! wish to
God could stay here-always!
"You love her." breatned Jan. "You
can stay"
II can't" groaned Thornton. "I can't
-unless"-
What, m'sieurw
"Unless lose everything-but her"
JAMS fingers trembled as they sought
Thornton's hand.
"And everything is-is-nothing when
you give 1t for love and happiness" he
urged. The great God. know
Everything, cried Thornton. Don't
you understand? | said everything"
He turned almost tlercely upon his
companion. I'D give up my name
for her. I'd bury myself back there In
the forests and never so out OF them
for her. I'd give up fortune, friends,
lose myself forever-for her. But
can't. Good God, don't you under.
stand?"
Jan stared. His eyes grew large aud
dark.
"lve spent ten years of worse than
hell down there with woman" went
on Thornton. at happens among us
frequently, this sort OF hell. l came
up here to get out OF It for time.
You know now. There is woman
down there who-who is my wife.
She would be glad IL | never returned.
She Is happy now when | am away.
and l have been happy for time.
know what love is. l have felt It.
have lived 1t. God forgive me. but
am almost tempted to go back to her"
He stopped at the change which had
come In Jan. who stood as straight
and as still as the blank spruce b..
hind them. with only his eyes show.
ing that there was life In him. Those
eyes held Thorntons. They burned
Upon him through the gray gloom MS
he had never seen human eyes burn
before. He waited. half startled, and
-=----r---~~s----@Es- Nut-U ttssse--was
nothing of that which Thornton saw
in his eyes.
1t was low and soft. and. though It
had that which rang like steel. Thorn
ton could not have understood or fear.
ed it more
"M'sIeur, how far have you gone
with herr"
Thornton understood and advanced
with his hands reaching out to Jan.
only as far as one might go with
the purest thing on EARTH" he said. ~
have sinned in loving her and In let
ting her love me, but that is all, Jan
Thoreau. l swear that Is ALL"
"And you are going back into the
southr"
"Yes, I ain going back into the
south"
The next day Thornton did not go.
He made no sign of going on the sec
ond day. So 1t was with the third.
the fourth and the fifth. On each of |
these days Jan went once, in the after
noon, to the Office of the subcommIs- |
sioner, and Thornton always accompa-
MED him. At times when Jan was not |
looking there was hungry light in his
eyes as he followed the others move
ments, and once or twice Jan caught |
what was left of this look when he
.urned Unexpectedly. He knew what
vas in Thornton's mind, and he pItied
lin. grieved with him In his own heart
Until his own secret almost wrung it.
elf from his lips.
The ninth day was the last day for
Ian Thoreau. In dazed sort of way
le listened as the subcommissioner
old him that the work was ended
They shook hands. 1t was dark when
Ian came out from the company's Of
Ices, dark with pale gloom through
which the stars were beginning to glow
with ghostly gloon, lightened still
more in the north with the rising fires
II the northern lights. Alone Jan stood
or few moments close down to the
liver. Across from him was the for
'st, silent, black, reaching to the end
# the earth, and over 1t, like a signal
light, beckoning him back to his world,
he aurora sent out its shafts of red
nd gold. And as he listened there
anne to him family distant wailing
ound that he knew was the voice
rom that world, and at the sound the
air rose along Kazan's spine, and he
Thlned deep down in his throat. JAMS
reath grew quicker, his blood warmer.
)ver there-across the river-his world
1as calling to him, and he, Jan Tho
eau, was now free to go. This very
light he would bury himself in the for
st again and when he lay down to
Ieep it would be with his beloved stars
bove him, and the winds whispering
and brotherhood to him in
lie spruce tops. He would go-now. He
'ould say goodby to Thornton and 20.
He found himself running, and Ka-
IN ran beside him. He was breath
'ss when he came to the one lighted
+raat Of Tho foTuy, IT. I,...to1 |