Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-04-18

4
was left not even the last comforting
spark Of hope within her bosom. Jan
had gone out OF her life forever. Ieay.
ing 10 her as a haunting ghost OF what
they two had once been TO each other
the old violin on the cabin wall.
After he went away again the violin
became more and more TO her what II
had once been to him. She played II
as he bad played 1t, sobbIng her loneII-
ness and her heart break through its
strings, in lone hours claspIng It to her
breast and speaking to It as Jan had
talked TO It 10 years gone by.
Once during the autumn Jan came in
for supplies and traps and his dogs and
siedge. He was planning to spend the
winter 200 miles TO the west, in the
country OF the Athabasca. He was at
Lac Balm for week. and during this
time mail runner came in from Fort
Churchill.
The runner brought new experience
into the life Of Melisse-her FIRST letter.
It was from young DlxoB-twenty or
more closely written pages Of Il. in
which be Informed her that he was
going TO spend part OF the approach
ing winter at Lac Balm.
She was reading the last page when
Jan came into the cabin. Her cheeks
were slightly flushed by this new ex-
citement. which was reflected In her
eyeg ma she looked nj Ian.
"a letter. she cried. holding out her
two hands filed with the pages. "A
letter to me. Jan. all the way from
Fort ChurchIll!"
"who In the world he began.
smiling at her. and stopped.
Its from Mr.. Dixon" she said, the
flush deepening In her cheeks. Hes
going to spend part Of the winter
with u.s."
I'm glad OF that. MelIsse." said Jan
quietly. Il like him and would like to
know him better"
he did not see her again until six
months later. when he came 10 to the
caribou roast with his furs. Then he
learned that another letter had come
to MelIsse and that Dixon had gone to
London instead OF coming to Lac Balm.
The day after the carnival he went
back into the country of the Athabas-
ca. Spring did not see him at Lac
Balm. Early summer brought no news
of him. In the foods Jean went by
the waterway to the Athabasca and
found Thoreau's cabin abandoned.
There had no. been life in 1t for
long time. The indians said that
since the melting SHOWS they had not
seen Jan. A halfbreed whom Jean
met at Fond du Lac said that he had
found the bones of a white man on
the Beaver with Hudson's bay gun
and horn handled knife beside them.
Jean came back to Lac Balm heavy
at heart.
There Is no doubt that he Is dead"
he told Iowaka. Il do not believe that
II win hurt very much II you tell Me
lisse."
One day early In September a lone
figure came into the post at noon
when the company people were at din
ner. He carried rack. and six dogs
trailed at his heels. 1t was Jan Tho
reau.
Il have been down to civilization"
was his explanation. II have return
ed to spend this winter at Lac Balm"
On the first snow came young Dixon
from Fort Churchill Jean de Gravois
met him on the trail near Ledoq's.
"Biess me. If il isn't my old friend
Jeanw he cried. Il was just thinking
Of you, Gravois, and how you trim
med me to a finish two winters ago.
I've learned lot about you people up
here In the SHOWS since then, and I'll
never do anything like that again.
How is Mrs. Gravois and the little
Gravois-and MelisseT" he added be-
fore Jean had spoken.
"All well, M'seur Dixon" replied
Jean. "0nly the little Gravois have
almost grown into man and woman"
An hour or so later he said TO 10,
waka:
81 can't help liking this man Dixon,
and yet don't want to. Why is it, do
you supposer"
sis 1t because you are afraid that
Melisse will like himT" asked his wife,
smiling over her shoulder
Blessed saints, believe that is itr'
said Jean frankly. II hate foreigners
and Melisse belongs to Jan"
"a woman win not wait always"
said Iowaka softly. "Jan Thoreau has
waited too longr'
A week later as they stood together
in front of their door they saw Dixon
and Melisse walking slowly in the edge
Of the forest. The woman laughed
into Jeans face.
"Did l not say that Jan had waited
too long?"
jeans face was black with disappro.
baton. He was angered at the cool
ness with which Jan accepted the situ-
alton.
Deep down In his soul Jan knew that
each day was bringing the end of 1t
all much nearer for him. He did not
tell Melisse that he had returned to
Lac Balm to be near her once more,
nor did he confide In Jean. Day after