Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-03-21
CHAPTER vlil.
Remuneration.

day. They had come up TO the tor
Of the ridge on which be hac
= fought the missionary, to gathel
red sprigs OF the bakneesh for the fes
tiyal that they were 10 have in the
cabin that night High up on the face
Of jagged rock Jan saw a bit of the
crimson vine thrusting itself out into
the sun. and. With Melisse laughing
and encouraging him from below. be
climbed up until he had secured It
He tossed Il down to her.
Its the last one" she cried. seeing
his disadvantage. "and I'm going home
You cant catch me-"
Jan slackened his steps. II was q
Joy TO see Melisse springing from rock
to rock and dartIng across the thin
openings close ahead OF him. her hair
loosenlng and sweeping out in the sun,
her slender figure heelng with the light.
ness OF the pale sun shadows that ran
up and down the mountain.
He would not have oyertaken her OF
hls own choosing. but ut the foot of
the ridge Mellsse gave up. Never had
he seen her so beautiful. still daring
him with her laugh. qulvering and
painting, flInginI back her hair. Half
reaching out his arms. he cried:
"Mellsse, you are beautIful-you are
almost a woman. II you did your hair
up like the pictures we have In the
books you would be woman" he an
swered softly. You are more beauti.
ful than the plctures."
"Yon say that | am pretty and that
am almost a woman" she pouted,
''and yet She shrugged her shoul-
ders at him lp mock dlsdain. Jan
Thoreau. this is the third time In the
last week that you have not played
the game right won't play with
you any morew
In fash he was ut her side, her
face between his two hands. and,
bending down. he kissed her upon tbs
mouth
There" she said as he released her.
isn't that the way we have played 1t
ever since can remember? Whenever
you catch me you may have that"
Il am afraid, Mellsse." he said Sc
riously. You are growing SO tall and
so pretty that am afraid"
Afraid! My brother afraid to kiss
me! And what will you do when |
get to be woman. Jan. which will be
very soon, you sayT'
Il don't know. Melisse."
She turned her back to him and
flung out her hair. and Jan. who had
done this same thing for her a hun
dred times before. divided the sIlken
mass Into three strands and plated
them into braid.
u don't believe that you care for me
ms much as you used to, Jan. ] wish
| were woman, so that might
know II you are going to forget me
entirely"
Her shoulders trembled, and when
he had finished his task he found that
she was laughing and that her eyes
We're swimming with new mischief
which she was trying TO hide from
him. In that laugh there was some
thing which was not like Melisse
Slight as the change was he noticed It;
but, instead Of displeasing him. It set
n vague sensation of pleasure trilling
like Il new song within him.
When they reached the post Melisse
went to the cabin with her bakneesh
and Jan to the company's store. where
he met Jean de Gravois.
blessed saints, man. but is she not
growing more beautiful every dayT
said Jean.
"Yes," said Jan. "She will soon be
"A womanr shouted Jean, who, not
having his caribou whip, jumped up
and down to emphasize his words.
She will soon be woman, did you
say, Jan Thoreau? And IL she is not
woman at thirty with two children
God send others like theml-when will
she be, ask your
II meant Melisse," laughed Jan.
"And l meant Iowaka," said Jean.
he hoped out like a cricket overbur-
iened with life. calling loudly to his
wife. who came to meet him. and say
ng to Jan:
Hurry to the cabin. Jan. and see
what sort Of birthday gift Melisse
,as got for you" NJ