Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-10-29
the company's Investigator who had
gone up to the Etawney.
CHAPTER vi.
The Red Terror.


- JAMS head, and always with
that thought he coupled visions Of the
growing Melissa. This year the school
would be at Churchill and the next at
York factory, and after that it might
be gone forever. so that when Melissa
grew up there would be none nearer
than what Jan looked upon as the 9th
er end Of the world. Why could not he
go to school for Melissa and store up
treasures which in time he might turn
over to her?
The scheme was a colossal one, by all
odds the largest that had ever entered
into his dreams Of what life held for
him. 1t was not until the first cold
chills Of approaching winter crept down
from the north and east that he told
Cummins Of his intention.
Once his mind was settled Jan lost
no time in putting his plans into &C.
ton. Mukee knew the trail to Church
Ill and agreed to leave with him on the
third day, which gave Williams wife
time to make him a new coat Of carl
bou skin.
On the second evening he played for
the last time in the little cabin, and
after Melissa had fallen asleep he took
her up gently In his arms and held her
there for long time, while Cummins
looked on in silence When he replaced
her in the little bed against the wall
Cummins put one Of his long arms
about the boys shoulders and led him
to the door. where they stood looking
out upon the grim desolation of the
forest that rose black and silent against
the starlit background of the sky.
"Boy, won't you tell me who you are
and why you came that nightY'
II will tell you now that come from
re Great Bear" whispered Jan. ST
am only Jan ThOreau, an re great God
made me come that night BECAUSE
his heart throbbed with sudden in
spiratiOn as be looked up into his COM
panion's face-"because re leetle Me-
lisse was here" he finished
For time Cummins made no move
or sound; then he drew the boy back
INTO the cabin, and from the little ging-
ham covered box in the corner he took
a buckskin bag.
'You are going to Churchill for Me-
lisse and for her," he said in a voice
pitched low that it might not awaken
the baby. "Take this"
Jan drew step back.
mo, | fin work with re compan ZEE
at Churchill. That is re gold for Me-
lisse when she grow up. Jan Thoreau
is no-what you call heem?"
His teeth cleaned in a smile, but it
lasted only for an instant. Cummins'
face darkened. and he caught him
firmly, almost roughly, by the arm.
Then Jan Thoreau will never come
back to Melisse." he exclaimed with
1nality. you are going to Churchill
to be at school and not to work with
your hands. They are sending you.
Do you understand, boy? Theyw
There was fierce tremor in his voice.
(which will it be? Will you take the
bag or will you never again come back
to Lac Bain?'
Dumbly Jan reached out and took
the buckskin pouch. A dull flush
burned in his cheeks. Cummins look
ed in wonder upon the strange look
that came into his eyes.
81 pay back this gold to you and Me-
lisse hundred times!' he cried tense.
ly. II swear it, an swear that Jan
Thoreau maxi no lier'
Unconsciously, with the buckskin bag
clutched in one hand, he had stretched
out his other arm to the violin hang
ing against the wall. Cummins turned
to look. When he faced him again the
boys arm had fallen to his side and
his cheeks were white. The next day
Jan left.
1t was a long winter for Cummins
and Melissa. 1t was a longer one for
Jan. He had taken with him a letter
from the factor at Lac Balm to the fac
tor at Churchill, and he found quarters
with the chief clerks assistant at the
post-a young, red faced man named
Macdonald, who had come over on the
ship from England. He was a cheer
full, good natured young fellow, and
when he learned that his new associate
had tramped all the way from the Bar
rem Lands to attend the new public
school, he at once invested himself
with the responsibilities of a private
tutor.
The school opened in November, and
Jan found himself one Of twenty or
so gathered there from 10000 square
miles of wilderness. Two white
youths and a half breed had coms
from the Etawney, the factor at Nell
son House sent up his son, and from
the upper waters of the Little Church
i'll there came three others.
From the first JAMS music found
him premier place in the interest of
the tutor sent over by the company.
He studied by night as we'll as by
day, and by the end of the second
month his only competitor was the
youth from Nelson House. His great
est source of knowledge was not the
teacher, but Macdonald. There was
in him no inherent desire for the learn
ing Of the people to the south; that he