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

Continued from page So


man In the world. Jan Thoreau." ex.
claimed Jean. The first Is Jean de
Gravoisr'
He set OF like bolt from n spring
gun In the direction OF the two who
were waiting for them. He had hoist.
ed the basket upon his shoulder by the
time Jan arrived.
Are you growing old, too. Janr'
hantered Mellsse as she dropped a few
steps behind Jean and his wife. You
come so slowly'
IL think fm twenty-nlne"
He looked at her steadily. the grief
which he was lighting TO keep back
tightening the muscles about his
mouth.
Like the quick passing OF sunshine
the fun swept from her face. leaving
her blue eyes staring up at him. filled
with pain which he had never seen
In them before. In a moment he knew
that she had understood him. and he
could have cut out his tongue. Her
hand reached his arm. and she stopped
him, her face lifted pleadingly. the
tears slowly gathering In her eyes.
Forgive me- she whispered. her
voice breaking into sob Dear.
dear Jan. forgive me! Today Is your
birthday, Jan-yours and mine. mine
and ycurs-and we will always have II
that way. always. won't we. Jan?"
Jan was glad when the evening
came and was gone. Not until Jean
and Iowaka had said good night with
Crolsset and his wife and both Cum.
MINIS and Melisse had gone to their
rooms did he find himself relieved OF
the tension under which he had strug.
gled during all of his playing and that
nights merrymaking in the cabin.
From the first be knew that his
nerves were strung by some strange
and lndefinable sensation that was
growing within him-somethlng which
he could hardly have explained at first.
but which swiftly took form and mea ~
ing and oppressed him more as the
hours few by.
After the others had gone Cummlns
sat up to smoke pipe. When he had
finished he went to his room. Jan
was now sleeping In a room at the
company's store. and after time he
rose silently to take down his cap and
coat He opened the outer door quiet
ly so as not to arouse Mellsse. who
had gone to bed half an Hour before.
AS he was about to go out there
came a sound. low, gentle. whisper
ed word:
Jan"
He turned. MelIsse stood IN her
door. She had not undressed. and her
hair was still done up In its soft coils,
with the crimson bakneesh shining In
it. She came to him hesitatingly I'M
til she stood with her two hands upon
his arm. gazing into his tense face
with that same question in her eyes
"Jan, you were not pleased with me
tonight" she whispered. ''Tell me
why"
Il was pleased with you. Mellsse." !"
he replied.
He took one of her hands that was
clinging to his arm and turned his
face to the open night. Countless stars
cleaned in the sky. as they had shone
on another night fifteen years ago.
Suddenly there leaped up from Jan
Thoreaus breast a breath that burst
from his lips in low cry:
'MelIsse. Melissa! 1t was just If
teen years ago that came In through
that forest out there. starved and dy-
ing, and played my violin when your
mother died You were little baby
then. and since that night you have
never pleased me more than nowr'
He dropped her hand aud turned
squarely to the door to hide what he
knew had come into his face He
heard soft. heartbroken little sob be.
hind him.
"Jan, dear Janw
She laughed. happy and trembling,
her lips held up to him.
81 didn't please you today she whis.
pCicus Will uSNGl w UP NY uoAh
againw
He kissed her, and his arms dropped
from her shoulders.
Never, never again-untll you have
forgotten TO love me-" she repeated
Good night, Brother Jan~
Across the open, through the thinned
edge Of the black spruce, deeper and
deeper into the cold, unquivering life
lessness of the forest, Jan went from
the door that closed between him and
Melisse, her last words still whisper
ing in his ears. the warm touch of heI
hair on his cheeks and the knowledge
Of what this day had meant for hin
swiftly surging upon him, bringing
with 1t torment which racked him t.
the soul.
He went on until he came to where
the beaten trail swept up and away
from swamp. He plunged into 1t
niclinp his tangled way until he stood