Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-30
CHAPTER XVII.
The Call Of Sun Rock,


In the golden glow of the autumn
sun there came UP the stream over
looked by the Sun Rock one day E
man, woman and child in canoe
Civilization had done for lovely Joar
what 1t had done for many another
wild flower transplanted from the
depths of the wilderness. Her cheeks
were thin. Her blue eyes had lost
their luster. She coughed, and when
she coughed the man looked at her
with love and fear in his eyes, But
now, slowly, the man had begun to
see the transformation, and on the
day their canoe pointed up the stream
and into the wonderful valley that
had been their home before the call
of the distant city came to them, he
noted the flush gathering once more
in her cheeks, the fuller radness of
her lips. and the gathering glow of
happiness and content in her eyes.
He laughed softly as he saw these
things, and he blessed the forests. In
the canoe she had leaned back, with
her head almost against his shoulder,
and he stopped padding to draw her
to him, and run his fingers through
the soft golden masses of her hair.
"You are happy again, JOAN he
laughed joyously. ''The doctors we're
right. You are a part of the forests
Eyes, l am happy she whispered,
and suddenly there came little
thrill into her voice, and she pointed
to white finger of sand running out
into the stream. EDO you remember
years and years ago. it seems-that
Kazan left us here? She was on the
sand over there, calling to him. Do
you remember" There was little
tremble about her mouth, and she
added, II wonder-where they-have
gone"
The cabin was as they had left it.
Only the crimson bakneesh had grown
up about it, and shrubs and tall grass
had sprung up near it's walls. once
more 1t took on life, and day by day
the color. came deeper into Joan's
cheeks. and her voice was filled with
its old wild sweetness of song. Joan's
husband cleared the trails over his
olde trap lines, and Joan and the little
loan, who romped and talked now.
transformed the cabin into home. One
night the man returned to the cabin
late and when he came in there was
a glow OF excitement in Joan's blue
eyes and tremble in her voice when
she greeted him.
.sDid you hear it," she asked. "Did
you hear-the CALF"
He nodded. stroking her soft hair
II was mile back in the creek
swamp he said. IT heard it"
Joan's hands clutched his arms.
ut wasn't Kazan,'' she said. 81
would recognize his voice. But ii
seemed to me it was like the other
the call that came that morning from
the sandbar, his mater
The man was thinking. Joan's
fingers frightened. She was breathing
a little quickly.
"Will you promise me this?" she
asked. "Will you promise me that
you viii never hunt or trap for
33yolves?"
4 had thought Of that" he replied.
7 thought of it-after I heard the
,all. Yes, I will promise"
Joan's arms stole up about bis
1eck.
eve loved Kazan," she whispered.
And YOU might kill him-or her"
Suddenly she stopped Both listen
ID The door was little ajar, and
o them there came again the wailing
nate-cal1 Of the wolf Joan ran to
he door. Her husband followed. To
,ether they stood silent, and with
ense breath Joan pointed over the
tariff plain. l.
Listen! LISTEN" she commanded
It's her cry, and it came from the
un Rock" N4as