Licking Valley courier., 1922-06-22

as Constance, not, as he had called
her always before, "Miss Sheriff." or
my daughter" Alan had had dreams
which had seemed impossible Of full
Hllment, of dedicating his life and all
that he could make Of 1t to her; now
Sherrill's manner had brought to him
something like awe, as Of something
quite incredible.
He turned to the Indian.
HAS anything more been heard Of
Spearman, Judah?"
"Only this, Alan; he crossed the
straits the next day upon the ferry
there. In Mackinaw City he bought
liquor at q bar and took It with him;
he asked there about trains into the
northwest. He has gone, leaving all
he had. What else could he dOT
Alan crossed the little cabin and
looked out the window over the snow
covered slope, where the bright sun
was shining. Snow had covered any
tracks that there had been upon the
beach where those who had been In
the boat with him had been found
dead. He had known that this must
be; he had believed them beyond aid
when he had tried for the shore to
summon help for them and for him
self. The other boat, which had car
ried survivors Of the wreck, blown
farther to the south, had been able to
gain the shore of North Fox island !;
and as these men had not been 80 long
exposed before they were brought to
shelter, four men lived. Sheriff. had
told him their names; they were the
mate, the assistant engineer, O deck
hand and Father Perron, the priest
who had been passenger but who had
stayed with the crew till the last Ben.
jamln Corvet had perished In the
wreckage Of the cars.
As Alan went back to his chair, the
Indian watched him and seemed not
displeased.
"YOu feel good, now, Alan?" Wassa-
guam asked.
almost like myself, Judah"
THAT is right, then. 1t was thought
you would be like that today. A sled
Is coming soon, nOw."
"We're going to leave here, Judah?' q
"Yes, Alan"
Was he going to see her, then? Ex.
element stirred him, and he turned to
Wassaquam to ask that; but suddenl,
he hesitated and did not inquire.
Wassaquam brought the mackinav
and cap which Alan had worn on Mum
Der 20; he took from the bed the new
blankets which had been furnished by
Sheriff.. They waited until farmer
appeared driving a team hitched to a
low, wide-runnered sled. The Indian
settled Alan on the sled, and they
drove or.
They travelled south along the shore
rounded into Little Traverse bay, and
the houses Of HarbOr Point appeared
among their pines. She sled proceed
ed across the edge Of the bay to the
little city; even before leaving the bay
Ice, Alan saw Constance and her IA
ther; they were walking at the water
front near the railway station, and
they came out on the Ice as they recOg.
nized the occupants Of the sled.
Alan felt himself alternately weak
and reused to strength as he saw her
Their eyes encountered, and hers
looked away; sudden shyness, which
sent his heart leaping, had come over
her He wanted to speak to her, tC
make some recognition to her of what
she had done, but he did not dare tC
trust his voice; and she seemed to un
erstand that. He turned to Sheriff.
istead. An engine and tender coupled
single car stood at the railwa!
atlon.
"We're going to Chlcago2' he In
ulred Of Sheriff..
mot yet, Alan-to st. Ignace. Fa
her Perron-the priest, you know
'ent to st. Ignace as soon as he recov
red from his exposure. He sent wore
o me that he wished to see me at m!
onvenience; told him that we woult
o to-hlm as soon as you were able"
HE sent no other word than that 2
"only that he had very grave com
nunicatlon to make to u.s."
Alan did not ask more; at mentor
( Father Perron he had seemed to fee
lmself once more among the crashing
harging freight cars on the ferry an,
B see Benjamin Corvet. pinned ami,
he wreckage and speaking into the ca
the priest.
II was not merely q confessions
'hlch Father Perron had taken fror
he lips of the dying man on Numbe
8; II was an accusation Of Grim
gainst another man as well; and til
DnfesslOn and accusation both ha
cen made, not only to gain forgive
ess from God, but to right terribl
'rongs. II the confession left som
nlngs unexplained, II did not lack COZ
rmatlon; the priest had learne
nough to be certain that 1t was n
nllucination Of madness. He had bee
harged definitely to repeat what hn
een told him to the persons he wa
ow going to meet; SO he watched el
ectantly upon the railway static
atform at ~, IgnNce. A tall, han'
pine man whom Father PerrO
lought must he the Mr.. Sheriff. wit
HON he had communicated appeare
pom the car platform; the young ma
'om Number 20 followed him, and Il
70 helped down young and beaut
i-ril girl.
They recognized the priest by h
dress and came toward him at once.
"Mr. Sherrllll" Father Perron 4
81 Qulred,
Sheriff. assented, taking the priest
, ] hopJ ond lptrrfup pInU kIo douUhtar