Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-11-06
MY man David and I are houn

"My man David and I are boun
from the Albany to Ogoke. lake al
the Nepigon. We've been in the bUs
since May" he laughed. panfJl.
aware of threedays' growth q
beard, with deprecatory gesture
toward his frayed clothes, "and hay>
some trading to do at the post, a.
you see. Is it far"
"Only a short distance, monsieur
My father will welcome the sight of
a white man; for him ii is so lonely
here"
But surely" he protested, at is
more lonely for a woman SO she
was the daughter of the French fac
tor, and he wondered what force of
circumstances had driven the father
Of this talented girl into the fur
trade as an employee Of the French
company; this girl with the somLer
eyes who came to the White-WaterS
with her violin-and her grief. Was
1t tragedy he had chanced upon, or
mere loneliness?
Lonely here for a woman? Surely,
monsieur, you speak as a man Of the
world-with understanding" The sen
sitive mouth of the girl shaped a
faint smile but the dark eyes did not
change as she continued: yet | have
my father and my violin, while he
he has only his memories"
But" he gallantly protested, your
father, mademoisele, has the compan-
ionship of very"-he hesitated and
finished weaIIy-"his daughter"
She laughed In his face "Ah, mon
sieur, you have French blood in your
veins But the very-his daughter" "
she mocked, 'is a dull substitute for
a world Of men, as your Browning
says. Ny father will be much pleased
at the coming to Wailing river of
Monsieur"
Steele" he prompted, my name
is Brent Steele. I am in the field for
the American Museum of Natural His
tory"
She bowed low with mock gravity
Monsieur Steele, my father, Cot
IIilaire st. Onge. VIII be honorod in
offering the poor hospitality of Wall
ing River to a learned American sci
enlist"
Smillngly Steele raised protesting
hands at her Characterization. How
charmingly, he thought, this strange
girl, whose violin had sung so poig
nantly of despair, whose face had re
fected fear of the stranger. now
lapsed into raillery.
ooh, pardon. monsieur" she went
on, 81 forgot myself | am Denise st
Onge. Now that the conventions have
been satisfied, will you follow me to
our chateau-of logsY
Thank yOuv'
Her simple muslin gown and beaded
moccasins seemed but to authenticate
the stamp of race in the figure and
carriage of the girl who led the curl
Gus man over the river trail to the
carry At the portage she stopped.
"My packs are below here. where
left them to follow the .Lorelei Of the
Wailing," he said smiling.
Her face swiftly sobered
"Ah, Monsieur" she replied almost
inaudibly, "Go not make jest of this
terrible river" Then, with a shrug
as if ridding her mind of an oppres-
sive weight added, 81 shall not wait
for you, the post is very near" and
walked swiftly up the portage, fol-
lowed by the quizzical eyes of the
man.
He stood in the trail watching the
retreating figure of the girl until a
bend shut it from sight.
What eyes and hair, he unused, and
what playing 1t was clear she was
breaking her heart over something :,
the look in her eyes proved that TO
think of such a glorious creature bur
led in this country Her father prob
ably was a retired French officer.
Heaps of them marOOned between
Labrador and the Peace! But why,
he asked himself, didn't they mention
her over at Hope-this charming
daughter of the factor at Wailing
River?
Yes, he decided, she certainly had
been frightened at his appearance
had looked him over as if he were
ghost. Then she had seemed super
stit1ous; but she couldn't really be-
lieve in this tradition of the valley
this Windigo and spirit stuff That
was inconceivable. She was not
afraid to come here alone and yet she
called the river terrible What had
happened here anyway? Whom could
she fear, and why?
Thus speculated the intrigued
Steele. Then swinging his bags to his
back, he started for the post known
as Wailing River
AS Steele left the forest to cross
the clearing the dogs of the post start
ed the usual uprOar. Half way to the
group Of log buildings he was met by
an Indian, sent by the factor, and re-
lieved of his packs.
In front of the trade-house, in con-
versatiOn with David, stood a tall,
military-looking man, with iron-gray
hair and mustache. Around the door