Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-09-23

already met the fear of death, an ,d
that passed away so that all If nv,
life was bLotted out. There navay.
would have been any more main ),
But as he sat there, huncbnd -
like a feeble old man, the tbonabtt
gradually came to him that his hsb
Mas only few rods away from h 49,
living peacefully in the closed tapf
While the others had gone to Iool t
after the fish. '0ON
That baby was his legacy from the
woman he had so greatly Iova .lG
Since she must be dead it was ~
duty to look after it and give # al
care and love, if any love could pos
sloIy remain IN a breast that now
seemed to be shriveled with suffer-
ing and able to bring forth nothing
but the cruel breath that prolonged
his agony.
Yet he felt that he must react.
The moment had surely come when
he must resume the fight he had now
waged so long.
He must grit his teeth and stand
the punishment just as he had stood
during those days of dreadful toll.
Surely, Ameou's last breath must
have been an injunction to him to
cherish the little one.
81 must do it,! he told himself
bravely. Think of the poor little
mite with it's deep-blue eyes! Yes,
I'm going to get strong and we'll
again and make living for the two
Of us. He will never be conscious of
his loss.
But I'm not going back to Tshe-
muak today. | can't do it yet |
don't want to look at her fathers
tent or go into our room at the post,
or see any of the things that be-
longed to her. Tomorrow or the next
day | may be able to stand it-and
Atuk will take me down the river"
"A greater peace came to him then.
Obedience to duty was the first great
law to be upheld by one who calls
himself q man. He heard call that
could be neglected only at the cost
Of honor and manhood. He would
answer it as bravely as he could
with all the energy that must return
to him in the coming days.
He was tranquil now. The path to
be followed was hewn straight before
him. He would only have to carry
his burden as bravely as other men,
all over the world.
Gradually his thought ceased to
harrow him. He leaned forward look
ing toward the camp where his Won
derful inheritance of flesh and blood
was lying asleep, and yet calling to
him to meet his obligations.
A moment later he heard some
thing behind him, but paid little
heed. 1t might have been weasel
on the trail of hare or some imper-
tinent red squirrel who, as soon as he
discovered that the still form was a
human being, would chatter in fool
ish anger.
A hand touched him; but he react
ed duly to the surprise and turned
his head slowly, thinking that Atuk
might have come up behind him.
His only feeling when he recog-
nized Mashkaugan was one of pleas
ant establishment, but as he held
forth his hand the hunchback
yelled in fear and fed through the
underbrush like a wounded moose.
Lorimer's amazement was sue
ceeded by laughter-actual hysterl-
cal laughter-a sort that came
against his will, shaking him and
hurting the bruised muscles OF ms
chest For a moment the tears came.
Finally he controlled himself, feeling
ashamed at his weakness.
Picking up his stick, he returned
to the tent. He was soon joined by
Atuk and his wife, who carried large
bundles of dry fish and placed them
in little lean-to well covered with
large slabs of bark.
They looked at him in astonlshcc
ment, for there were still traces OF
the mirth that had just shaken him
and which they could not under
stand.
q was sitting yonder," he told
them, land that fellow Mashkaugan
came up behind me and touched me;
When l turned to look he hoWled
and ran like a caribou.
The nervous tendency to laugh
had left him. He looked at the
Nascaupees as if seeking some eX-
HE had not thought to see thee,
believing thee dead" said AUX 5
wife. "He surely took thee for a
ghost and turned away from thee IN
fear"
Eyes, to him thou hadst become
windego-a devil of the toresEs OF
the waters that was seeking his llfe,
assented Atuk. "He will be much
ashamed when he knows thou arr
really living, and will beg us not TO
tell the tale against him. Come now;
it is time to eat again and gather
more strength. Thou art very an
ferent man already from the one
who came here this morning,
The men sat on the ground wnlLe
the woman waited on them. In splte
of the food he had already taken,
Lorimer felt l. cry again ana ms
hosts were pleased to see MS appe-
tite. 10
more reason for care. Atuk,s WIIe
piled clean sheet of bark with some
fish and rabbit meat and a great
pancake hot from the frying pan:
After this meal Lorimer felt nluc1
better. He was coughing a gooo
deal, and there was some pam IN nus
chest; but he was young and OF pow
erfui build, with an ability to recu-
perate fast.
He told of his decision not TO re-
turn that afternoon. Atuk agreed
that Il was wise, for the weather