The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-07

closed TIE door or the mission IN MS
face.
at is not difficult TO tell who's
commanding here" chuckled Guthrie.
Il don't like TO humiliate the little
man. He means well enough but II
they viii send weak men 10 work IN
this country, and the Oblates strong
ones. like your friend, Pere Rousseau.
the Indians will flock TO the French"
But Cameron tells me you've done
wonders with the orphan Crees."
"0h, yesI I've been useful TO them
that's why he doesn't dare exert the
authority which my honorable brother
bestowed upon him. Imagine, nursing
three years In France, and having
Mr.. Swan TO guide my faltering feet !"
She laughed merrily, as they swung
through the singing air Of the clear
ing.
The man beside her was hardly
aware Of his mOccasins touching the
brittle gnew, so lifted in spirits was
he with the nearness of the girl whose
strange decision TO winter al Albany
deied analysis.
You didn't tell me this afternoon
why you deceived me as 10 your
whereabouts in your Christmas letter"
he hazarded.
If l had told you. would you have
come to see me?" she asked. turning
her hood and meeting his eyes with
frank, impersOnal gaze.
'Yes!'
THAT is the reason
you mean you didn't want TO see
me?'
Il mean that you had your work TO
dot would have interfered."
He walked for a space in silence,
then turned TO her. You are that
kind of a woman-you understand"
'T hope sO."~
He was thrilled by the thought that
Joan Quarters friendship was like
that. But why had she stayed? Could
IL be that after the photographs she
had seen at EIkwan with their in
scriptiOns, she had stayed neverthe-
less at Albany because-because
what? He could tell her now that he
was free. since his reply TO Ethel's
letter which went out that afternoon
10 Moose But what had his freedom
20 do with the girl whose overshOes
Crunched the snow beside him?
81 would like to ask you a question"
he said at length
Her laugh rppled on the frosty air
This sounds interesting. Mr.. Exile
but TO avoid anti-climax you should
wait for our walk back-the moon
viii be up then"
The question won't wait" he re-
piled. Has your brother written you
of my engagement"
Yes" .
Thank youI I wanted TO tell you
that it has been broken-by her-in
this Christmas mail"
ii silence the girl walked. stfffy,
Garth thought. watching her with
hesd turned to the river. He looked
but could not see her face, buried in
the fur hood.
1.-The reason given was-Ninda."
She turned ferCely questioning
eyes as she demanded: He told your
family that stOry?"
Evidently" said Garth grimly. If
there was capacity for feeling in this
girl, he thought, she'll show it now.
MY brother has done with me. YOU
see. I've disgraced the family"
"NO, I don't See" she said. hoarsely,
gazing straight ahead My brother
has told that story in MontreaI-in-
jured you beyond reparation-my
brOtherr'
I'm sorry I told you" he replied,
shocked at the depth OF her emotion.
But 1 wanted you to know that my
shackles are Off-Tm a free man. 1
wanted you TO know"
In the tide of emotion which stirred
him, Guthrie faltered. stopped The
shoulders Of the girl lifted in a sob,
as she turned to conceal her distress.
He touched her, thrilling at the
contact. "PleasNTm so sorryr' he
said
MY brother!- How low, utterly
low" he heard her say. Then she
got herself in Observation-Disclosures, and
said: u will write at once TO your
brother
You'll do no such thing. Do you
sUppOse I'd allow you TO sell yourself
with this family row? Your brother
has Internationally done me a serv-
ice, for which 1 thank him.
JOan's dark brows contracted, as
she gravely searched his face. "You
are not joking-you mean it?"
4 mean every syllable OF IT. Now
lets forget it all and get on TO the
Camerons' before you freeze out here
it's growing sharp" he said, but what
he meant was: Il you stand there
another second looking at me like
that Joan Quarter. I'll kiss you
The talk OF the factors was not al
lowed by that jubilant fur trader to
stray far from the mad raid on Aki-
miski by Garth and Etienne, and the
Notwithstanding Of old Saul From
the mouth OF Cameron, Joan Quarter
learned the details OF the desperate
effort 10 save the trade and its uitf-
mate success
Aren't You proud Of yourself. Mr..
ExileT she said as Cameron finished
and her rzsent ioy In his ST1ocoSs rras