Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-22

Even Henriette Tonteur could not
have thought Of him as = beast after
that, for pride and fearlessness were
IN his bearing In spite OF the white
ness OF his face. As the occupants
IT the room stared at him, unable to
Ind their voices, he drew hack quietly
and was gone as suddenly Ms he had
appeared The big door closed behind
him, and turning to "A window near her
Toinette saw him 20 down the steps.
An exclamation OF indignation and
amazempnt came at last from her
mother. but this she did not hear.
Her eyes were following Jeems.
He went across the open and into
the fields. As he drew near the foot
OF Tonteur hill. Odd came cautiously
forth to meet him, but not until they
reached their old resting place at the
crest OF the ascent did he pause or
seem to notice the dog Then he
looked back upon the seigneurle A
bit OF iron had sunk into his soul.
His eyes we're seeing with new and
darker vision. From the rich valley
which had been the fount Of all his
dreams they turned to the faint CLEAN
of distant water In the south where
lay Lake Champlain, and beyond
which, not far away. were the Mo-
hawks and the English and the land
Of his mothers people. 1t was the
blood OF that land, running red and
strong In his veins, which Toinette
and her mother hated.
He dropped hand upon Odds head,
and the two started over the home
ward trail sKhe dog watched the for
est and caught It's scents. but he
watched and guarded alone. for Jeems
gave small heed to the passing inter-
ests OF the woods and thickets.
Late spring then the beginning OF
summer, followed Hepsbah's arrival
at the Buain home, and still he gave
no betrayal Of the restlessness Which
presaged his usual disappearance for
another long period into the fast
nesses of the world. This season OF
the year was always one of torment
for the forest jewellers because Of the
winged pests which crawled the earth
and filled the air. and .Ieems had come
to dread 1t rs an understandable night
mare nf discomfort and suffering
From the first of June until tie mid
die Of August, such plaques If mos
quitoes bred and multiplied in the
swamps and lowIands and woods that
beasts were half devoured alive and
the pioneers literally fought for their
own existence, smoking their cabins
necessarily, covering their flesh with
hog fat and bear grease, and resnrting
to every known subtlety that they
might snatch little sleep at night.
Within few days, 1t seemed to Jeems,
a world that had been paradise OF
flowers, OF sweet scents, Of ripening
fruits and delicious air WAS trans
formed into hell OF insect life which
shut out travel in all directions and
which invested with poisonous torture
every spot where II was not partly
subjugated by fire and smoke. The
timber was heavy and dark. swamps
were undrained, rivers and lakes were
shadowed by dense vegetation. and In
the humid, sweating mold OF these
places, the maleyolent pestilence was
born and rose In clouds that some
times obscured the face OF the moon
During these weeks q Gordon OF de-
cayed stumps and logs smoldered night
and day about the Bulain cabin,
screening 1t In pungent smoke, and
outside this small haven. work on the
farm was continued at price OF
physical martyrdom, except under a
burning sun, when the insects sought
refuge from the glare and heat.
Jeems did not 90 again to Tonteur
manor, though occasionally he heard
news from the seigneurie Every one
was In high humor there because OF
the activities going on in preparation
for the exit of the entire family for
Quebec early In September. Toinette
was going to school at the convent OF
the Ursulines. Jeems had feeling OF
loss. 1t was as II the fire OF his
dreams had not only burned itself out,
but even the ash were being cleared
away.
Autumn came, and with it great
glory In the wilderness. Jeems loved
these maturer days Of golden ripeness,
OF first frosts. of painted hardwood
forests. and Of crisp. tangy air when
all life seemed rejuvenated and his
own veins danced to the thrill Of I'M
ending promises and expectations. But
this year a heaviness OF heart Was In
him with the changing Of the seasDns
Toinette and her people left for Que
bee. and one evening, week later
Hepsibah gravely announced that he
could no longer delay his departure
for the far frontiers OF Pennsylvania
and the Ohio, where his obligations al
\ trader called him. Catherine was
silent for 4 while, then cried softly te
herself. Jeems drew back where hi,
uncle would not zee him clearly
Henri's cheerfulness died out like I
lighted candle extinguished by q
breath Of wind Hepsibah's face wal
grimly set 20 hard was he lighting Il
1~xxfL T. w