White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-02-05

are allowed to live among US as If
they were French. tell you they
will be traitors when the time for
treachery comes!"
Jeems had stood with his fingers
clenched at the unyielding iron of the
knocker. Now he heard another voice
and knew it was Toinette's.
II think Jeems' mother Is NICE" she
said. "But Jeems is a detestable little
English beast !"
"And some day that beast will help
to cut our throats," added her mother
unpleasantly.
The great iron knocker fell with
crash, and almost before the sound of
1t reached servants ears, the door
swung open and Jeems stalked in.
The women were speeches. as he
stood in the wide opening to the room
in which they were seated. He scarce
~ seemed to realize they were there
and looked only at TOinette. He re-
NAMED for a moment without move
ment or speech, his slim figure tense
and gripped. Then he bowed his head
in courtesy which Catherine had
carefully taught him. When he spoke
his words we're as calm as those of
Madame Tache had been.
II have come to tell you I am sorry
because of what happened at Lus-
sans place, Toinette," he said, and he
bent his head little lower toward
her. II ask you to forgive me-"
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
of the room stared at him, unable to
find their voices, he drew back quietly
and was gone as suddenly as he had
appeared. The big door closed behind
him, and turning to window near her
Toinette saw him go down the steps.
An exclamation of indignation and
amazement 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
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 seigneurie. A
bit of iron had sunk into his soul.
His eyes were seeing with a 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 homer
ward trail. The 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 Hepsibah's arrival
at the Bulain 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 Jeems had come
to dread it as an indescribable night
mare of discomfort and suffering.
die of August, such plaques Of mos
quitoes bred and multiplied in the
swamps and lowlands and woods that
beasts were half deyoured alive and
the pioneers literally fought for their
own existence, smoking their cabins
necessarily, covering their flesh with
hog fat and bear grease, and resorting
to every known subtlety that they
might snatch little sleep at night.
Within few days, it seemed to Jeems,
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 1t was not partly
subjugated by fire and smoke. The
timber was heavy and dark, swamps
were undrained, rivers and lakes were
Swallowed by dense vegetation, and in
the humid, sweating mold Of these
places, the malevolent pestilence was
born and rose in clouds that some
times obscured the face of the moon.
During these weeks 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