Year: 1871

an interview WIFI Gu0 1dlI pflSOuOF. LII
is not necessary, for the understanding
of my story, that | should weary you
with explaining how I laid my plans,
constructed scaling-ladders from rope
made of bark; how, upon one dark
night, when the rain was pouring down
in torrents and the wind sighed mourn
fully through the trees, stole forth
from nv cabin, and soon found myself
within the inclosure and beside the
cottage, gazing into the room occupied
by her.


Notwithstanding the hour was past
the meridian of night, the fair occupant
of the room was still awake. l was puz-
zled how to attract her attention, and
not at the same time startle her and
canse her to scream, or give some alarm,
which would bring the old Scotchman
to interrupt the proposed interview.
After revolving number of schemes
and rejecting them all, / tapped gently
upon the glass, at the same time placing
myself in such position that I could
be seen the moment her eyes were
raised to the window. The noise caused
the girl to raise her head, and as she
did so caught sight of me. Her face
blanched with terror, and she opened
her mouth as if to scream; but by a
desperate struggle she choked down
her feelings and tottered toward the
door, opened it, and said something
which l thought was an invitation to
enter, and which l accepted as such.


Motioning me to be seated, she COM
menced telling me something, but as
she spoke in French | could not under
stand word she said. Here was a
pretty condition of affairs After all
my trouble to find out how / could aid
and assist the unfortunate lady, to be
baked at the very moment when sue
cess appeared certain! | told her that
could not unders tand word she was
saying that l was totally ignorant of
all languages but my native one. A
shade Of deep disappointment passed
over her features, and she stood for
moment as if revolving in her mind
what to do. Suddenly, bright CLEAN
Illuminated her face, her eyes sparkled
with pleasure, and she seated herself at
table, seized pen, and dashed off
letter, which she folded, addressed, and
handed to me with a gesture which
seemed to say, "Will you be kind
enough to post that for me ?' took
the letter, placed it in my pocket, rose
from my seat, and started toward the
door. She followed me, and, as | was
going out, seized my hand, raised it to
her lips, and pressed kiss upon it.
Now, | have been kissed more than
any number of times by girls that
might be called good-looking in any
part of the world, but none of the kisses
ever sent such thrill through me be-
fore. l could hardly resist the tempta
around the lady, and give her a regular
Kentucky hug. But thinking she might
not like it, restrained my feelings,
dashed out into the Tain, and was soon
back in my cabin.


| knew that the Company never per-
mitted letters to be sent away from the
fort without first having them read by
the factor, and that if l undertook to
send the letter the lady had given me,
it would not only be confscated, but
would get me into very serious trouble.
I had, however, promised that would
forward the letter to it's destination, ,and
determined to do so. Several months
passed away before an opportunity pre-
sented itself to fulfill my trust. In COM
pany with several others, was sent
down to Vancouver Island for supplies,
and finding, upon our arrival, one of the
company's ships on the, eve of sailing
for Europe, | made the acquaintance of
one of the crew, and becoming con-
vinced that he could be trusted, gave
him the letter, with instructions to post
it upon arriving in England.


returned to the fort and continued
my routine of duties, frequently catch
ing glimpses of the lady, but never get
ting an opportunity to address a single
word to her, for the old Scotchman
never, for single moment, relaxed his
vigilance. At first, / thought | could
observe brighter look in the face of
the poor girl, as if hope was tanning her
her body. This continued for more
than year and then, as month after
month rolled away, could detect a red
ness about her eyes, which indicated
that she had begun to lose her grasp
upon the anchor, grow despondent and
give way to fears. Two years and half
had marked their events in the worlds
history since the letter had been in
trusted to my hands, when information
was brought to the fort by the Indians
that a ship had entered the sound.


The arrival of vessel was an event
of so rare an occurrence that it attract
ed great deal of attention. Rival
traders were looked upon hy the Hud-
son Bay Company pretty much in the
same light that other people regarded
thieves, and the factors generally treat
ed them as gamekeepers treated
poachers. In the present instance,
scouts were sent out to watch the actions
of the strangers, and to report to the
commander of our fort. The scouts,
after short absence, returned, and re-
ported that the vessel had dropped her
anchor at the mouth of the river, and
that those on board were making in
quiries in regard to the fort. This
information was no sooner commun1-
Gated to the factor than he ordered his
canoe, and proceeded to visit the ship.


What took place on board that ship
is also a mystery to me, for | never
heard a word spoken about 1t. 1t Is
probable, however, that the factor was
was kindly entertained, for on his re-
turn to the fort | noticed that his foot
steps were irregular, and that his face
was flushed and his eyes heavy, as if he
had been drinking pretty freely.


The following day, three young men
from the vessel visited the fort, and
were entertained by the factor. They
claimed to be young gentlemen of for
tune, travelling around the world in
their own vessel, for no other purpose
than seeing it; but one of them was
soon found to be very inquisitive, asking