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10 THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS : THURSDAY, APRIL 8, yJKW. THE BARRIER By Rex Beach Copyright, 1908, by Harper & Brothers CIIAI'TUll XII CUNTlNTUn.) Sho tnuntcd hlin like a baited badger, for this thing was getting beyond her rontrol, and tho savage Instincts of the wilderness wore uppermost. "You arp quite right." ho replied. "1 am very foolish, and the laugh Is with " TTIo tlrw trlmt fit flvMMi. , jm!li ; .t- , , . ..... ! uutiuucu. iiu uowuu iuw umi, uumiig, walked out I The moment he was gone she cried ' i,mnn,i.-ir- i "You must marry me, Poleon. You've j got to do It now!" "Do you mean dat for sure''" ho said. cc there's nothing else i? I'll show him that he "Can't you see for It after this enn't make me a toy to suit his conven ience. I've told him I would marry you on Sunday, and I'll do It or die. Of Ul ' course you don't love me. for you don't know what lovo Is, I suppose. How could you?" She broke down and be gan to catch her breath nmtd coughing 1 sobs that shook her slender body, ' though they left her eyes dry and fe verish. "I I'm very unhappy, b-but I'll be a good wife to you. Oh, Toleon, if you only knew" He drew a long breith. When he spoke his voice had the timbre of some oftly played Instrument, nnd a tremor ran through his words. "No! I don' know w'nt kin' of love is dls, for sure. De kin' of love I "Five year I've wait an' jut' for dls." know ia de kin' I sing 'bout in my Bongs. I s'pose it's different breed to yours, an' I'm begin to see It don' live nowhere but on dem songs of mine. Dere's long tarn' I waste hero now Z """- five year-but tomorrow I go again lookin' lor my own countree." Poleon." she cried. looking up with rtled eyes, "not tomorrow, but Sun- l&T;v'nVnT0 SUn' L ,T n T r.T He shook his head. "Tomorrow, Necla! An' I go nlone." "Then you won't marry me?" she asked In a hushed and frightened voice. "No! Dere's wan t'ing I can't do wren for you, Necla; dere's wan t'lug I can't geeve, dat's all Jus' wan on all de wort'. I can't kill de li'l' god wit' de bow an' arrer He's all dat mak' de sun shine, de birds sing an' de leaves wMsper to mo; he's de wan 1IT feller w'at mak' my life wort' Uvin' an' keep music in my soul. If I keel lm dere aln' no more lef lak It, an' I'm r'c.n0"1' ""I 'an' f contle.at t'inkuv i wouia raaer sing sones to , 'lm all alone onderneat' do stars beside ilonn nnilpmpnt' tin fnra V.uutrla . my campflre an" talk wlf iiu In my bark canoe dan go livln' wit' you In fine house an' let 'lm get col' an' die." "But I told him I'd ranrry you that I had always Intended to. He'll bo lieve I was lying," she moaned In dis tress. "Dat's too bad, but dis t'lng ain' no doln's wit' me. Dere's wan t'lug in dls won mus' ' W0, mUJ! , ve,fore an dat B e. If we kill Mm den it's purty poor tee for stoppln' In I'm cut off ray n for help you. Nccla, but I can't love, place ban' bo hnsban' to no woman In fun." Poleon waited patiently until her paroxysm of sobbing had passed, then gently raised her and led her out through tho back door Into the summer day, which an hour ago had been so bright and promising and was now so gray and dismal. He followed her with his yes until sho disappeared inside the log bouse. "An' dat's de end of it nil," he mused. "Five year I've walt-an' Jus' for dls." Meade Burrell never know how he gained his quarters, but when he had done so ho locked his door behind hltn, then loosed his hold on things mate rial. Ho rnged nbout tho room llko a wild animal nnd vented his splto on very inanimate thing that lay within reach. As yet his mind grasped but dully the fact that she was to marry another, but gradually this thought In turn took possession of him. Bho would be some one else's wife In two days. Tbo thought drove tho lover frantic, and he felt that madness lay that way If he dwelt on such fancies for long. As ho grew calmer his reason began to dissect tbo sceno that had taken place in tbo store, and he wondered whether she had been lying te him, after nil. No doubt she had been en gaged to the Frenchman and bad al ways planned to wed Poleon. for that was not out of reason. Sho might Ten have set out mischievously to 7 - nmuse herself with lilm, but nt tho recollection of those rapturous hours they hnd spent together ho declared uloud ttmt t;lic hnd luvcil hltn, and him only. Every Instinct In lilm shouted that she loved hlin In splto of her cruel protestations. A man caiuo with his Bupper, hut ho called to hltn to begone. There nro thoso who believe thnt In passluj; from daylight to darkners n subtle transit- ' tlon oci'urs nkln to tho chnngo from ; positive to negative In an electrical traceable atmospheric Influence exerts n definite psychical effect upon men and their modes of thought. Be this as it may, it la certain that as the night grew dnrkor tho lieutenant's mood changed. Ho lost his fierce an ger at the girl and reasoned that he , i. i.,.. i.i.. ...t i.. her eyes: that In all Justice to her he i otiirht to move his own sincerity. " .- . . . . - . . , 1 "" JU,,L n 1,0 nw)rctl the trading post-a freighter, as he noted by her lights. In the glare at the river banU he saw Poleon nnd tho trader, who had ovl- denllv returned from Lee's creek, nnd lout wt"S tllc', '"lcrt on tn tho store. I eer ng in , from the dark. ness. ho saw Allunn. No doubt Necla ! was alone In the house behind. So ho ' Mumbled around to the back to find .......i i ) t.i.i '" u' " '" " " """"" Its curtain, and, receiving no answer to his knock, he entered, for it was customary nt Gale's to waive cere mony Inside the big room he paused, then stepped swiftly across nnd rap ped at her door, falling back n pace as she came out. Instead of speaking nt once, as he hnd plnnned, to prevent her escaping, he was struck speechless, for the vision that met Ids eyes was that which he hnd seen one blithe spring morning three months before, but to night there was no shawl to conceal her sweetly rounded neck nnd shoul ders, wiioso whiteness was startling against the black of the ballroom gown. The slim gold chain hung around her neck, and her hnlr vas piled blah, as before. He noted every smallest detnll as she stood there wait ing for him to speak, forgetful of ev erything else. She had put on the gown again to see If perchance there might be some mark of her blood or breed that had escaped her previous scrutiny, and.flns there was no one to observe her, sho had attired herself slowly, absorbed in her whimsy. Her wistful beauty dazed the young man and robbed him of the words he had rehearsed, but as she made to flee from him, with a pitiful gesture, toward her room the foar of losing her aroused htm and spurred his wit. "Don't go nway! I have something I must tell you. I've thought it over, nnd you'vo got to listen, Necla." "I am listening," she answered very quiotly. "Understand me, I'm not whining, and I'm willing to take my medicine. I couldn't talk or think very straight this afternoon, but you were wrong." "Yes, 1 know now I was wrong. It was most unladylike, wasn't It? Hut, you see, I am only a little snvnge." "I don't moan that. I mean you were wrong wheH you snld I had played with you. In tho sight of God, I swear you wero ralstnken. Ycu have made mo love you, Nccla. Can't you see?" She made no sign. "If you can't, I owe It to yo and to myself to set you right. I am not ashamed to acknowledge my love, nnd even when you are married to Poleon I want you to know that I shall love you always." Even yet she made no sign. Was he not merely repenting tho same empty words with which he had so often be- gulled her? There was no word of no still considered her un- II, n i,t. .'ao ' nNccla-you do! .. . niir Anfl Rfnrl T 'eo it 1 your eyes!" And he started 'toward her with open arms, but she , , , , ,., rwuaun ua aiuiij uuu. "No, no! Don't touch me!" she nl . i. i i uiuai screuiueu. "My denr one, he breathed, "you must listen to me. You have nothing to fear, for I love you love you love you! You were made for me! You'll be my wife. Yes; you'll bo married on Sunday, but to me, not to Poleon or any other man!" 2)ld she hear aright? Was he, her soldier lover, asking her, the Indian girl? "You do love me, don't you?" ho Pleaded. But still she could not speak, , You mean you wnnt to marry me?" she murmured at last, hesitating hhyly at the word that had come to play so momentous n part In her little world. "Indeed I do," he declared, with em phnsls, "in spite of everything, any thing! Nothing else matters. I'll quit the army. I'll give up the service and ! my people too. I'll put everything Lack of me, and we'll j ust you au(1 l;. .,Wlllt a moment," ,n ,,. t,n hi, , start out anew she said, retreat ing a little from his eager, outstretch- od arms. "Why do you need to do all that?" "Never mind why. It's as good as 3one. You wouldn't understand." "But I think I do understand now. Do I really mean all that to you?" "Yes, nnd more!" "Listen to me," said the girl quietly. "1 want you to talk slowly so I may not misunderstand. If you marry io must you forego all those great things you speak of your profession, your family, your future?" "Nonsense!" exclaimed the soldier. "If they don't bother me, Necla, why ehould you worry?' "Would you really have to give up your family your sister? Wonld those peoplo you ore so proud of and who are so proud of you would they cut yon off?" "There Is no question of cutting off. I have no Inheritance coming. I don't wnnt any. I don't want anything ex cept you, dear." "Won't you tell me?" she persisted. "You see, I am dull at these things." "Well, whiH if they do?" he con reded. "You more than make it up to me. You outweigh a thousand fam ilies." "And would your marriage to a n--to mo destroy your army career?" "Well, It will really be much eaaler for both of us if I resign from the icrvlco," he finally admitted. "In fact, l.'va.decldcd .to .do jo at.oncet" "No, no! You mustn't do that. To Ulght you think I nm worth tho price, hut a day will come" Ho leaned forwnrd nnd cnught her hand3 In his. "Stcnde, I can't let you do it." "I'd like to nw you help yourself," ho said bantcrlngly, "I can nnd 1 will. You must not marry me, Meade. HM not right; It can't be." She suddenly realized what this renunciation would mean nnd be gnn to shiver. "It will be over before you know it," she heard him saying In a lamo tit lomm rj levity. "Father Itnrnutn la an expert, ntui the operation won't oc cupy him ten minutes." At that moment they hoard the voices of the trader and his squaw outside, nppronchlap the house. Tho girl'a breath caught In her Ihroat. She flung herself recklessly upon her lov rr'a breast and threw her nrms around his neck In nn ngony of farewell. "Meade, Meade, my soldier," she sobbed, "kiss me goodby for the last lime!" "No," he said roughly. "Now you must go," she said, tear ing herself nway, "and for my sake don't nee me ngnln." "I will! I will! I will nsk your fa ther for you tonight." "No. no! Don't, please don't! Wait till till tomorrow till I say the word! Promise me! On your love, promise!" Her eyes held such a painful en treaty that be nodded acquiescence ns the door opened nnd her father and Alluna entered. CHAPTER XIII. BTAKlt TAKES A HANn IN' THE OAMK. THE old man greeted the lieuten ant affably, but as his glance fell on hla daughter he stopped stock still on the threshold. "I toW you never to wear that dress again," ho said In a dry, harsh voice. The girl mnde no answer, for her heart was breaking, but turned nnd wont Into her room. Burrell had nn Irresistible desire to tell Gale that he wanted his daughter for his .wife. It would be an unwonted pleasure to Rtnrtle this Iron gray old innn nnd tho shawled nnd shambling mummy of red, with the unwinking eyes that al ways reminded him of two oxheart cherries, but he had given Nccla his promise. So he descended to the ex change of ordinary topics and Inquired for the news of the creek. "Necla's ground Is getting better ev ery hour," tho trader said. "Yesterday they found n sixty dollar pan." "Have you struck pay on yours?" "No; Poleon and I seem to hold bad hands. Some of his laymen are quit ting work. They've cross cut In half n dozen places and enn't find a color." Gale went to Necla's door and called her, but when she appeared he was un prepared for the tragic face with which she greeted film. "Daughter," ho said, "don't feel bad over what I said. I didn't mean to bo cross with you, but I don't llko that dress." "Were you cross with me, dnddy?" she said dully. "I didn't hear. What did you say?" ne looked nt her in nmnzement. 'Ne cla, little girl, what Is the trouble?" She was staring past him, nnd her Angora were Tumbling helplessly with the lace of her gown, but hhe began to chow signs of collapse. 'I sent htm away I gave him up. when ho wanted me warned me Oh, daddy, ho wants to marry me nnd I sent him away!" "Ho asked you to marry hltn In in in spite of who you nrn and what I am?" 'Yes; he Is ready to give up his am bition, his army, his future, his family, everything, for me to sacrifice It nil, nnd so, of course, I couldn't let him," She spoke simply, ns If her father would surely understand and approve her action, while In Iit voice wns a note of Inevitable resignation. "You see, I never understood what my blood would mean to hlni' until tonight. I've been selfish and thoughtless, l guess. I Just wanted him, nnd warned him to tnko me, but now that he is mine I love him more than I though. He Is so dear to me that I can't drag him flown I can't I can't!" Sho went to the open door and stood leaning ngalnst the casing, facing the cool out er darkness, her face bidden from Ihem, her form sagging wearily, as if the struggle had sapped her whole Itrength. . Alluna crept to the trndor and look- fd up nt him eagerly, whispering: "This will end In a little while, John. Bho Is young. She can go back to the mission tomorrow. She will soon for pet." "Forget! Do you think sho can for- Ect?" "Any woman can forget. Only men remember." "It Is the red blood In you lying. You know you He." "It Is to save your life," she said. "I know, but It's no uso." To Necla lie said, "You needn't worry, little (laughter." But her ears were deaf. "You needn't give him up, I say. This will end nil right." Seeing that she gave no sign of heed ing, he stepped closer nnd swung her nbout till she faced him. "Can't you trust me this oue time? You always have before, Necla. I say ho'll marry you, nnd It will como out right." She raised her hopeless eyes and Btrovo gamely to meet him, then, fall ing, broke away and turned back to the door. "I knew you couldn't under stand. I-I-O God, I love him so!" With a cry llko that of a wounded ani mal she fled out Into the night, wbcro she could give vent to her nngulsh un seen, for she had never wept before her father, but always crept away and hid herself until her grief was spent. Gale would have started after her, but Alluna dragged him back fiercely. "No, no! It means your life, John. Let the secret die, and she will for got. She is so young. Time will cure her, Tlmo cures everything. Don't tell her, don't tell any one, and, above 111, don't tell that soldier. He would not believe, nor would she. Eves I havo doubted." "You?" "Yes, John. And, If I don't believe, what Is a stranger to say? No man knowing you would believe the tale without proof. Suppose she donfctod. Have you ever thought of that? Would you not .rather havj her die still lov ing yau than live otid disbelieve?" "Yes, yes! Of course I I've thought of that, but Woman, yon'ro worse than n rattlesnake!" "Even If ho knew, he might not marry her. You at least aro clean, and that other man wns n devil. A bravo man's life Is too great n price to pay for a grief that will die In a year." Alluna was speaking swiftly In her own language, her body tense, her fnco ablaze, nnd no man r.cclng her could ever again havo cnlled her peo plo stolid. "You think time will euro a love like thnt?" ho said. "Yes, ycsl" "That's nil you know nbout It. Time mny act that way perhaps In cltle3 and such places, but out In the hills It 1m different. When you'vo got tho breath of the forest In you, I say It Is differ ent. Time! Why, I've lived fifteen yenrs In the open with n living mem ory. Every night I've dreamed It over; every day I've lived It through. In ev ery campllrc I see a fnce, and every wind from the south brings a voice to me. Every stormy night u girl with eyes like Necla's calls to me, and I have to follow. Every patch of moon light shows her smiling at me, Just beyond, Jnt In tho shadow's edge. Lovo! Thnt! Why, Alluna, love Is the only thing In the world that never dies, nnd time only makes It tho more enduring." He took up the while slouch hat ho had thrown down when he came in and stepped to the door. "Where are you going?" Inquired fhc squaw fearfully. "To the barracks to give myself up!" She flung herself at him, wlthn great cry, and seized him about the waist. "You never loved mc, John, but I have been a good woman to you, al though I knew you were always think ing of her and had no thought of me. I havo loved this girl because you loved her. I have hated your enemies because you hated them, nnd now I remember, while you forget." "Forget! What do von mean?" "Stark!" The man paused. "I did almost for get hlin and after fifteen yenrs!" "Let us kill him tonight; then we j will go to the soldier together, side by fide. I nm your woman. Necla will ; look after tho little ones. J Galo stared at her, nnd ns he gnzed I (he red pigment underneath her skin, Ilia atvnltrttf T,.i,t.rlrP mm.nIM-,, tho gaudy shawl she never went with out, the shapeless, skin shod foot, tho slovenly, 111 fitting garb of a miscast woman vanished, and he saw her as she was on a day long past, a slim, shy, silent creature, with great, watch ful, trusting eyes and n soul unspoiled. No womnn had ever been so loyal, so uncomplaining. He had robbed her of her people nnd her gods. He had shifted hither and yon nt the call of his uncertain fortune or at a sign of that lurking fear that always dogged him, nnd she had never loft his side, never questioned, never doubted, but nlways served him like a slave, with out asking for a part In thnt other love, without sharing In the enmsses he had consecrated to a woman sho had never seen. "By heaven, you're game, Alluna. but there's a limit even to what 1 can ! take from you." he said at last. "I don't ever sooui to have noticed It lie fore, but tin-re K No. I've got to do this thing alone tonight, all of It, for , you have no place In It, nnd I can't lot the little girl go on like tills. Tho . sooner that soldier knows the better." ' He leaned down and ' touched her brown mouth with his grizzled lips, j "Thank you, Alluna, for making a innn ! of mo when I'd nearly forgotten. Now, I you stay here." He knew he could count on her obedience, and so he left her. When he had gone she drew the shawl up over her face and crouched ' In the doorway, straining her eyes aft i er lilm through the dnrk. In time she I began to rock and sway and then to ' chant until the night moaned with the death nong of her people. , Necla had no Idea whither she went. Her only thought was to llee from her l:ln, who could not understand; to hido under cover hi some solitary place; to i , let the darkness swallow her up, so I that she might give way to her grief 1 nnd be just n poor weak woman. On she stumbled blindly through the murk I like some fnir creature of light cast ! cut and banished. I She had not succeeded In thoroughly i Isolating herself, however, for a m. 'i who was steering his course by the tense of feel and the wind's direction heard her and paused. Ills atops wero muffled In tho soft footing, so that she had no warning of his presence until he wns near enough to distin guish her dimly where she loaned against the log wall of a half complet ed cabin. To his questlan, "What's tho trouble here?" sho made no answer, but moved away, whereupon he detained her. "There's something wrong. Who are you anyhow?" "It's only Nccla, Mr. Stark," snld the girl, at which ho advanced and took her by the arm. "What alls you, child? What in tho world are you doing here? Come! It's only a step to my cabin. You must come In and rest nwhlle, nnd you'll soon be all right. Why, you'll break your neck in this darkness." Sho hung back, but ho compelled her to go with him In spite of her unwill ingness. "Now, now," he admonished, with unusual kindliness for hlin; "you know you're my little friend, and I tnn't let you go on this way. It'o scon dnlous. I won't stand for It. I llko you too much." He led her Inside his cabin and closed the door In the face of the night wind. befor8ho strucl; n Igll(, "I can't etnnd to see you cry," ho re peated as he adjusted the wick. "Now, aa soon as" He stopped In astonish ment, for he had turned to behold In stead of the little half breed girl this slender, sorrowful stranger In her amazingly wonderful raiment. "By" He chocked himself Insens1. bly and stood motionless for n long time. "I I hope you'll excuse me for act ing this way," she smiled at htm pile ously; then, observing his strange fea tures: "Why, what is (ho matter, Mr. Stark? Are you angry?" His hawklike face was strained und colorless, his black eyes fierce und eager, bis body bent ns If to pounce unan..a vJfUm, In truth, he was now tho predatory ntilmal. "No," he replied as If her question carried no meaning; then, coming to himself. "No, no; of course not. But you gave me n start. You reminded mo of some one. How do you come to be dressed like that? I never knew you had such clothes," "Poleon brought them from Dawson. They are the first I ever had." He shook his head In a slow, puzzled fashion. "You look just like a white girl I mean I don't know what I mean." Thin time he roused himself fully, tho effort being more like a shudder. "So 1 hnvo always thought," she said, nnd her eyes, filled again. Ho shoved forwurd a big chair with n wolfskin flung over It, Into which she sank dejectedly, while he stepped to the shelves beside the Yukon stove and took down n bottle and some glaoscs. "I'm not fixed tip very well yet," he apologized. "I've been too busy nt tho Baloon to waste time on living quar ters. But It's comfortable enough for nu old roadster llko me." lie was talking to give her leeway and when he hnd concocted a weak toddy Insisted that sho must drink It, which she did listlessly, while he ram jled on: "I've noticed a few things In my life, Miss Nccla, nnd ono of them Is thnt It often docs a heap of good to lot out nnd talk things over not that a fellow gains any real advantage from dlsseminnttng his troubles, but It serves to sort of ease his mind. Folks He too: down a bottle and some glasics. don't often come to mo for advice or tympathy. I don't have It to give. But 1 muybe It will help you to tell me what caused this night marauding expedi tion of yours." Seeing that she hesi tated, he went on; "I suppose there's 1 lot of reasons why you shouldn't confide In me. I don't like that old man of yours nor any of your friends, but maybe that's why I'm Interested. If any of them has upset you I'll take : partleular pleasure in helping you get , even." j "I don't want to get even, and there Is nothing to tell," said Necin, "except 1 a girl's troubles, and I can't talk nbout 1 thi in." She smiled n palnfui crooked sralle at him "Your old man has been rough to you?" "No, no! Nothing of that Fort." "Then It's that soldier?" he quizzed shrewdly. "I knew you cared n heap for him. Don't he lovo you?" "Yes. That's the trouble, and he wnnts to marry me. He swears he will 1 In spite of everything." "See here. I don't quite follow. I thought you liked him. He's the kind most women go dalfy over." "Like him!" The girl trembled with emotion. "Like him! Why why, I would do anything to make him hap py." "I guess I must be kind of dull," Stark said perplexedly. "Don't you seo? I've got to give him up. I'm a squnw." "Squaw h-1! With those shoulders!" Stark checked himself, for he found ho was rejoicing in his enemy's defeat and was In danger of betraying lilm Ftdf to the girl. In every encounter the young man had bested him, and these petty defeats had crystallized his an upainy to urren into n Hatred so strong that he had begun to He awake nights planning n systematic quarrel. . He had brooded over his quarrel with Galo and the lieutenant ever since their first clash, for In this place they furnished the only objects upon which bis mania could work, nnd 'It wns a mania, the derangement of n diseased, distorted mind. "So you like lilm too much to stand In his way," he said meditatively. "How does your father look at It?" "Ho wants tho lieutenant to marry me. He says he will fix It up all right. But he doesn't understand. How could he?" "You nro doing just right," concur red the man hypocritically, "and you'll live to bo glad you stood out." Now that both his enemies daslrcd this thing he wns set on preventing it it gnrdless of the girl. "How did tho lleutenont take it when you refused him?" "He wouldn't take It at all. Ho only laughed end declared be would marry mo anyhow." The very thought thrill ed her. "Does he know you love lilm?" The tender, sobbing laugh she gave was ample answer. "Well, wbatB your plan?" "I I I don't know. I nm so torn and twisted with It nil that I can't plan, but I have thought I ought t go away." "Good!" he snld quickly, but his ac quiescence, instead of soothing her, bad the contrary effect, and she burst out Impulsively: "Oh I enn't I can't! I can't go awny and never see hltn! I enn't do It! I want to stay where he Is!" Sho hnd been holding herself In stubbornly, but nt Inst gave way with reckless aban don. "Why wasn't I born white like other girls? I've never felt like on In dlan, I've always dreamed und fan cied I was different, and I am in my soul. I know I am! The white is sc strong in nie that It baa killed the red, and I'm one of father's people. I'm not llko the other two. They are brow nnd silent and as cold as little toads, Hut I'm white and full of life all over. They, never see the men and wojbm that I see In my dreams. They never hnvo my visions of the benutlful snow white mother with the tender moutH and the nad eyes thnt always smllo at me." "You have visions of such things, eh?" "Yes, but I came n generation late, that'a nil, and I've got that other wo man's soul. I'm not n half breed. I'rr not me nt all. I'm Merrldy Merrldy! That's who I am." Her fnco was turned nway from him, so that she did not notice the frightful effect her words had upon Stark. "Where did you get that name?" His voice was pitched In a different key now. Then after a moment he added, "From the story I told you at the mine that night, 1 suppose?" "Oh, no," she answered, "I've nl ways had It, though they call me Ne cla. Merrldy wns my father's mother. I guess I'm like her In mnny ways, for I often Imagine she Is n part of me, that her spirit Is mine. It's the only wny I can account for the sights I "e." "Your father's mother?" he sold me chanically. "That's queer." He seem ed to be trying to shako himself free from something. "It's heredity, I sup pose. You have visions of n white wo man, n woman named Merrldy, ch?" Suddenly hit manner changed, and he spoke so roughly that she looked at him In vague alarm. "How do you know? How do you know she wns his mother?" "He told me so." Stnrk snarled. "lie lied!" "I can show you her wedding ring. I've alwnys worn It." She fumbled for the chain about her neck, but it eluded her trembling lingers. "It has her name In It 'From Dan to Merrldy.' " Stark's hand darted forward and tore the thing from her shoulders. Then ho thrust it under the lamp nnd glared nt the inscription, while his fingers shook so that he could barely distinguish the words. His eyes were blazing and his face livid. , Necla cried out, but ho dropped the ornament and seized her fiercely, lift ing her from the chair to her feet. Then with one swift, downward clutch he laid hold of her dress at the left shoulder and ripped It half to her wnlst. A hoarse sound came from his throat, n cry half of amazement, half of triumph. "Let me go! Let me go!" She strug glod to free herself, but he held her in a viselike grip, while he peered closely at a blemish well down upon her back. Then he let hr slip from his grasp, and, seized with terror, she staggered nway from lilm. He was leaning henv ily with both hands upon the table, his thin lips grinning, his whole manner so terrifying that she shrank back. She turned and made for the door, whereupon he straightened up and said In a queer, commanding voice: "Walt. Don't go. I-I you" He licked his lips ns if they were dust dry, passed an uncertain hand across his beaded brow and, raising the wa ter pall beside the door to his mouth, drank heavily In great, noisy gulps. "Let me out of here!" the girl de manded Imperiously. "Don't be scared," he said, more quietly now. "You must excuse me. You you gave me an awful fright. Yes, that wns It. Don't worry. I didn't mean any harm." "You hurt my shoulder," she said, almost ready to cry. "And you tore my dress," she ndded angrily "my fine dress. Are you crazy?" "You see, It's like this that name of Merrldy and that ring well, the whole thing wns so startling 1 I went off my head. It came sudden, and I thought It don't matter what I thought, but I'm sorry. I'll apologize, and I'll get you a whole lot of dresses If you like." His first Impulse had been to tell her everything, but his amazement hnd rendered him speechless, nnd now he was thankful for It. Cnro must be ex ercised. Sho must not learn too much, for If she suspected the truth she would go to her soldier lover at once, nnd no power on earth could hold her back. That would block the venge nnce thnt he saw shaping in tho danV recesses of his distorted brain. First, and above all. he must get tho girl away from Flambeau. These last few moments had driven Necla's own worries from her mind, but he was bent on recalling them nnd so continued cautiously: "You wore saying that you thought you'd go away. I think that's a good plan, and you'd bo wise to do It for "Let me out of here!" the girl demanded imperiously more reasons than one. It will give you time to think It all over and 'know your own mind. I wnnt to help you I'm going to help you because I'vo got an Interest In you like you were mine." Again he betrayed that strange, mirth less amusement. "There Is no placo for me to go," snld Necla blankly, "except the mission, and I have no way of gottlng there." "Don't you worry. I'll furnish Ue moans, and you'd better go tonight" she flinched "yes, tonight, There's no uso prolonging your agony. I'll get a boat read; and send a trusty man with you. The OBrrent is swift, nnd If he rows weli jm can make it by tomor row evening, That'a only one night out, and I'll put some blanketa aboard so you can wrap up and have a sleep." "I must m back .and get togr clothes," she said, nt which he would hnvo demurred had he not seen thnt Bho could not travel In her present con dition. "Very well. But don't let anybody oeo you." "Of course not." "It's getting late, and your folks w.ll be abed." He looked nt his watch. "Midnight! Be here In nn hour." The light of sacrifice was In Necla's eyes, and her cheeks wore blanched with the pallor of a great resolution. "I'll be hero In nn hour," she said simply. He let la out, closed the door after hor nnd locked It; then, drawing u deep breath, he raised his clinched hands above his heud and gave a great sigh of exultation. Nest he took out tn six shooter nnd examined It carefully. The shells did not suit him. so he filled the gun with new ones, loosened the three lower buttons of his vest and slid the weapon Inside his trousers band; then, facing the direction of Gnle's trading post, he spoke aloud: "I wns n long time coming, Gnylord. but I'm here, nnd I've got you where I've wanted you these fifteen years! Yes, nnd I've got you, too, llurrell! By henven, this h my night!" His lithe body became panther-like In poise, his bearing thnt of the meat eating niilmnl, and his fnce set In a fierce, exultant cruelty as he blew out his light and left the cabin. CIIAl'TKK XIV. A MYSTIUIY In L'NUA VIXED. IIEUTENANT lH'KHELI. wa con siderably taken aback when a quarter of nn hour after the young lover's ecstatic return to his quarters Gale knocked at his door, for the trader's visit, c.tipled with tho late hour and hl somber countenance, foreenst new complications. "He's hero to object, but It won't go," thought the lieutenant an he made his visitor welcome. Meade swung his big reading chair out beneath tho hanging lamp nnd, go ing to the Hidoboird. brousht back a lottle, some glasses and a pouch of lobacco. Noting the old man's sigh ot fatigue as he sat himself down heavi ly, he remarked sympathetically: "Mr. Gale, you've made n long trip today and you must be tired. If this talk Is to be. lengthy, why not hnvo a flrlnk with me now and postpone It un til tomorrow?" "I've been tired for eighteen years," the other replied. "Tonight I hope to Ret rested." "Well, let's get at It," tho younger Man finally said. "I suppose you'll want to Interrupt nd question me a henp, but I'll nk rou to let me tell this story the way It comes to me till I get It o;:t. Like wise you'll want to know what all this has to do With you and Necla. Yes; she told me nbout you and her, and that's why I'm hero." He paused. "You really think you love her, do rou?" Burrell temoved his pipe and gazed it its coal impersonally. "I iove her so well, Mr. Gale, that nothing you can say will affect me. I I hesitated nt flr3t about asking her to be my wife because you'll appre ciate the unusual well, her unusual history. You see, I come from a coun try where mixed blood Is about the only thing that can't be lived down or overlooked, nnd I've been raised with notions of family honor und pride of race nnd birth, nnd so forth, that might seem preposterous and nbsurd to you. But a heap of conceits like that have been bred Into me from generations back. They run In tho blood of tfvery old family In my coun try, and so, I'm ashamed to say, I hesitated and tried to reason myself into giving her up, but I've had my eyes opened, and I see how little those things amount to. after all. I'm going to marry Necla, Mr. Gale. I'd like to .ir.iii,Q after tomorrow. Sur"i'' but she Isn't of age yet, and If you ob ject we'll have to wait until Novem- I bcr, when she turns eighteen. We'd both like your cousent, of course. I d be sorry to marry her without it But if you refuse we'll be forced to dis please you." He looked up and met the father's gaze steadily. The other man's Hps framed a faint smile. "We'll see. I wish to God I'd had your decision when I was your age. This story would be different nnd eas ier to tell." He wnlted a moment, then settled to his self appointed task. "I wns mining at the time up In the mother lode country of California, which was the frontier then, pretty much as this la now, only we had bet ter things to eat. 1 was one of the first men Into a cump named Chandon helped to build It. In fact and got bold of some ground that looked real good. It was hard mining, however, and, be ing poor, I was still gripping my drill and hammer after the town had grown up. "A woman came out from tho east Vermont it was and schoolteachlng was her line of business, only sho hadn't been raised to It, and this was her first clatter at the game, ner folks died and left her up against It, I gathered from what little she told me sort of nn old story, I guess, and usual, too, only for her. She was plumb unusual." He seemed to ponder this a momaat and then resumed: "It don't make any difference to yo bow I first saw her and how I began to forget that anything else In tho world was worth having but her. I'd lived lu the woods all my life, as I said, and knew more nbout birds and bugs and bees than I did nbont wom en. I hadn't been broke proper and didn't know how to act with them, but I laid out to get this girl, and I did fairly well. There's something wild in every woman that needs to be tamed, and it isn't llko the wildnesa that runs in wood critters. Von can win that over by gentleness, but you have to take it away from a woman. Every live thing that couldn't talk was my friend, but I made the mistake of courting my own kind the same way, not knowing that when two ot any species mate the wale must rule. I waa too gentle. IDven so, I reckon I'd have won out only for another man. Daa Bennett waa bis name the kind that dumb animals bate, and-well, that takes his measure, ills range adjoined mine, nnd, though I'd never seen him, I beard stories now nnd then the aort of tales you can't 1 to a good woman so It worried me otJMt.ttrentioM .to jhjf