o t
i
The Honor
By Jams f
Ever mnrosxal f
4 o i
PROLOGUE.
Up in the "Big Snows,", near
the dome of the earth, lies the
scene of this story of real men
and real women, who have all of
the virtues of their hardening en
vironment and few of the failings
of their more civilized relatives.
This is a tale for reading when
one is tired of the artificialities
of civilization or at any other
time when a good story is appre
ciated. You will find in it ro
mance and adventure and mystery
mixed in such skillful manner and
in such proportion that no ingre
dient interferes with another. Yet
all go to make fine reading for
women who like to hear of brave
deeds and sacrifice for love's
sake and for men with even a
drop of the spirit of adventure
in their veins. And ' one thing
more the author has livedamong
the people whose lives he de
eortbes, and he knows how to tell
a story.
CHAPTER VIII.
Renunciation.
IT was on the girl's fifteenth birth
day. They had come up to the top
of the ridge on which he had
fought the missionary, to gather
red sprigs of the bakneesh for the fes
tival that they were to have in the
cabin that night High up on the face
of a Jagged rock Jan saw a bit of the
crimson vine thrusting itself out into
the sun, and, with Melisse laughing
and encouraging him from below, he
climbed up until be had secured it
He tossed it down to her.
"It's the Inst one," she cried, seeing
his disadvantage, "and I'm going home.
You can't catch me."
Jan slackened his steps. It was a
jby to see Melisse springing from rock
to rock and darting across the thin
openings close ahead of him. her hair
loosening and sweeping out in the sun.
her slender flgure fleeing with the light
ness of the pale sun shadows that ran
up and down the mountain.
lie would not have overtaken her of
his own choosing, but at the foot of
the ridge Melisse gave up. Never had
he seen her so beautiful, still daring
him with her laugh, quivering and
panting, flinging back her hair. Half
reaching out his arms, be cried:
'Wellsse, you are beautiful you are
almost a woman! If you did your hair
np like the pictures we have in the
books you would be a woman." he an
swered softly. "You are more tieautl
ful than the pictures.'" . .
"You say that I am pretty and that
I am almost a woman." she pouted,
"and yet" She shrugged her shoul
ders at him In mock disdain. "Jan
Thoreau. this Is the third time in the
last week that you huve not played
the game right. I won't play with
you any more!"
In a flash he was at her side, her
face between his two hands, and.
bending down, he kissed her upon the
nonth.
"There." she said as he released Her.
"Isn't that the way we have played it
ever since 1 can remember? Whenever
you catch me you may have that."
"I am afraid. Melisse." he said se
riously. "You are grow lug so tull and
so pretty thnt 1 am afraid."
"Afraid! My brother afraid to kiss
me! And what will you do alien I
get to be a woman, Jan. whicb will be
very soon, you say?"
"I don't know, Melisse."
She turned her back to him nnd
flung out her hair, and Jan, who had
done this same thing for her a hun
dred times before, divided the silken
mass Into three strands and plaited
them luto a braid.
"I don't believe that you care for me
a much as you used to. Jan. I wish
I were a woman, so that I might
know If you are going to forget me
entirely."
Her shoulders trembled, and when
he hnd finished his task he found that
she was laughing and that her eyes
were swimming with a new mischief
which she was trying to hide from
thing which was not like Melisse.
Slight as the change was he noticed It;
but. Instead of displeasing him, It set
a vague sensation of pleasure trilling
like a new song within him.
When they reached the post Melisse
went to the cabin with her bakneesh
and Jan to the company's store, where
ho met Jean do Uravols.
"Blessed saints, man. but is she not
growing more beautiful every day?"
said Jean.
"Yes," said Jan. "She will soon be a
woman."
"A woman!" shouted Joan, who, not
having his caribou whip. Jumped up
and down to emphasize his words.
"She will soon be a woman, did you
say. Jan Thoreau? And if she is not a
woman at thirty with two children
God send others like them!-when will
she be, I ask you?"
"I meant Melisse," laughed Jan.
"And I meant Iowakn," said Jean.
No hopped out like a cricket overbur
dened with life, calling loudly to hi
Wife, who ciiiio to meet him, ami sny-
aof the-
CopuTlght. 1QU. bu the Bobbs
Mcrrill Co.
n
lug to Jan:
"Hurry to the cabin, Jan, and see
what sort of a birthday gift Melisse
has got for you."
The big room was empty when Jan
came quietly through the open door.
He stopped to listen and caught a
faint laugh from the other room and
then another, and to give warning of
his presence he coughed loudly and
scraped a chair along the floor. A mo
ment's silence followed. The farther
door opened a little, and then it opened
wide, and Melisse came out.
"Now, what do you think of me,
brother Jan?"
She stood iu the light of the window,
through which came the afternoon sun,
her hair plied in glistening colls upon
the crown of her head as they had seen
them in the pictures, her cheeks flush
ed, her eyes glowing qucstlonlngly at
Jan.
"You are prettier than I have ever
seen you, Melisse," he replied softly
"If I am prettier and you like me
this way. why don't you"
She finished with a sweet, upturned
pouting of her mouth, and with a sud
den, laughing cry Jan caught her In
his arms nnd kissed the Hps she held
up to him. It was but an instant, and
he freed her, a hot blush burning in
his brown cheeks.
"My dear brother!" she laughed nt
him, gathering up the bnkneesh on the
table. "I love to have you kiss me.
and now I have to make you do It
Father kisses me every morning w hen
he goes to the store. I remember w hen
you used to kiss me every time you
came home, but now you forget to do
it at all. Do brothers love their sisters
less as they grow older?"
"Sometimes they love the sister less
and the other girl more. Melisse," came
n quick voice from the door, and Jean
de Gravols bounded In like a playful
cat. scraping and bowing before Me
lisse until his head nearly touched the
floor. "Lovely saints. Jan Thoreau.
but she Is a woman. Just as my lowa
ka told me!"
"You're terribly In love. Jean," cried
Melisse. laughing until her eyes were
wet: "lust like some of the people In
the books which Jan and I read."
"And I always shall be, my dear."
Melisse flung the red shawl over her
head, still laughing.
"I will go to see her, Jean."
"Well." snld Gravols, looking searvh
Ingly at Jan w hen she had left, "shall
I give you my best wishes, Jan Tho
reau? Does !t signify?"
"Signlfy-wiiat?"
The little Frenchman's eyes snapped
"Why, when our pretty Cree maiden
becomes engaged she puts up her hair
for the first time: that Is all. my dear
Jan."
lie stopped suddenly, startled Into
silence by the strange look that bad
come into the other's face. For a full
minute Jan stood as if the power of
movempnt had gone from him.
"No: It means nothing." he said
finally, speaking 'tis if the words were
forced fiom him one by one. lie drop
ped into a rhnlr beside the table like
one w hose senses had been dulled by
an unexpected blow.
"Jan Thoreau." whispered Jean soft
ly, "have you forgotten that it was I
who killed the missloner for you, nnd
that through all of these years Jean
de Gravols lias never questioned you
about the tight on the mountain top?
Is there anything Jenn de Gravols
can d?"
He sat down opposite Jan. his thin,
eager face propped In his hands, and
watched silently until the other lifted
his head Their eyes met, steady, un
flinching, and In that look there were
the oath and the seal of all that the
honor of the big snows held for thoso
two.
still without word .Ian reached with
in his breast and drew forth the little
roll which he had taken from his vb
lln. Due by one he handed the pages
over to Jean de Gravols.
"My God!" said Jean, when lie had
finished reading. He spoke no other
words. White faced, ilie two men
stared, Jan's throat twitching. Gravols"
brown lingers crushing I lie -oils lie
0 n
Big Snows
Aiftta0 if "Tte
dumgir Trail"
0 (
held.
"That was why I tried tc till the
missloner," said Jan at last. "And
that thnt Is why it could not signify
that Melisse has done up her hair."
He gathered up the papers so that they
shot back into the little cylinder sliuped
mil again.
'"1 understand." replied Jean in a low
voice. "I understand and I praise the
blessed Virgin thnt It was Jean de
Gravols who killed the missioner out
upon the Ice of Lac Ruin!"
"T.ut the other." persisted Jan. "the
other, which says that I"-
"Stop!" cried Jean sharply. I!e came
around the table and seized Jau's
hands in the iron grip of his lithe,
brown fingers. "That Is something for
you to forgii. It means nothing noth
ing at all. Jan Thoreau! Hoes any oue
know but you and me?"
"Xo one. I intended that some day
Melisse and her father should know,
hut 1 waited too long. 1 waited until 1
was afraid, until the horror of telling
her frightened nie. I made myself for
get, burying it deeper each year, until
todiy-on the mouutain"
"And today in this cabin you will
forget again, and yon will bury It so
deep that It will never come back. I
am proud of you. Jan Thoreau. I love
you, and It Is the first time that Jean
de Gravols has ever said this to
man. Ah. I hear them coming!"
With an absurd bow In the direction
of the laughing voices which they now
heard, the melodramatic little French
man pulled Jan to the door, nalfway
across the open were Melisse and
Iowakn carrying a Inrge Indian bas
ket between them and making merry
over the task. When they saw Gra
vols and Jan they set down their bur
den and waved an Invitation for the
two men to come to their assistance.
"You should be the second happiest
man In the world. Jan Thoreau." ex
claimed Jean. "The first Is Jean de
Gravols!"
He set off like n bolt from a spring
gun In the direction of the two who
were waiting for them. lie had hoist
ed the basket upon his shoulder by the
time Jan arrived.
"Are you growing old. too. Jan?"
bantered Melisse ns she dropped ft few
steps behind Jenn and his vvlfe. "Yon
come so slowly!"
"I think I'm twenty-nine."
ne looked at her steadily, the grief
which he was fighting to keep back
tightnlng the muscles about his
mouth.
Like the quick passing of sunshine
the fun swept from her face, leaving
her blue eyes staring up at him. filled
with a pain which he had never seen
In them before. Iu a moment he knew
that she bad understood him. and he
could have cut out his tongue. Her
hand reached his nriu. and she stopped
him. her face lifted pleadingly, the
tears slowly gathering In her e.ves
"Forgive ue!" she whispered. Inr
voice breaking Into a sob "Dear,
dear Jan. forgive me! Today Is yonr
birthday. Jan yours and mine, mine
and yonrs-and we will always have It
that way. always, won't we. Jan?"
Jan was glad when the evening
came nnd was gone. Not until Jean
and lownka had said good night with
Croisset and his wife nnd both Cum
mins anil Melisse had gone to thlr
rooms did he find himself relieved of
the tension under which h had strug
gled during all of his playing and that
night's merrymaking in the cabin.
From the first he knew that his
nerves were strung by some strauge
and Indefinable sensation that was
growing within him something which
he could hardly have explained nt first,
but which swiftly took form and mean
ing and oppressed him more ns the
hours flew by.
After the others had gone Cummins
sat up to smoke a pipe. When he had
finished he went to his room. Jan
was now sleeping In a room at tne
company's store, and after a time he
rose silently to take down his cap and
coat. He opened the outer door quiet
ly so us not to nrouse Melisse. who
had gone to bed half an hour before.
As he was about to go out there
came n sound, n low, gentle, whisper
ed word:
"Jan!"
He turned. Melisse stood In her
door. She had not undressed, and her
hair was still done up in its soft colls,
with the crimson bakneesh shining in
It She came to him hesitatingly un
til she stood with her two hands upon
his arm. gazing into his tense face
with that same question In her eyes.
"Jan. you were not pleased with me
tonight.' she whispered. "Tell me
why."
"I was pleased with you. Melisse,"
he replied.
He took one of her hands that was
clinging to his nrm and turned hl
face to Uic open night. Countless stars
gleamed in the sky, as they had shone
on another night fifteen years ago.
Suddenly there lonped up from Jan
Thoreau's breast n breath that burst
from his Hps In n low cry:
"Melisse! Melisse! It was Just fif
teen years ago that I camo In through
that forest out there, starved and dy
ing, nnd played my violin when yonr
mother died. You were a little bnby
then, and since that night you have
never pleased me more than now!"
He dropped her hand and turned
squarely to Hie door to hide what he
li"ew...haiL come Into. bis. .face. He
heard a soft. henribnikenHttle sob he
hind him
"Jan. dear Jan!"
She mushed, happy and trembling,
her lips heiii up to him.
"! didn't ilease von today." she whis
pered. "1 nil! uttver do up niv hair
again!"
He kissed her. and his arms dropped
from her shoulders.
"Never, never agaiu until you hav
forgotten to love me," she repeated.
"Good night. Brother Jan!"
Across the open, through the thinned
edge of the black spruce, deeper and
deeper into the cold, unquivering life
lessness of the forest. Jan went from
the door that dosed between him and
Melisse. her last words still whisper
ing in his ears, the warm touch of her
hair on his cheeks nnd the knowledge
of what this day had meant for him
swiftly surging upon him, bringing
with ir. a torment which racked him to
the soul.
He went on until he came to where
the beaten trail swept up and away
from a swamp. He plunged into it,
picking his tangled way until he stood
upon a giant ridge, from which he
looked out through the w hite night into
the limitless barrens to the north.
She was no longer the little Melisse,
his sister, he thought. And yet
He was almost saying her last words
aloud:
"Good night, Brother Jan!"
She hud come to him that day to let
him kiss her ns she had come to him u
thousand times before, but he had not
kissed lier in tho old way. It was a
different love that his lips had given,
and even now the hot blood surged
again Into his face as he thought of
what he had done. Iu that which had
stirred his blood, thrilling him with
strange joy ns ho held her in his arms,
he saw more than the shadow of sin
sacrilege against u thing which was
more precious to him than life.
(To Re Continued.)
STREET SWEEPER MUST
BE OUT OE COMMISSION
From Saturday's Dally.
What has liccoine of the street
sweeper that the city recently pur
chased? The condition of the
streets are becoming something
lii'iTc, and if it is possible to do
something to clean up Main street
il, should lie done at once, as every
stranger who conies into (lie city
is brought in contact, with the
dirty condition of (he street and
it does not create a very favorable
impression wit Ii llicm. There is
nothing that adds so much to I lie
appearance of a town as clean
streets, and as we have tin; new
sweeper, let it, he used on Main
street ilnd the accumulated dirt
hauled away where it will not he
oM'ensixe o the residents and
those who are down town to do
their shopping.
Porto Rico's New Wonder.
From far away Porto Rico conic
reports of a wonderful new dis
covery that is believed will vastly
benefit the people. Ramon T.
Marchan, of Harceloneta, writes:
"Dr. King's .New discovery is do
inn splendid work here. It cured
nie about live limes of terrible
coughs and colds, also my hnd her
of a severe cold in his chest and
more than L'O others, who used it
on my advice. We hope (his great
medicine will yet, he sold in every
drug si ore- in Poiio Rico." For
throat and lung: troubles it has no
equal. A trial will convince you
of ils merit. r0o and $1.00. Trial
boltle free, (iuaranteed by F. G.
I'l icke & Co.
Box Supper and Corn Show.
At, (he Duck school house, Sat
urday, November .Will, at, 8 p. in.
Prizes as follows:
For (he best, 3 ears of corn. .SI. 50
Second liesl !1 ears of corn. . 1.00
Third liesl .1 ears of corn. . . .50
Corn fo he sold to pay for
premiums.
Only a Fire Hero,
but the crowd cheered, as, with
burned hands, lie held up a small
round box. "Fellows!" lie shouted,
"this Hucklen's Arnica Salve I
hold, has everything beat for
burns." Right! Also for boils,
ulcers, sores, pimples, eczema,
cuts, sprains, bruises. Surest pile
cure. It subdues inflammation,
kills pain. Only 25 cents at V. G.
Frirke & Co.
BIQ BARGAINS IN
USED MOTORCYCLES
We have 3 used motorcycles, In
good running order, for sale cheap
If sold at once.
H. Stelnhauer & Son,
Plattsmouth, Neb.
Is your husband cross? An ir
ritable, fault-finding disposition
is often duo to. disordered stom
ach. A man with good digestion
is nearly nlways pood nalured. A
great many have been permanent
ly cured of stomach I rouble by
taking Chamberlain's Tablets.
For sale by F. G. Frirke X Co.
MICHAEL MILD
Furniture and Undertaking
Carpets, Rugs and Linoleum
South Sixth Street
Plattsmouth, - Nebraska
Phones 7c.247
Local FJews
From Saturday's lmlly.
Charles llcim and Eddie Osscu
kop of Louisville were in tho city
yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. Martin Uouk came down
last evening from Omaha for a
visit with friends in this city.
James Tipton came in yesterday
from the wagon bridge to look af
ter some trading with the mer
chants. John W. Urwin of Louisville
was in the city today looking after
some business matters at the
court house.
L. n. Hiatt and Ed Tult, the
Murray merchants, were in the
city last evening, en route from
Omaha to their homes.
Mrs. Henry Ahl of Louisville
came down yesterday and spent a
few hours in this city attending to
some business matters.
Miss Edna Propst came down
this afternoon on No. 21 to spend
Minday with her parents, R. L.
Propst and wife, at Mynard.
Mr. and Mrs. W. II. Seybert,
from near Cullom, were in the city
I ii. lay doing some trading and
visiting with county seat, friends.
C. II. Lewis drove in Ibis morn
ing from his farm west of the
city and was a passenger on No.
15 for Omaha lo look after busi
ness matters.
V. A. Fight, one of the large
stock raisers of the courtly, drove
in from his farm yesterday and
looked after some business mat
ters for the day.
E. M. Godwin, one of the sub
stantial farmers from near Mur
ray, drove tip this morning from
his farm and looked after busi
nesx mailers for a few hours.
S. L. Furlong of Rock Muffs
was in the city today al lending lo
some trading. Mr. Furlong's eye,
which was injured some lime ago,
is si ill troubling him a great deal.
Mrs. John Murray returned lasl
evening from Omaha, where she
had been visiting her son, Alvin,
at Immanuel hospital. She re
ports (hat Alvin is gelling along
nieelv.
if &
pnpi (Mini
PROBLEM SOLVED!
The Round Oak Base Burner will burn suc
cessfully, economically and satisfactory Solvay
Chestnut Coke and gas house crushed Coke with
magazine also uncrushed gas house Coke by re
moving the magazine.
Makes a hot, bright, clean fire costs much
less per ton.
The only Base Burner with exclusive feature.
Ample capacity in patented flue construction
makes it possible.
TRY IT!
Estate of P. D. Beckwith, Inc., Dowanica, Michigan
Makers of Good Goods Only
- ECroeliler Iroiers -
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA
. E. McDonald of Murdock, who
lias been visiting near Murray for
a few days, drove up this morn
ing in company with W. F. Moore
and they were Omaha passengers
on No. 15.
Hon. W. II. Puis of Murray was
in the city today attending to
business mailers, and found lima
In drop into the Journal office for
a short social visit. He was ac
companied by his father, William
Puis, sr.
Mr. and Mrs. V. II. Rakes .of
Union drove to this city this
morning to attend to some busi
ness matters. While here they
called at this office for the purpose
of renewing their subscription to
this paper.
Charles Reihart, tho genial
liveryman from Louisville, was a
county seat visitor today, coming:
down for a brief visit with his
numerous county seat friends, and
for the transaction of some busi
ness matters.
Mrs. Gergia Creamer of near
Murray drove in this morning and
and attended to some matters of
business. Miss Anna Rys, who
is leaching school in that district,
accompanied Mrs. Creamer and
visited relatives for a few hours.
L. H. Urown of Kenosha was in
the city today attending lo sonic
business matters and visiting
with his many friends in tho
county seat. While here he call
ed at this olllce and had his sub
scription to I he Daily Journal
renewed.
Miss Gerlrude Long came up
from her home near Murray this
morning and took the Hurlington
I rain for Shenandoah, Iowa, where
she will visit for a few days with
the family of Mr. and Mrs. Thom
as Wright, also oilier relatives of
Mr. Long.
Will Hales of Havelock, who has
been visiting bis parents, Edwin
Hales and wife, was a passenger
Ibis afternoon for Omaha to visit
for a- short time. Mr. Hales is
just recovering from an operation
on his eyes and is spending the
lime visiting with relatives. -
Don't waste your money buying;
strengthening plasters. Cham
berlain's Liniment is cheaper and
belter. Dampen a piece of flan
nel with it and bind it over tho
atTected parts and it will relieve
the pain and soreness. For sale
I by F. G. Fricke & Co.