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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1912)
lc The Honor!-of thei ISy Jam 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 atl 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 scribes, and he knows how to tell a story. CHAPTER XII. Jan Returns. ALL that spring and summer Jan spent In the thick enribou swamps and low rldgo moun- tains nlong the Barrens. It w3 two months before he appeared at the post again, and then he remained only long enough to patch himself up and fiocure Iiesli supplies. Mclisse had suffered quietly during these two months, a grief and loneli ness filling her heart which none knew but herself. Even from Iowaku she ktjt her unhappiness n secret, and yet when the gloom had settled heavi est upon her she was still buoyed up by a persistent hope. Until Jan's Inst vh,1t to Lac Ilaln this hope never quite wcjit out. Tlic first evening after his arrival frora the swamps to the west he came to the cabin. His beard had grown agflln. Ills hair was long and shaggy nni fell In shining dishevelment upon his ahoulders. The sensitive beauty of his great eyes, once responsive to ev ovf passing humor in Mclisse, flashing fun Ht her laughter, glowing softly In their devotion, was gone. This time Mclisse knew that there was left not even the last comforting spark of hope within her bosom. Jan had gone out of her life forever, leav ing to her as a haunting ghost of what they two had once been to each other tiro old violin on the cabin wall. After he went away agaiu the violin became more and more to her what it had once been to him. She played It as he had played it, sobbing her loneli ness and her heart break through its strmgs, iu lone hours clasping it to her breast and speaking to it as Jan had talked to it in years gone by. Once during the autumn Jan came in for supplies and traps and his dogs nnd sledrc He was planning to spend the whiter 200 miles to the west, In the country of the Athabasca. He was at Lac Itain for a week, and during this tlHe a mall runner came in from Fort awn-hill. 'Hie runner brought n new experience into the life of Mclisse her first letter. It was from young Dixon twenty or mwe closely written pages of It, In wliicTi he informed her that he was yolug to spend a part of the approach ing winter at Lac Itain. Hlie was reading the last page when Jan came into the cabin. Her cheeks wore slightly flushed by this new ex citement, which was reflected in her yen as she looked at Jan. "A letter!" she cried, holding out her tw hands Oiled with the pages. "A lefctcr to me, Jan, all the way from Fort Churchill:" "Jho in the world" he began, smiling at her, and stopped. "It's from Mr. Dixon," she said, the fluHto deepening In her cheeks. "lie's going to end part of the winter wttti us." "I'm glad of that. Melisse," said Jan quietly. "I like him nnd would like to ktiw him better." He did not see her again uutll six inrt.hs Inter, when he came in to the nrrtKu roast with his furs. Then he lvnraed that another letter had come to Mellsso and that Dixon had gone to London Instead of coming to Lac Itain. Mio day after the carnival ho went had; Into the country of the Athabas ca. Spring did not see him at Lac Hnifl. Knrly summer brought no news of him. In the floods Jean went by the waterway to the Athabasca and fowui Thoreau's cabin abandoned. There had not lieen life In It for a long tli:;t Tho Indians said that sice the melting snows they had not seen Jan. A hnlflirced whom Jean met at Fond du Lac said that he had foind the bones of a white man on the Itcnver with a Hudson's bay gun and a horn handled knife beside them. Jean came buck to Lac I'.aln heavy nt heart. "There Is no doubt that he Is dead." he told Iowaka. "I do not believe that 11 win hurt very much if you tell Me- II!.' o day' early in September a ion? flCWWtte.. .Into, jhikjwjst nt nopn o 1 Copurlflhu 1911. bu the Bobbs Merrill Co. . .n when the company people wore at dinner. He carried a pack, six trailed at his heels. It was Jan Tho. reau. "I have been down to civilization," was his explanation. "I have return ed to spend this winter at Lac Bain." On the first snow came young Dixon from Fort Churchill. Jean de Uravols met him on the trail near Ledoq's. "Bless me, if it isn't my old friend Jean!" he cried. "I was just thinking of you, Gravols, and how you trim med me to a finish two winters nsro. , i ..... Gravols-and Melisse?" he added be- fore Jean had spoken. "All well, M'seur Dixon," replied Jean. "Only the little Gravols have almost grown into a man ami woman." An hour or so later he said to Io waka: "I can't help liking this man Dixon, and yet I don't want to. Why Is It, do you suppose?" "Is it because you are afraid that Melisse will like him?" asked his wife, smiling over her shoulder. "Blessed saiuts, I believe that is it!" said Jean frankly. "I hate fuivigneis -and Melisse belongs to Jan." "A woman will not wait always," said Iowaka softly. "Jan Thoreau has waited too long!" A week later as they stood together in front of their door they saw Dixon and Melisse walking slowly in the edge of the forest. The woman laughed into Jean's face. "Did I not say that Jan had waited too long?" Jean's face was black with disappro bation. He was angered at the cool ness with which Jan accepted the situ ation. Deep down in his soul Jan knew that each day was bringing the end or i: all much nearer for him. He did not tell Melisse that he had returned to Lac Bain to be near her once more, I nor did he confide in Jean. Dav after day he saw Melisse and tho Kngllsh man together, and, while they awak ened In him none of the tlery Jealousy which might have rankled in the bos om of Jean do Gravols, (he knowledge that the girl was at last passing from him forever added a deeper grief to that which was already eating at his heart. Dixon made no effort to conceal his feelings. He loved Melisse. Frankly he told this to Jean one day when they were on the Churchill trail. In his honest way he said tilings which broke down the last of Jean's hereditary prejudices. "I like him," he said to himself, "and yet I would rather see him In tho blessed hereafter than have him take Melisse from Jan!" The big snow decided. It came early In December. Dixon had set out nlone for Ledoq's early In the morn ing. By noon the sky was a leaden black, and n little later one could not see n dozen paces ahead of him for the snow. The F.ngllshmnn did not return that day. The next day he was still gone, and Gravols drove alone the ton of the mountain ridge until he came to the Frenchman's, where he found that Dixou had started for Lac Bain the preceding afternoon. He brought word back to the post. Then he went to Mellsso. "It Is as good as death to go out in search of him," he said. "We can no longer use the dogs. Snowshoes will sink like leaden bullets by morning, and to go ten miles from the post menus that there will be bones to be picked by the foxes when the crust conies!" It was dark when Jan came Into the cabin. Melisse started to her feet with a Httlo cry when ho entered, covered white with the snow. , light pack was strapped to his back, and ho car ried his ride in his hand. "I am going to hunt for him," he said softly. "If he Is nllve I will bring him ba.ckt'.i you..w i ve learned a lot about you people up ;lnto the northwest, Ledoq trailing slow here in tho snows since then, and I'll l.v and hopelessly Into the louth. never do anything like that again, j It was no great sacrifice for Jan, this How is Mrs. Gravols and the little " . . , . . o Big Snows Annfa0 If "Tte IDtara0 Trail99 She came fo him slowly, and th beating of Jan's heart sounded to him like the distant thruminini: of nar- j fridge wings. Ah, would he ever for iget that look? The old glory was In her eyes, her nrms were reaching out, her lips parted. He saw her face so near to him that he felt the touch of her sweet breath, and he kuew that one of his rough hands was clasped in both of her own nnd that after a mo ment it was crushed tightly against her bosom. "Jan, my hero" He struggled back, almost sobbing, as he plunged out Into the night again, lie heard her voice crying after him, but the wild walling of the spruce and the storm in his brain drowned her words. He had seen the glorious light of love in her eyes her love for Dixon! And he would find him! lie went to Ledoq'B now, following the top of the mountain, and reached his cabin In the late dawn. Tho French man stared at him In amazement when he learned that he was about to set out on n search for Dixon. "You will not find him," he said slow ly in French, "but If you are determin ed to go I will hunt with you. It is n big chance that we will not come back." "I don't want you to go," objected Jan. "One will do as much as two un less wo search alone. I came your way to lind if It had begun to snow tefore Dixon left." "An hour after he had gone you could not see your hand before your face," replied Lednq. preparing his pack. "There Is no doubt but that he circled out over Lac Itain. We -.ill go that far together and then search alone." They went back over the mountain nnd stopped when Instinct told them that they were opposite the spruce for ests of tho lake. There they separated, Jan going as nearly as he could guess . . i KIru"lf' wl" t'"1 ' snows for the uappiness or .Mellsso. What it was to Ledoq no man ever guessed or knew, for it was not until the late spring snows had gone that the people at Lac Bain found what the foxes and the wolves had left of him far to the south. Fearlessly Jan plunged Into the white world of the lake. There was neither rock nor tree to guide lii. fe. ew. ',, where was tho heavy ghost rul nept of the Indian god. Day came, only a lit tle lighter than the night. He crossed the lake, his snowshoes sinking ankle deep nt every step, and owe each half hour he li red a slnule shot from his rifle. He heard shots to the south and keew that It was I-doq. each report .l ining to him more faintly than the last until they had died away entirely. Across the lake he struck the forest again, and his shouts cchnctl in futile Inquiry In its weird depths. At noon Jan stopped and ate his lunch; then he went on, carrying his rifle always upyii his right shoulder, so that the steps of his right log would be shortened and he would travel In a circle, as he believed Dixon lent done. The storm thickened with the falling of night, and he burrowed himself a. great hole In the soft snow and tilled it with balsam boughs for a bed. When he awakened, hours later, he stooil up and thrust out his head and found himself burled. to the armpits. With the aid of his broad snowshoes he drew himself out until he stood knee deep iu the surface. lie lifted his pack. As he swung It before him, one arm thrust through n strap, he gave a startled cry. Half of one side of the pack was eaten away! A thin trickle of flour ran through his fingers upon the snow. He pulled out a gnawed pound of bacon, a little tea and that was all. Frantically he ripped the rent wider In his search, and when he stood up his wild face staring Into the chaos about him, he held only the bit of bacon in his hand. Iu it were the imprints of tiny teeth-sharp little razor edged teeth that told him what had happen ed. While he had slept a mink had robbed him of his food! With one: of his shoes he began dig ging furiously In the snow. He tore his balsam bed to pieces. Somewhere somewhere not very far away the little animal must have cached its theft. Ho dug down until ho came to the frozen earth. For an hour he worked and found nothing. Then he slopped. Over a small Ore ho melted snow for ten and broiled a mice or mo imcnn, which he ate '.villi tho few blscult'crumbs he found in the pack. Every particle of flour that he could find he scraped up with his knife and put Into one or the deep pockets or his caribou coat. After that ho set out In the direction iu which he thought he would find Lac Bain. Still he shouted for Dixon and fired an occasional shot from his rifle. By noon he should have struck the lake. Noon came and passed; the gloom of a second night fell upon him. He built himself a fire and ate two-thirds of what remained of tho bacon. The handful of flour in his pocket he did not disturb. It was still night when he broko his rest and struggled on. His first fears were gone, in pined of them there filled liliii now a grim sort of pleasure. V IClLOil'l JJiue he was battling with death for Melisse. And tills, after all, was not a very hard fight for him. When he ate the last bit of his bacon 1 he made up his mind what he would do when the end came. In the stock of his rltte he would scratch a few last words to Melisse. He even ar ranged the words In his bruin four of them -"Melisse. I love you." He re peated them to himself as he stagger ed on. and that night beside the tire he built he began by carving her name. "Tomorrow." he said softly. "I will do the rest." He "lis growing very hungry, but he did not touch the flour. For six hours he slept and then drank his till or hot tea. "We will travel until day. Jan Tho reau," lie Informed himself, "and then, if nothing turns up, we will build our last camp and oat the flour. It will be the last of us, for there will be no meat above this snow for days." His snowslioos were an Impediment now, and he left them behind along with one of his two blankets, which had grown to be like lead upon his shoulders. He counted his cartridges ten of them. One of these he fired Into the air. Was that an echo he heard? A sudden thrill shot through htm. He strained his ears to catch n repeti tion of the sound. In a moment it came again -clearly no echo this time. The shot came from just over the mountain. (To Be Continued.) FINE DISPLAY AT EAST WOOD'S HARDWARE STORE From .Siitiirtlay's Ilully. The big hardware store of (J. 1 Eastwood has some very elegant find handsome articles displayed, that embraces some of the llnost products that it has heen possible to secure for (he patrons of this wideawake tlrm. They have chaf ing dishes in every sie and made of lirass and silver, which would make a gift lit for a queen, while their line of carving sels, crumb I rays and serving dishes are com plete in every respect, and range in prices In suit every pockelhook. The linn has also placed some wry allraclive baking dishes in slock, which would gntilly please Hie housewife for Christinas. There is on display here a very large line of air rillcs to please Hi" young folks ami I hey come in a large number of sizes and con sist of ;!.-,n, r.Oii and l.nno shot, rifles, which would t ickle the kid for Chi-i-d mas. This firm has spared mi money to give I heir friends the best articles on Ihe market and any one desiring to make a purchase for Chris! mas would do well o drop in ami look over the magnificent slock offered by this firm. From Europe to America. Tin- oiis and daughters of all European nations coming to these l:op liable shores will sooner or later lie absorbed by the great American mil ion. This idea was reproduced by Joseph Triuer, manufacturer of the 'famous Tiim-r's American Hlixir of Bitter Wine, on his beautiful Calendar for Ui;i. tl shows ships arriving at the New York harbor with new immigrants. Around Hie picture are ina i.lons of dill'erent, nationali ties, and in their midst ' the ulti mate result Hie American girl. A copy of this Calendar will be mailed to those who will send 10c to Jos. Triner. m.'ll.T.) S. Ashland Ave.. Chicago. 12-r-litw-fll Could Shout for Joy. "I want to thank you from the bottom or my heart," wrote C. B. ltader, of Levvisburg, W. Ya., "for the wonderful double benefit I got from Fleet ric Bitters, iu curing me of both a severe case of stom ach trouble and of rheumatism, from which had been an almost helpless sufferer for ten years. It suited my case as though made just for me." For dyspepsia, in digestion, jaundice, and to rid the system of kidney poisons that cause rheumatism. Electric Bit ters have no equal. Try them. Every bottle is guaranteed to satisfy. Only ,r0 cents at F. (1. Fricke it Co. An Unavoidable Accident. (ins Wotchel of (ireenwood was i:i the city today a! lending to some business matters. Mr. Wolclicl's sister was driving in her buggy near Oreenwood yesterday after noon ami the buggy was accident ly struck by the auto of J. E. Mc Danicl and the buggy quite badly mashed up. Mr. Mclianiel settled the mailer by paying Ihe damages, although the accident was nil aviodable. After the buggy was struck Marshall Seybert at. Louis ville was notified by telephone of the number of the machine and at once notified Mr. Wotchel who the owner was. When ordering flour ask your grocer to send you a sack of Forest Rose Flour the best flour Local Hews rom Saturday's Dally. Thomas Stokes returned last evening from Omaha, where ho had lieen visiting for .some time. Henry Kaufniann. the gardner, was iu town yesterday afternoon transacting' some business mat ters. Will Jean of the precinct drove iu yesterday afternoon to attend to some business mailers for a few hours. I.. 11. Young of .Nehawka was in the city today en route to Omaha, where he is taking treatment in a hospital. i. P. Meisinger of Cedar Creek came in this morning on No. 4 and attended to business matters for the day. 11. 11. Nickels of near Union drove up yesterday to do some trading with the business houses of the city. William Puis, sr., the good old reliable citizen from Mt. Pleasant precinct, was in the city today at tending to business matters. Mrs. William Ballance was a passenger this morning for Oma ha, where she attended to some business matters for Ihe day. Miss Mary K. Foster departed yesterday afternoon for Louis ville, where she is holding a teachers' meeting this afternoon. T. W. Vallery of Ihe precinct was in Ihe city ycslerday after noon attending lo business mai lers and visiting with his friends. Charles Miller, the sturdy der ail fanner from south of Ibis ly, w as in I ow n yesterday doing me trading will) Ihe merchants. John Kraeger, who is one of the siibslaulial farmers from Mt. Pleasant precinct, was in Ihe city today attending lo business mat ters, i Hon. Fred I,. Nulzman and wife of Nehawka were passengers this morning for Omaha, where they spent, the day attending o busi ness mailers. .1. F. Clugy returned this morn ing from Huxley, Iowa, where he is engaged in doing some grading for the Chicago. Milwaukee it St. Paul railway near !ml place. The job is (piile a large one and it, will take some lime lo complete the work. Mr. Clugy , has a number of teams employed on the job and will return in a few days to that, place lo attend to them. Workmen have been engaged for several days iu llxing up the driveway on the west side of the government building and it, now presents a very handsome appear ance. Crushed rock has been placed on (be roadway and I ho men are smoothing Ihe ground of the park so that it can be sown to grass and in the summer it, will present a line sight, as the post olllce building is one of Hie hand somest jn the citv. From Friday's Unify. C. Bengcn, jr., of near Mynard was in the city today attending to some mailers of business with the merchants. W'ililam Caygill ,,f Wnbash was in the city today attending lo some business mailers nt the court house. Frank (irouf ami wife of near Murray wero passengers this afternoon for'irwin, Towa, where they will visit a daughter for a short lime. Sheriff Quinton, Deputy Sheriff Manspeaker and Mrs. Manspeakcr were passengers this morning for Lincoln, where they took Mrs ltosa Wise, who was adjudged in. sane by the insanity board yes. tcrday. Business Visitor. , Mike Kime, one of the stalwart democrats of Nehawka precinct, and one of the best fellows in the world, was in the city today and made a social call at the Journal olllce, which was most pleasant, as Mr. Kime is a whole-souled, genial gentleman. Mr. Wilson, one of Ihe wealthy fanners nnd land owners of Oloe county accom panied Mr. Kime lo this city. Preaches In Lincoln. Fal her M. A. Shine departed this afternoon for Lincoln, where he will preach tomorrow at St. Mary's cathedral in that city, it being the feast day of that church. Itev. Father YVeis, S. J., of Creighton university will say mass at St. John's church in the absence of Father Shine. From Tuesday's Dally. W. M. Richards of South Beud was in the city today attending to business matters at the court house. (us Itein, who is employed at Pender, Neb., came in Sunday for a short visit with his family in this city. Lig Brown, the genial mayor of Kenosha, drove in this morning and spent the day looking after business matters. W. (I. Meisinger, wife and child, or near Cedar Creek, were in the city today doing sotre shopping with the merchants. I). J. Pittman of Murray was in I he city yesterday afternoon look ing after some matters of busi ness at the court house. Will Mordock, wife and little babe, who spent Sunday in this city, returned to their home at Nebraska City last evening. C. M. Robinson, the insuranco man, came down from Omaha this afternoon on No. 24 to look after the interests of his company. County Commissioner lleebne1 came in last evening from his home at Nehawka to attend tho rommissionciV meeting today, County Commissioner C. R. Jordan came in from his home at Alvo last evening to attend tho meeting of the county board to day. . E. M. Godwin and son, Albert, drove up today from tho farm near Murray and attended to some business mailers in the county seat. Miss Dorothy Britt returned this afternoon to her studies at Ihe University School of Music, after spending her vacation hero with her mother. Mrs. Kale Oliver returned homo this afternoon from Lincoln and Omaha, where she had been visit ing her (laughters, Mrs. llallam and Mrs. Fades. William and II. 0. Bailey, from west of Murray, were in this city today, en route in an automobile to Omaha, where they looked af ter business matters. John Cory nnd wife arrived home last evening from Pender, Neb., where they spent Thanks giving with their daughter, Mrs. Eil Brant ner and family. Frank Schlotnian, a former resident of this county, but at present living at Valpariso, Neb.. who is visiting with friends at Mynard, was in Ihe city (his morn ing in company with It. I,. Propst taking in (lie sights, Edwin Bales and wife departed this afternoon on No. 3;i for Washington, when1 they expect to make their future home. The Bales family will be greatly miss ed iu this city, where they have a large circle of friends. Mrs. Alvin Murray came in from Omaha last, evening, where she had been visiting her husband at Ihe hospital. Mr. Murray is gelling along nicely, although it will be several weeks before ho will be able to return home. Visits With baughtor. Trmn Wednesday's Dally. T. W. Vallery and wife and daughter, .Miss Margie, returned Monday evening from Creighton, Neb.; where they were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Wade Porter and little son. Mrs. Porter is a daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Vallery. Walt and his wife made the trip to see their new grandson and were very much ulcnsed uilli tlw ,. The Pm-n, f,nv ..".." - - - i-ibv iiiiij uit; ing very well in their new loca tion and have had a most success ful year. Famous Stage Beauties look with horror on Skin Erup tions, Blotches, Sores or Pimples. They don't have them, nor will am nio1, who uses Bueklen Arnica Salve. It glorifies the face. Eczema or Salt Rheum vanish be fore it. It, cures sore lips, chap ped hands, chilblains; heals burns, cuts and bruises. Un equaled for piles. Onlv '.'fie at V. (i. Fricke it Co. For Sale or Rent. Store room, formerly occupied by Fliatt it Tutt, in Murray, 34x00. The original and best locating in Murrny. Jas. YV. Holmes. District Court. In the county court today a hearing on claims against the estate of If. C. McMaken was held. 0