Part 25 (2/2)
”What kind of place is that land of yours, Poleon?”
”Ha! I never see 'im, but she's been cryin' to et too hot on de su an' flowers blossom an' de sun shi+ne, an' w'ere I can sleep widout dreamin' 'bout it all de tam'”
”Why, it's the land of content--you'll never discover it by travel
I'll tell you a secret, Poleon I've found it--yes, I have It lies here” She laid her hand on her breast ”Father Barnum told me the story of your people, and how it lives in your blood--that hunger to find the far places; it's what drove the voyageurs and coureur du bois from Quebec to Vancouver, and from the Mississippi to Hudson's Bay The wanderlust was their heritage, and they pushed on and on without rest, like the sal, but they were different in this: that they never came back to die”
”Dat's me! I never see no place yet w'at I care for die on, an' I never see no place yet w'at I care for see again 'cept dis Flaood so far, but I ain' kno'en I'reat tenderness in his eyes as he bent towards her and searched her face, but she was not thinking of hioin' be here nex' Sonday for cheer up deot de letter”
”Why, that's the day after to-lad to see hi cities,” said Poleon ”I ain'
never care for preachin' h de nose, dey mak' me seeck But Fader Barnum--Ba Gar!
She's the swell man”
”Do you know,” said Necia, wistfully, ”I've alanted him to marry me”
”You t'inkin' 'bout rin ”Wal! w'y not? He'll be here all day an' night S'pose you do it Mos' anybody w'at ain' got solad for ot wife, too! If you don' lak'
deoin' hed lightly ”I believe you WOULDelse I've ever asked But you needn't be afraid; I won't take you up” In all her life this man had never spoken of love to her, and she had no hint of the dreas to her and told her stories till his frank and boyish e to her; she knew the roerated chivalry, for it minded her of old tales she had read; but that he could care for her save as a friend, as a brother--such a thought had never dawned upon her
While they were talking a boat had drawn inshore and made fast to the bank in front of the, entered into talk with the Frenchirl, and said:
”Dere's'hondred marten-skin come in; you min' de store w'ile I ether the tent down to the boat, leaving Necia behind, and not long after Runnion sauntered up to the store and addressed her familiarly
”hello, Necia! I just heard about the strike on your clairatulations curtly, for although it was customary for most of the old-timers to call her by her Christian name, she resented it from this ood news last night ood dirt, and we'll knohat it ah, for I alas a lucky cuss Say, where's your father?”
”He's out at the ar at the saloon, and I want to buy what you've got”
”Very well, I'll get it for you”
He followed her inside, watching her graceful , with his free-and-easy insolence, tothat she refused to notice hirew bolder