A MATING IN THE WILDS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19814, 4 December 1919, Page 4

A MATING IN THE WILDS

* (By OTTAVELL BINN'S.) * * *

I CHAI’TEU IT. ■ It "’ns noar midnight, but far inmi. r .nK- lu the northern heavens a rosy L,o.\v pjooiiuincd the midnight tun. ; .muiie" be(e in Hu; willow. s a mbin was ; and imn, ilu.- m tde bosom of Uk ' "like tin-, lam Dov. I ,i| a noil, '" init ' .H"' Ulocklllg cT,V m a loon Mill 1 !!l j''iiiis IU tinny p/y. And in Ins ] "."He canvas tom, MLmg just, inside, I so as to catch tin. smoke ol too lire Liiat ailordod proi'-eliou front turn mo.v ! 'l' ll . l n0... I Jnbo'T ;;i.ino ,lili winched and I "aii'm lor tin- coming oi id-, promised I ' lsill!r - lu. was smoking, and Iron' | inok upon hi., lit, ttas dear ihm, I JO' was absorbed Hi i bom.- ip.-, t H;i t Wore ! t; "’ iwi! pleasant. ili- pipe wmi out. ; and aidl !io sat there, thinking. i-liink-I "u: ; I !a!i :i n jiotir passed ,ntd the i loiini, making Urn discovery tlial, it j was iv.dly iio*!-t.u ; - loi coan.-d its chirpll, ~ ; incm i,o longer nlooked the "o l but, still the mar. sat behiml ins smoko-sintivlge, tireless, unsleeping, inutig. Another liall-lmnr crept, by ":in leaden loot, tiicn a, new sound jirose the stnlnoss oi t!m wild, tbe linknig ol piano, s.uiiv mu. of time, iolinued l.iy a churn- ol voice,. lilted up m l ho homeland song, i | SianM mild n o(|t: r.inl a r*< o be forgot I Anri brought U, min’? 1 Sima;,! mild rmpaiiimnu,' hi? [crgM j And days o’ laity; s-yi.-:, !" j ‘l* o . MJi-pto melody progressed, n ! "'ok (| 1 bitterness eiuiie on Siam's face, lor th ; song brought to him memories ol other times and scones which he had done his best to larger. lie started to his leet and stopping outside, the tent began to walk restlessly to and lia>. 1 he music ended ami lie stood stiil lu listen. .No u - no sound except I’m' ripple of the river broke the 'piim. and alter a moment lie nodded to liimlie will come.” I he thin pungent song oi a mosquito impinged upon tiic sti 11no.*-^. sometniiig settled on Jiis neck and there lotlowev! ;i swift- sling like the puncture of a hypodermic needle. lii-tatiUy he slapped the place with Ids band, and rcircaled behind bis smoke smudge. I here, lie throw himself om e more on, the pack that .-et-ved him lor seal, and "ailed, as it seemed interminably. His tire died down, the stroke ceased In bide the dew, and llir.iiigii the adjacent willows came the sudden sough o! moving air. A robin broke into song, and mice more the wail of the loon sounded ’ from the wide river. Away to the north the sky flushed wiih crimson glory, then the situ shot up red and goldmi. A new day had broken; and Stane, had, watched through the brief night of the Northland summer lor a man who had not. appeared and. he was now assured, would nob mine. He laughed bitterly and rising, kicked the lire together, threw on fresh Inel, and after fine- look towards the still sleeping host, returned to the tonu, wrapp'd himself in a blanket, and .shortly after fell asleep. Three hours later hp was awakened liy a, clatter of voices and the clamour of harking dogs, passing from sleep to lull wakeness like a healthy child. Kicking the blanket (rout linn be slipped on his inoec.iMUfi ami stepped outside. where t-lm source of the eiamonr a I- once, manifested itself. A party of .Indians had just beached their canoes, and were exchanging greetings with another party, evidently that whoso tepees ston'd on the meadow outside the lorfy for among the women he saw the Indian girl who had fled through the willows alter encountering hint. He watched the scene with indifferent. eyes for a moment or two, then securing_ a, canvas bucket went down to the river fo r water, rand made ids toilet. That,, done, he cooked his breakfast., ate it, tidied up his camp, and lighting a pipe strolled into the. enclosure ol the Post. Several Indians were standing outside the store, and inside the factor and his cleric were already busy with others: bartering for the pel tries- brought from the frozen north to serve the whims of fashion in warmer lands. In the Square itself stood the plump gentleman who had landed the day before. talking to a cringing half-hreeil. whilst a couple of ladies with him watched the aboriginics out,sid? the store with curious eyes. Stane glanced further afield. two men were busy outside the warehouse, n second balf-brervi sprawled on the heuc-li by the store, but the man for whom he had waited through the night, waspiot in sight. AVith a grimace of disappointment he moved towards the store. As he did so n, little burst of mellow laughter sounded, and turning swiftly lie saw tbe man whom he was looking for round the corner of tbe warehouse, accompanied by a girl, who laughed again at some remark of her companion. Stane balled in liis tracks and looked at the pair "ho were perhaps a dozen yards or so away. The momieled Ainley could not but tic aware of his presence, yet except that be kepi, bis gaze resolutely averted, lie gave no sign of being so. But (be girl loked at him frankly, and as she did so. Hubert Stane looked back, and caught bis breath, as bo ban reason to. She was fair ns an English rose, moulded in spacious lines like a daughter of the gods, with an anreolo ot glorious, chestnut hair, shot, with warm inns oi gold and massed in simplicity about a ipieenly head. Her mouth was full, her chin was softly strong, her neck round and firm as that of a Gro(ian statue, and her eyes were hlnevgrev as tho mist of tbe northern woods, f air she was, and strong:-■ a, true type ; ol throe women who, bred by the English meadows, have adventured will; ibcir men and made their homes in the waste .places of the. earth, , e Her grey eyes met Staue’s unite trankly, without falling, then tunica | iionohahmUy to her companion, ami' Stane. watehing, saw her sneak, aim! as .Volley flashed a. swift glance in hj.n i direction, and then replied with a i shrug oi bis shoulders, be easdv diviu- i ci: that (be girl had asked a (pi os I. ion , about himsel:. They passed him at half ,y dozen yards' distance, Ainley r. iih his lace yet like a flint, the, girl with, a srnitmising sidelong glance that set the blood rioting in Stanc's heart. He. stood ami watched thorn until they j reached the wharf, saw thorn step into ■ a canoe, and then, both of them pad-j filing, they thrust out to (be broad nnsnm ol tno river. 1 Not till then did bo avert his gazo, and turn again to, the shore. '~Tlip 1 great man of tbe company was s(il; j talkiing to 'the half-breed, and the other half-breed had risen from his sent ami was staring into tho store. He looked round ns Slano approached him. (( “ By gar,” ho said enthusiastically, ‘flat one dam fine squaw-girl dcre.”' iStane looked forward through tho open doorway, and standing near tin* .ong counter, watching a tall Indian bartering with the factor, saw (ho beautiful lmha.li girl (Tom tho neigliliouring camp. Hf> nodded an aflinnativo, amt seeing an opportunity to obtain information turned and spoke to the man. “les, but that girl (hero with Mr Ainley——” "Gui. tn’sieu. But she uo squawgirl. Sbo grand person who niak’ zo tour with ze governor.” “Oh, (ho governor makes (ho tour, | docs bo?” Oni, oui I Xn the old style, with a. brigade, of boats, and a bugler. ,\ summer trip, vons cninprcnez—-a picnic to all ze posts in ze province. Thus it is to lie a great- man !” ‘‘Ami Air Ainley. what- is lie doum at I'orf MaUnm * i “All. .M’siru Ainley! He also u, gicaf in,-in. j|o is In lie among ibe goi ei-Uijri - oil.- day. lie also vi.-, its do

posts, and will no doubt travel wild sie. governor, whose protege be is.” ” Is that so ?“ ‘‘Da tis so! Ho is ze lavonrilo, vous compronez?” - ” I. did not know it.” “Non? lint so it cos i And Louis and me, we go with them in zc canoe to serve heoia. Though by gar, I like to make stop here, an’ talk to dal squaw-girl.” Stane made no vocal reply to this. He nodded carelessly and passed into the store, factor Uodwoll looked nium.t as he entered, and surveyed him with a measuring eye. as if taking stock m j a now acquaintance, then gave him a curt nod ami resumed bis barter with Hie Indian. His assistant lieine also busy tor the moment, Stane turned tonal ds the Indian girl whose liquid eyes were regard in a bim sbyly.\ a.ml addressed her in her native dialect', j Lillie sisler. why did vou run from ! imyyrsterday?” j Ihe girl Mas covered with confusion j al Hu- direct ness of Ids question, and to help her over her embarrassment the j young.man laughed. | A:on diif imt mistake me for Aloor-.'-een (tho black bear) or the bald-face grizzly, did yon?” - | At the question life girl laughed | sin , and slums her Imml ait bout i speaking. | ”1 mu hut a man, and not the j ,UJ IIIIP, W lli.'ivforo ,-i>i)lllr| yon j run Imm littlp. -i!=tcr ] ” f bad never seen such a man be. tnro. j Ihe direct np«s of Hip answer. Hven Ijn a shy voiee % astonished him. D was ■ lua turn to bo embarrassed and be. | strove to turn tbe edge of il;.. conndiI incut. , “Never seen a white, man before!’ j ae cried m meek amazomoni i " 1 dir , i . *iy Hiat .1 bad never j seen a whit,, man before. I have sec, ;V ~n' i I M y ,sl "!> at Fori of Cm], in (ioefor priest at- tbe hast Hope I Hie I act or I here, and AE-icti AiuW j "ho eaiiie to on,; camp yest.erniidil. Anil 1 , ri ' ,s ;l| -o tins fat man they call j he governor -a great c],i o f. if j s said; I iliongb be does m,t look as sorb a great one should look. Aes, | have seen manv JlbHv. men. but none like thee beHuWt Stane was roufed on,v more ■' ll,p ss'!' ; •' directness, hot strove to Sents, 1,7 0 retnni of “ Well.” be laughed, "for t.hm matIm thee arc none - 0 many like tbv.se;; nij.he world. I wonder what lliv nuim-. 'Hie girl flushed with pleasure at Dm eoniplmieiii, and answer,v| ]„ s quosnon " it bout reserve. “ j am Ali-kodccd.” . Mb’ Beauty ol (be Sjirino! Thun ' 1 'I;! 1 "‘HI namial, iitil,- fEicr;" it “'.r''.' , dud " d v, 'i‘b ideas ore. Tin ; Ibimc that bad leaped in her dark eves "I j heir first meeting burned mice more. ! and when-, but tor an interruption, the I ennversanon would have drifted on.y be eonu'ciared. Mnt at that, pre--1 ctse moment Hie tall Indian called to i nor. j “ .Miskor]o^fl. M j .V ,r - lrl "mvee; swiftly io him. am] 1 "iHi a gesture Unit was almost rovai I the Indian pointed to a pile 0 f , r , T |„ j goods Ijeaped upon the long punter. ; the girl gathered as miu-li as wa--, pos- ; Si-de in her arms, and staggered i\itli I mr load from Hm Miire, ami as b’aetor ; Kochvell nodded to him, Hubert- Sr-im-I moved up llie counter, and been to ; give Ins order- The factor wrote n nonn wit bout, comment., glancing at iiu ■ r y , ""y From time to time with shrewd apprising eyes, and when Stane had paid for Hie goods, which wore to j b ' ready before noon, be asked a. question. I -'c'w to the district, aren't you?” I I wintered here,” replied Stane ; hrieftv. ! ” I lien yon did no trapping,” v.nid Up. 1 Jactor with a laugh, ‘‘or von'd hav n * brought your poltr. in. T guess you | must he xirosprcting:” 1 I haie done a little,” agreed Stane, j a. touch of reserve in his manner/ i “A lonely job! ’ commented (he tor”Apf," was Stane's reply, then be nodded and turned towards the door. The factor watched him go with I frowning eyes, then turned to Ids as- | sistant. | . " Not a very sociable sort, licv, Doni aid?” The assistant grinned, and shook his bead. “Tongue-tied, ] guess.” ”1 wonder where, ho has his location.” ” Somewhere North!” answered Donald. ” He came up stream, 1 saw him ’ The factor said no more to him, but passed out ot the store towards the warehouse. As be did so lie canglil sight of Stane standing in the Square I watching a canoe far out on the river. Tlie factor’s eyes wore good, and he recognised tbe occupants of the craft quite easily, and as he saw Stane’s interest in them, tbe frown gathered about In's eyes once more, and bo muttered fo himself. “ 1 wonder what Air Ainley's little game, means?'’ Then, as be was unable to find any answer to bis question, be tamed again to bis own affairs. As for Hubert Stane, be stood in Hi" Square for quite a long lime watching for the return of the canoe, determined to have speech with Ainley. Then. ;,s it still lingered. In' turned and made bis way to bis own eanip, li was quite late in tho afternoon "ben the op)>ortimitv lie sought was gimn to him. Impelled by the meres; curiosity, be bad strolled over lo Uv Indian (epees and bad there encountered Aliskndced teaching a. pnppy-dng tricks- He bad stopped to speak to her, and was still engaged in a rather one-sided conver-aHon. when the son mi of English voices caused him to turn round. The governors party, accompanied by the factor, was moving towards ibe (.epees. His first impulse was to go a wav. Him. -cciic- Abilov among the little knot of people, he decided to remain. and. in sc; vc in- own end. kept Ali-kodeed in conversation when lor; 'to herself she would have fled to the moose-hide lent. i The party drew nearer. Sfane wa-. | cnir-.-iiu;- of ils ati.entinn. and the blood I in Al iskodecd's face came and went in j a manner rbai was almost painful. Any- | one looking at them, ami noting the j apparent absorption of the man and the certain embarrassment of Hie gill, must, have utterly mi-comprehended the situation, and i-bat was wbc.t hap- I pened. for a moment later the sound tl | a laughing feminine voice reached bint. I Behold an idyll of tho land !” H,- looked up with an angry light in bis bine eyes. Tbe party wav. just, passing. and nearly every pair of eves was regarding Him curiously. And one pair. Hie gTev eyes of the girl who bad been with Ainley, met Ids ip level glance, and ;n them lie saw a flicker of c.onlempt. That glance scut the blood to liiy face, and increased the anger which had surged within him at. the laugh'ng remark be bad overheard. Ainley was among these people, and come whai might, be would bare speech -with him Indore them a!!. He stepped forward delcnninedly ; but Ainley. who had keen watching him closely, anticipated ins move by falling out of ibe group. “Don’t lie a fool, Stane! You'll do yourself no. good Hy kicking up a (Inst, here, I couldn't come last night. Ini to-night at the same lingo I will no;, fail.” He 1 nrned and moved on again before Siam* could reply, ami as lie joined Hie English girl, tbe latter inquired i;i a minvriscd voice, “Aon know that gen- I tlcmnn. Afr Ainley'” (To he continued.l