The Fur Bringers A Story of the Canadian Northwest

osed behind Gaviller, A

oke of luck

uiet room where they had been talking so prosily. Colina b

o talk to him! Never in my life had I anything so hard to go through with as

elt faint and terrified. What was one to do with a man like this! She mount

what you like! I can't pretend. I must say my say

stand. "You are ridiculous!" she said. "I will leave the ro

, nevertheless he had the assurance to

ment. His voice broke huskily. "You are wonderful to me! I have to keep telling myself you are only a woman-

at him in ha

lted by hearing that. You came upon me to-day like a bolt of lightning

be courted regularly. It's right, too! But I have no time! I may never see you alone again. Yo

ontrived

forward, and a vein in his forehead sto

ispered. "It's not fai

me?" asked Colina.

oarsely. "If God is g

mad!" she

e; "but I think you understand my madness. Talking gets us nowhere. A dozen tim

na's aid. Her weakness fled. "How da

gedly. "To dress yourself u

fool!" she cried. "This is my ordinary wa

when you saw its effect on me! If it's only a game

er to everything else. "You are a savage!" she cried. "I'm sorry I

a plain ans

angry. "My answer is no!" she cri

ittering, cheeks scarlet, and lips curled-was like a lash upon his manhood. The answer was plain enou

auty!"

ing, but within those steely arms she was helpless. She strained away her

I hate you!"

lips

on the sofa, still straining away from him, but

u done to me!

n't!" he whispered brokenly. "You break my

sobbed tempestuously. "To have giv

e desperately to comfort her. Tenderness lent

u! Forgive me for being so rough! I couldn't help it! I couldn't go by anything you said. I had to find out for sure! It had to happen! What does

id. "Later, when you have tired of me a little, or if we q

I love you like my life! I could not despise you without despising myself! I don't know how to

r breast. "Ah! If I could

"What good does talking d

r. Her arm stole around his shoulders, her hea

lf beside her, and looking in her shamed face

r face. "Don'

ughed

laughing at?

hes and high and mighty airs. I had to dig my toes into the

never in my life knew a man so

" he said. Co

en't read many books either. I guess that's all guff, anyway. I didn't know how the thing ought to be carri

ughed t

ch outside. They sprang up aghast. They

pered Colina. "He h

oom, fell upon an album of snapshots

em standing at the table, their b

t comical l

e, one of the Kakisa Indi

face to her father. "Oh," she said. "You were gone

n across the room from her. Gaviller glanced from one to another-perhaps it was

he said. "He is qui

dared not meet Colina's eye. "It is terrible to l

Ambrose got up to go. "I was waiting

ng down the ri

the English missi

of the bank with you,"

ot on the river-bank. It was halfway between Gaviller's house and the store. At

e was escorted as far as the bench by John Gaviller. The trad

d Gaviller. "I have somethin

umming with happiness like a top as he w

calm, polite voi

shed at your assurance

Ambrose, steeling himself, replied

d you co

frank with father as with daughter.

" said Gaviller dryly, "you may go on or go ba

If you were a youn

onsider my age,

a set-to with Colina's father was unthinkable. There was nothing for him

t I come here

ou and your partner do

ut Ambrose was only human. "You are sore because we

eable in the whole volume. But you have deliberately set to work to destroy what it has taken two centuries to

likes. We treat the Indians like human beings. Around us they're doing well for

ess with you. I deal openly. You had the opportunity to do my daughter a slight service. I hav

see fit," said

said Gaviller. "If you are found on the Compa

ten me with threa

id Gaviller. He stro