The Barrier

ought. Never had there been such a surprise. Never had there been such gorgeous presents for little folks. This was a land in which there were no

le friends, for although there was all manner of merchandise coming i

ut the Gales entered them bodily, so to speak, moccasins and all, clear to their hips, like the waders that duck-hunters use. When they ran they fell down and out of them, but their pride remained upright and serene, for were not these like the boots that Poleon wore, and not of Indian make, with foolish beads on them? Next, the youthful heir had found a straw hat of strange and wondrous fashion, with a brim like a board and a band of blue, which Poleon had bought from a colle

e leathery and very bitter, nor were they nearly so pleasant to the nose as the toilet soap, which Necia would not allow them even to taste. Then there was a box of chocolate candies s

s Poleon entered, though her ey

aid. "They have never had things to play with like

I guess you don' have so much present w'en you was li'l' gal

rms, for Napoleon Doret had brought other things from Dawson be

hands a-tremble. Taking the package to the table, she hurriedly untied the knots while he stood watching h

nd took from it a picture hat, with long jet plumes, which she stroked and pressed fondly against her face. There were other garments also-a silken petticoat, silk stockings, and a pair of high-heeled shoes to match, with certain other delicate and

r since she was a child, and looked up at him, her eyes wet with emotion. But she could not keep away from the dress for long, and returned t

d Poleon, hungry for more

n suddenly realizing its value, she cried, "Why, it must have cost a fo

e, den I dance, den I play some more, an' by-an'-by I see a new dance gal. She's Franche gal, from M

," said Necia. "She owns

ler, but I don' know it dis tam', so I ask her for dance w

how much you charge f

wear 'im before till to-night, an' I don' get

claimed

at never had no dress lak' dat in all her life.' Wal, sir, dat Marie Bourgette, she's hear

Necia?' An' I tell her all 'bou

en' is more bigger as I am.

guess de weight of a caribou to five poun'. She'l

dollar to-night, or I can trade 'im for gol'-mine on El Dorado Creek to some dose Swede w'at want to catch a gal,

o you don' change your min',' I say; an' I stan' ou

ttle shoes,' I say-a

ollars for it!" Necia said, a

ette I pay wan t'ousan'," said he. "I

've never seen a dress like it, except in pictures, and

leon, just for you. Go away qu

ved away. "I bet you mak' dose da

had an instinctive feeling that some day she would leave the North and see the wonderful world of which men spoke so much, and mingle with the fine ladies of her picture-books, but she never dreamed to possess an evening-gown while she lived in Alaska. And now, even while she recog

st, which was even more than an inch too large, notwithstanding the fact that she

e pronounced because of the natural whiteness of her skin. The year previous Doret had brought her from the coast a Spanish shawl, which a salt-water sailor had sold him, and which had lain folded away ever since. She brought it forth now and arranged it about her shoulders, but in spite of this covering the fair flesh beneath peeped through its wide interstices most brazenly. She had never paid marked attention to the fairness of her skin t

every feature, that there was no intricacy to cause her more than an instant's trouble. This knowledge must be a piece with the

the door. Of course, it was Poleon, who had come back to see her; so she rose hastily, gave one quick glance at the mirror ab

I'll be

the big room, very self-conscious and very pleasing to the eye. She crossed proudly to the reading-table to give him a fair view of her splendor, and was into the middle of the room before she looked u

jaculated Burrell, fer

her appearance, and knew the Lieutenant must be laughing at her. But flight would only make it worse, so she stood as she was, having drawn b

the long, black braids were coiled, was tipped back in a haughty poise. She had flung her hands out to grasp the table edge behind her, forgetful of her shawl, which drooped traitorously and showed such rounded lines as her ordinary dress scarce hinted

self to me as well a

to please him." Now she was herself again, for some note in the Lieutenant's

use of your quaintness and simplicity, but now-" his chest swelled-"why, this is a breat

e other girls? Do I really look as if

them,"

on the instant; all her reserve and hauteur vanished. Her warmth and unaffected frankness suffused him, as

here; that girl must have had a bad chest; but otherwise it fits me as if it had been made for me, doesn't it? And the shoes! Aren't the

shed water

heels. I couldn't walk

l come off if

make me

casins." Both laughed delighted

you know how be

his change of voice; then added, naiv

s like that?" he questioned. "Wher

bout it. The buttons and the hooks and the eyes are all wher

nism of a dress-suit, even if I'd never seen one,"

his exactly, but in dainty, soft things, not at all like the ones I wear. I seem to have a memory, although it's

ory of

g to tell what it is, except t

dy? Wh

her breast a thin gold chain on which was strung a band ring. "It was gran

I l

coquetry in the invitation. He read the inscription, "From Dan to Merridy," but had no realization of what it meant, for he glimpsed the milk-white flesh almost at his lips, and felt her breath st

pretty," he

er own widened, and she withdrew from him imper

Poleon here. It's tim

jaws grimly and muttered: "Hold tight, young

cularly on the front of the legs above the knees, where a shovel-handle wears hardest; whose coat was of yellow mackinaw, the sleeves worn thin below the elbows, where the

wuth follerin'. If I wasn't so cussed unlucky I'

e," said the trader, who helped h

ad towards Burrell, who had stopped at the front door wi

e boss s

, ain'

you," said Gale, a trifle cyn

that ain't been a whole lot too good," s

d happen if he did? Suppose, for i

ted derisively. "It a

guardedly. "Maybe I've got

itizen myself, leanin' ever towards peace and quietudes, but what's past is dead and gone

army to back him up-a

nickered the unregenerate Lee, but his wrinkles changed a

to help me, and we'll transfer this military post. Ther

as they play around and drill and toot that horn, and

foremost, and shut out these dressmakers complete. So long!" He thrust his arms beneath the legs of a new pair of blue overalls that formed his pack

rader. It concerned the purchase of certain supplies that had been omitted from the mi

that manner," he said, "for I don't. I want to w

ling," s

an I do, but it's a part of my duty, and I

eep peace, eh? You ain't look

n notorious criminals who have e

s a few that

e descriptions of a few such, and if they show up we wil

escriptions, mebbe I could help

and we'll go over it together. Yo

ten y

a was born out

affirmative, but Burrell was studying a pattern of sunlight on the fl

Gale?" When the other did not answ

e to ask was Miss Necia-she is so-w

rgone a change, but

never been

ha

e style, and neither one of us h

time I think about it," and, nodding amiably, he sauntered out. But his mind was

ough. Poor little gir

f her he fell into a strange and unexpected humor, and to their amazement commanded her roughly to take the things off. His voice and manner were harsh and at utter