Joyce of the North Woods

r for the first time. In a way this was so. He was not one to take heed of time or happenings. When he was not obliged

ging season was over Jared, more temperate, perhaps more cruel for that reason, settled down. When he was not occupying the chair of honour at the Black Cat-given him by common consent b

depravity of a mischief-making child, had set the match to

ions about Gaston and Joyce, he had gone to the tavern to nurse his wounde

, sniffing and rubbing his knuckles in his eyes to such an exte

ches? Go around and buy a peppermint stick. Here's a cent. Peppermint ought to be as good for a

others. If his news had had power to rouse Jude, how would it

e was it Pa; it was that Jude

Jude was too lazy on general principles to reduce an

you up to?" Filmer

ng! 'Pon my soul,

ce quite outside the sphere of wickedness. The matter was in them. It must, of course, come out

don't think I ever heard it equalled." Birkdale was about to urge Billy to renewed ef

on. It didn't seem like nothing; just them two being beaux like all girls an

e going to rise up against him as Jude had done. A silence fell upon the group. Filmer gave one kee

startled was he; and Jared Birkdale simply stared open-mouthed at the spy in their midst. Then Ta

took its shocks in a peculiar way. It rese

thout a word having been spoken by any one on t

Joyce had actually grown up to the extent

mplation had caused h

on the knowledge, and dreamed of other

uity; almost all who lived there had had a

is life. Joyce's mother, and the babies who had come and gone like little

was really that, nothing less-the attending disc

ment in the rough forest home, and then

not have felt the way she did, but to face the life of an

y in the middle of the severest winter St. Angé had known for many a year and Isa had been obliged to have "an eye" to the ba

little private hell aroused him to a consciousne

with time. His sins walked with him through the sober lumber season; their memory drove him to the Black C

when age, sickness or accident befell him, he might turn to her and find refuge. Jared had alw

Billy, he was brought face to face with a

on who had come from a Past that he rigidly reserved for his own contemplation-Gaston, who lived among them as a traveller who might depart with

something out of it all for himself, swayed Jared as he sat

a forced strength and singleness of purpose that m

rom her disturbed night. She wa

t's just struck me all of a heap, Joyce,

h a dull show of surprise, t

o do pretty good for yourself-and me-and no mistake. You always was a real grateful child,

red turned to quoting Scripture the girl grew rebellious. It was always distasteful to her to see, or hear, her fa

d's eye gleamed. "I hope you ain't going to take

hate to be dragged to my d

e you tha

r head bent above the coarse

ess. The memory of these things had tortured her and left their trace in worn-out nerves and hurt pri

oy

he insistent invasion of

w you and me might do better

he pale face. Was there a possibilit

o, father?" Joyce

ong shot. I've always meant to tell you some day, Joyce. I

and the rest didn't matter-

ce's head, and smirked. "I ain't a bad looking feller now. A little trimming of the beard, fas

ince Hillcrest training had given her a certain powe

tness, and the slight she paid to his personal reflections, ruffled Jared's

im purse. A matter of business! I always calculated to go back and make it straight, after the first flash had passed and I had money enough. I never give up or got dis

thing to keep still about. Every one seems to be here because he has to, not because he wa

. The idea ca

d, by damn! that's it; but to carry the simile further, when the

we go, fath

his pipe, imagined himself in the mirror trimmed up and fashion

skipped and led my own life. Many a man with his wife dead, and a kid on his hands, has done it. I've worked for you, and given you the best ho

what you mean,

tened. It seemed as if her father had his fingers o

along, Joyce. I've seen, like any kind father might, that there ain't a young feller between here and Hillcrest but would b

olour rose through her soft pa

ndal last. Even the brats have caught on before me. But on

asked Joyce, and her strai

Joyce. Myst.-short for Mystery. That's what Gas

ce flung up a defence now. She must fight

grily. He did n

nstance, there's got to be, in the nature of things, some demonstration. What I'm aiming at is this. Has this here Myst. meant business or has he not? I'm a man of the world-so is Gaston-he ain't never hoodwinked me

e was low and even. She was approachi

ble-or o

rn, and something died in the sunlig

l, torn and quivering, before the new-rise

no aid. Her deep eyes pleaded for help and mercy where there was no help, and alas! no m

to the floor. "You ain't the first girl as has been game for such as Myst., but he's made a damned mistake if he tho

ard and real horror filled her eyes. Was even

ways of finding out. Myst. has a fat account over to Hillcrest. H

o," panted Joy

ry you, let him come out and say so, and I w

st shield him and shield him so effectually that no harm could reach him. There was no

eligious tone, "to have my reputation smirched. Either h

uppose I'd marry Mr. Gaston if he did want me? Sometimes girls don't-marry-men even when

ell: The boys at the tavern are back of me. How do I know? You leave that to me. Now I calculate that Gaston don't want any of the dust of his past stirred up by us. If he's been playing with you, it's for you to say whether you'd rather have him

rds were a moan o

er, and clear gain for me and you! Out beyond the high trees, girl, there's better diggings for us. God! how I've smo

ce, compelled by his delirious words and excitement, almost felt a responsive sympathy; b

re of myself! Why-why, I'm engaged to Jude Lauzoon. I'm going to marry him right away. We can't even wait for him to buil

ally, and Joyce's la

nspiration to say this came from a blind belief in Gaston's q

rom the rout. "I-I believe it's a thundering lie," he a

but she had reached safety and she knew it. An unlovely, unhall

heart and soul. It took Jared some minutes to digest the information that had been flung at him so unexpectedly, and then anger and baffled hope swayed him. Joyce married to Jude

er's beauty stirred him painfully. "You are a durn fool to fling yourself away on J

mall white teeth and forming the dimples in cheeks and chin. So great was the girl's relief; so a

ought you had me then, didn't you? But being your daugh

e least, what was passing over the girl before him, he weighed her by his own l

ck through his brutality and hurt something in him that was akin to paternal love; but so long had that prot

ng divil. And if that Myst. ain't a slick one! Going to

Joyce's mother. But he paused before the pale undaunted girl. Her laugh died suddenly, to be sure, so suddenly that the gleaming teeth and pretty dim

affected her not at all; what she felt was-a loathing disgust, and a conviction that if she was to

red that he never forgot to his dying day.

killed my mother. But I'm not afraid of you, and I'm going to

to the floor, and almost ran into the little bedcha

en barrier. He longed to call her, b

room. A half-hour passed, then an hour. Noon came and went. The fire was o

ead lying on his arms folded on the bare table. When h

cked gown; short and scant it was, but daintily fresh and sweet. She had her poor little be

s if she were part of

he asked hoarsely, a

r to you, father.

he realized how far this gi

faltered; "goo

ed to the door. Then a laten

er; "there's twenty dollar

N

pleading, pleading with a woman for the

ked at him, and the

't take it. I don't want it; bu

he summer day grew dim as he waited there among the ruins of all that he thought had been his own. No dinner; no probable supper-Jared

d and the ticking of the clock thudded

strikes in. Men may suffer without giving outward sign. Justice is never cheated, and we may trust her workings alone. Jared suffered. Suffered until