^^^\%^^ ^.^o.^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) T 1.0 ifKSBS ^^_^^ It n 7 » 156 lii mioo 1.1 f.-^l^ 1.25 j 1.4 1 1,6 6" ► V] '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 T CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notas techniq jes 6i bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D n n n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur6e et/ou pellicul6e I I Cover title missing/ D Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other thi^n blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents |~T| Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possib's, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti filmAes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires: L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur D D D D D Pages damaged/ Pages endommag6es Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur6es et/ou pellicul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies/ Quality in6gale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel supplimentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Includes supplementary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best po^tsible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellemAnt obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmdes A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Tl to Tl P< o1 fil O b( si oi fil si oi Tl St Tl w M di er b( rll re m This item \^ filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X 1 \y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X tails du idifier une nage Tha copy filmad hara hat baan raproducad thank* to tha ganaroaity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality posslbia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printad papar covor* ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion. and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad imprassion. Tha last racordad framv on aach microficha shall contain tha symbol —^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (maaning "END"), whichavar applias. Maps, platas, charts, ate, may ba filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaira film* fut raproduit grice A la giniroslt* de: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Les imagas suivantes ont AtA raproduites avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at de la nattet* de l'exemplaira filmA, at en conformity avac les conditions du contrat de filmaga. Les exemplairas originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimie sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premier plat at an terminant soit par la derniAre paga qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous les autres exemplairas originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par Is premiAre paga qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, "tc, peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul ciichA, il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la michode. rrata o 9elure, 1 A D 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 'W| -SOiia OHO-UVC j moNia iriHdvw4 1 INnoWOlOHd } DEVOTED TO NARRATIVE. ROMANCE. INSTRUCTION AND ENTERTAINMENT V6i.. XVI, No. 21 WILUAMSPORT, PA., MAY 1, 1898. Story C'OMPANtoN Xo. 173. IE U TEN ANT Ian Camernn, of the gallant "Blatk Watch," the I^ird of Errolton, look- ed up fi'om the closely - written letter he had been perusing I with n short sigh. Hi» (ilengarry bonnet I he had toised on the writine-table when l)ie took up the bulky American letter Iwhich had nrrivecl by that aft«moon'(i post, jiiiid which he had found awaiting him at I hill private quartera. Now, as he leant back in his chair, mcdi- Italively returning the'«lieet to its envelope, I the bright Spring sunshine showed a little j furrow of care and perplexity upon his |broad, lofty brow. His eyes fell on a small nissivi in hi* Up, which had been an en- Fcloiure in the other. He lifted it and I sighed again. It was addressed by a man's hand, in liptawling G«riutn chanctert, to "My Sis- ter Alix," and invol- untarily an exclama- tion of "Poor Alixl" came to EiTolton's lips as he slipped it into his breast pock- et beside the letter to himself. The latter was in . rounder, bolder caligraph. which bore the signature of Roy Henderson. He walked to the fireplace and stood with his elbow resting on the muntlebourd, look^.ng down upon tlie cabinet photograph of a girlish head, with an aureole of light, fluffy hair. Alix llugen was Alix Cameron now; but as Krrolton ga^ed tenderly upon this por- trait of his love, as he hud known her in the old days before she became hi» bride three short months ago, his mind was dwelling more on her brother, Francis. Francis Kugen's was the old, old story of the prodigal son. In his early student days in Germany he had wasted his sub- stance is riotous living. Wlien his father's death left him and his young sister, Ali.t, in poverty he had, alas! swelled the ranks of that multitude of whom Kipling wrote: Wa have done with hope and honoti w« ure lost to love and truth. We an dnppinc down tlie ladder, mn( b.r nine. It was Ian Cameron who reawakened hope in that hungry heart, who implanted faith in that barren soul. He who had fur- niabed the several hundred pounds necea- sary to start that wasted life afresh In a township of California, where a post as organist ond teacher awaited Francis, with whom music was a redeeming passion. He was indebted for the promise of that post to an LriHuential uncle of their mutual friend, Roy Henderson. The latter, a med- ical student, having some months' holiday at his disposal, had volunteered to accom- pany Francis to \ortli America, and to see him settled ... his new home. There was the sound of a carriage stop- ping ia the square below. He stepped quick- ly to the window. Yes! it was Alix, re- turning from her afternoon drive. In another moment hi» young wife en- tered the room. He came forward and kissed her, Oer- niuM fashion, on both cheeks. "You have only jnnt returned," she said, noting the uniform; "but, oh! you look tired." She spoke still with the pretty Dresden accent, grown so dear to his ears, and her soft voice was full of concern as she saw that unusual grew shadow of care upon his lace. He unfastened her sealskin cloak, look- ing down into her uplifted, sympatbatiik eyes. How could he l/reak to her tlu'' aorn tale he had to tell "I ani rather fagged," he acknawledgc "but it's not that, dear. I've li# V;;~ • from Roy Hendereon." "V "Oh, laa] what ia it!" ab* Mv>. .a -#' ' > ■!»• i A •«>iM««aiM THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE lirratlileitHly. "KrnmU i» not ill?" The ring of aiixifly in Iut wurilH went to Kr- i(iitoii'» licuii. for lie knew it via» tier liiotliei'fi rc'lapHi" to bygone dimipation that abc really feuifH. "He'K all right," he hnntened to reaBSiire her. "Mere's a letter from him for you. Jtnt I fear he. is going to disappoint ub, ilcar. Hoy'n news ii a bit of a alioelc. Fran- eis ha« rhiicked the appointment, and ii starting oti ,i8 a digger to acme new gold- JieUls in Alimka, in Britiiih Columbia, called Klondykr." "I Hhmild not have so much fear if we rould count on hi« liciillh and persever- nncc." "aid Errolti.n, intuitively reading her tliougtfl. "1 Imd «ueh hopes of hi» IJirowing heart and soul into thid music liiiHinenK, and now tliia cornea! A» Koy KiiyH, it might turn out all ri^ht if only lie did not lark concentration. ' "What doeii Koy aiiyV" she aaked faintly. "You musn I mind if Koy is a bit blunt," Raid her huHband, putting Roy'a open let- ter into her hand a trifle reluctantly. Slie looked ut it for an instant, tlje doae lines danring )in intelligibly before hertear- dimmcd oyeH "Keud it, please,"' she said, rery low. And V read it. And with his arm around her, £rroltoii It was dated from San Francisco, and began, in Itoy's racy atylc, with an account nf thi' voyage acrosa the At'intie and the liltiniate arrival of Francis and himself at his iintle's house, from which he wrote. "And now, my dear Cameron, a most tinlooked-for thing has happened, and I liurdly know how to aet about putting down the plain facts. We have had the fortune, or misfortune, whichever you like to call it, of falling in with an old cove who is nnother paternal uncle of mine, but whom a never set eyes on before. j ''It seems he's always been counted a bit ill a black sheep — married an American gill, ran through her fortune, and when h]w died finally betook himself to regions unknown, and gave his relations no further trouble. "This Spring he turns up at 'Frisco with ro end of a yarn about the millions of gold in 'AliiKka wailing for the picking, livery iiinn you meet has got the Alaskan fever more or less acutely. "Poor Francis took it badly the first set off, and (inully Uncle Mac turned his head by aa offer tu sell him a share in his claim for a mere song, if Francis would throw in his lot with the mine and go back to Klondyke with him to work it. "Between ourselves, I think it was a bit of bravado on Uncle Mac's part to lord it over my Uncle Dick, who thought he was doing no end of a good thing in gettinfr Francis shoved into that organist post Niniply on your humble servant's recom- nieiulation. I tried hard to argue Francis out of it; but it's no go. He is under the delusion he'll probably prospect and strike II claim on his own account, make his for- tune in month, and live in the lap of lux- ury ever after. You should just hear Uncle Mac and him vhen they get to- gether! "In this new Kl iSorado, I am told, the private adventurer can do everything— find 1 lie gold, work it, bring it away. There is iin drawback, no difficulty, no danger— oh, nothing to speak of whatever! But the ^^av to gel there is the facer! Arctic horses cannot go further than the foot of the Jla^^. " riic journey takes about three months, and, <\in llncle Mac adutits, the life in- volves iiii-eaaant toil. Packing over path- less moiMitnins, towing a heavy boat against B five or eight-mile curi-ent, sleeping how and ^vhere one can, shooting i ipids, fight- ing gnats and mosquitoes by the million. "Hien digging in the bottomless frost, rnduriny eight long months of cold, which never rioeti above zero up there, and is wften eighty degress below; with the con- tinual darkness of night, rarely any lighter than twilight, to outbalance the three short months of perpetual day from June to September. "According to the proverbial understand- ing that when the North Pole is discovered a Scotchman will be found squatting on the top of it, I've nade up my mind to sustain our national character of enter- Erise by making tracks with him, my uncle sving offered to finance me if I will come along. "As you delivered Francis into my charge, I feel in duty bound to see him through a doubtful business; and though it's not exactly the career I mapped out for the next year or two, I dare say a med- icns will come in pretty handy in these forlorn desert quarters, and who knows I may come back to bonnie Scotland a Count of Monte Cristo myself? "Break the news gently to your wife, and ask her to trust me to look after her brother as if he were my oAvn. "I have not yet told you another extra- ordinary bit of news. Uncle Mac's only child, a girl of twenty or so, is going to Yukon with us. She has been all her life at a school in 'Frisco — been trained for a singer, and made a great sensation when she came out at one of the big music halls last year. "A venturesome company is starting an opera-house at the rising Dawson City, on the Klondyke river, and she is engaged as prima-donna. She is as fine a lassie as you could meet all the world over, not at all contaminated by connection with the stage, as we straitlaced Scots are inclined to expect. "I pity her, and don't think she realizes the peril of the tour; but she is as enthu- siastic as any of us to explore the .lew country, and the old man is delighted at the arrangerient. Women are rare in Alas- ka, so it'" be the blessing of the lot of us to have 1 >r near; but I hate the idea of her roughing it as much as 1 dicad it for Francis. "I'll write you when we get to Skaguay, the first real stage on our way to this land of Ophir." Errolton read the letter word for word without comment, and Alix listened in breathless silence. When he had finished, the tears were streaming down her pale, beautiful face. "Oh, Ian!" was what she cried then, "this is as I dreaded always— my brother may disgrace you. You should never have married me!" He lifted her dear face up against his shoulder, and looked down into it with grace, reproving eyes. "Alix, my little woman, don't say that! Whatever happens nothing can ever come between us two." "It is because I love you so I would not bring you shame," she murmured. "And is your, love so selfish it would not let me share your trouble, be what it may?" he rallied her. "No, no, Alix! I own I am upset by the turn of atfairs; but Roy is a splendid fellow. We could not have put FranciK into better hands. And to think of a prima-donna going with them to those outlandish regions! Hy Roy's en- thusiastic description of her, it sounds like the beginning of a romance, my dear, and we'll lie healing of a wedding one of these fine days when lliey have all become mil- lionaires." CHAPTER II. Roy Henderson had been attracted by hie fair American cousin, the rising young opera-singer. To tell the truth, the stoic Scotch atn- dent, for the first time in his life, had al- lowed his hsart to be literally stormed by the fire of Gowan Henderson's dark eyes, when he bad listened to lier invitation from belijnd the footlighta, "Oil, whistle, an' I'll come to ye, my lad. Despite what be had said in his letter to ICrrolton, the strength of this sudden, se- cret love was already begidliinf to make him look upon her profession with all the distrust bom of a good, old-faahioned up- bringing in his stern mother-couAtry. Much as he might ordinarily enjoy the drama or opera, when his personal inter- est in actor or siL,rer was aroused it was another matter. He saw the stage in its worst lighL with its lurid beguilinga which spelt moral death to the many. This was all a new and disquieting ex- perience to the medical student, hitherto devoted entirely t« the cramming of weighty knowledge and the passing of exams. He would scarcely have owned it, even to himself; yet, over and above his anxiet.v for the welfare of Francis Rugen, it had been the prospect of Uowan going forth to an untried future in that distant land of gold which had finally decided him to cast in his lot with the gold-seekers. Perhaps an all-wise Providence had thrown them together thus, to set him this task of protecting a fair, unsullied life, as yet so guileless of the world's evil. Such, at lecst, was the belief which dom- inated Roy's strong, true nature, aided, doubtless, by that mystic enthusiasm the dream of first love. But perhaps it was only when the little steamer bearing his party was throbbing on its course a'ong the 'ovely waterway from Juneau towards Skaguay Bay, that Roy reaUzed in truth the enorraitv of the hazardous expedition on which they had embarked. For the hardened pioneer. Uncle Mac, he " felt no misgiving; but Francis and himself — how would they weather the storm ot coming events? There had been little time for reBection in the bustle and excitement of getting to- gether their mining outfit and food sup- plies. Then there was Roy's medicine- chest. It was no meagre task, to meet Ihe exigencies of the long Arctic months in\he far Northwest, where they would be en- tirely dependent upon their own resources. As yet the Klondyke was a new coun- try, almost shut off from trade and inter- course with the outer world, and each well-to-do emigrant had his tons of freight stowed safely in the hold. As Roy looked round on the cosmopoli- tan crowd on board, lounging on the great bales of hay, chatting to the accompani- ment of neighing horses and t'ae Pity of sledge-dogs, his heart sank. His eyes fell on the figures of Francis and Gowan standing by the taffrail engaged in earnest conversation. Francis Rugen's once thin and sallow cheek was rounded and bronxed, his black eyes were glowing with animation as he emphasized by a foreign gestur* some point in his discourse. His companion was lis- tening with evident interest, and replying now and then, with a' brilliant amile Hash- ing over her foir face. That girlish form, enveloped in its neat fur coat and Tam-o'-Sbanter bonnet, seenieil sadly out of place among the heterogeneous ly garbed men who surrounded it, some al ready attired in the rough corduroys ami heavy boots of the miner. Her featurei were more Scotch than American, her com- plexion clear, and glowing wiiu the licit color and brilliancy of perfect health Roy was startled out of his abstraction liy Uncle Mae's cheery Toice at his el' bow. "They two mak' a bonnie pair, eh?" Despite his long exile from his native Lowlands, the genial old miner still i-e tained a strong Dcottish accent, and prid- . ed himself sotnawhat in keeping up the ' dialect of hi* own particular birthplace. Hiis was a cause of irritation ot the more t* refined and successful brother in San ' 'I !m!???!!!r*^r>''fV^ ii'l?!?t'?f y Wi'WiPJPPfy.^^^-v'f J.JP^ .1 f jPiiu iJ !ri^j.,i.J >i.JJ.i,S9f PPJIJ^ ,^ j!5CT:-'.' THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE 8 FranciKO, to whom the Mtpegraoe's va- gariei and coarntrioitiei had ever been a lource of complaint. It was one of the subtle difference! be- tween them which almoat belied Uncle Mao'a kinihip with the dainty creature he owned aa daughter; but by thi« time Roy waa well uaed to hia patron'a homely p«- cullaritiet, and loved him nona the leaa on that account. Yet a decided fluah of annoyance man- tled hia boyish cheek at the moment, for Uncle Mac had given voice to an imprea- Kion which would have been the very last to aisail himself. True, yonder well-groomed German had little in common with the broken-down, (limipatcd Francis Rugen of older daya whom Koy remembered; but :ha recollec- tion waa too vivid, the reformation of Francis too untried, for Roy to contem- plnte with calmness the vaguest possibility ul his controlling the future of Gownn. Roy knew now that he himself loved her better than all the world. He almost turned impetuously to give expression to Ilia thoughts, when a nobler impulae stayed him. He had in a measure sacrificed his own career to further the good of Francis, ond wiis his generosity to fail him now at the I'rucial test? No. If tVancis could prove liimself worthy of her, though his own livart broke, Roy knew he would be the lust to stand in the way. "You have taken a wonderful fancy for I'Vnncig, Uncle Mac," was what be said aloud. "Ay, I'm aye on the side o' them wha's back's been tae the wa'," responded old Henderson, with the laconic sympathy of one who spoke from experience. Roy said nothing. Francis Ruben's back had indeed been to the wall; and though that catastrophe was of hia own making, Hoy's work was to see it should never be 80 again. He strolled further aft to where Fran- cis and Gowan stood bidding each other good night. The grey of twilight was deep- ening, and the little tent city of Juneau, at the foot of its mighty snow-clad moun- tain, was fading from view; while above the plough of the engine still came the (lying echo of the cheers that had speeded the ship's departure. "I'm going to turn in," Francis greeted Roy on his approach. "I'm dead-beat." He indeed looked somewhat worn with the work and excitement of the past few dnvs, and involuntarily Roy thought of the greater strain of the journey yet to come. The next moment Francis had departed to his berth. He was standing alone by Gowan's side, and thinking of her only. Presently she acknowledged his presence by a glance. "If one could forget this," she spoke, with, a shrug r' her shoulders expressive i)f her surroundings, "it would be jtut lovely!" They were steftming up a mighty gorge, deep and dolorous. All was aileuoe H»ve lor the pulsing of the ship, and now and then the splash of a salmon breaking the water's glaiisy Surface. Far away, the snow-peaks and black forests of Prince of WalcH' Island roae. an unbroken chain, across the grey Pacific; and to the right snow and clouds lit up the bleak steeps, touched by the fiery blaze of the still uD' vanquished sun. This was Alanka at bat! But Roy I'ui once was blind to Nature's beauty. His eyes were on the grimy vessel and on Gowan. "You ought never to have come!" he cried impulsively. She looked at him, her brown eyea fall of that little air of scorn with which ah* had somehow com« to treat her stoic kins- man. 'And you,'; she said, "why did yon come?" responded ia • Roy felt himself flushing like a school- boy. He dared not tell her it was partly upon her acaount he was there. "To make my fortune, of course!" was what he answered lightly. "Well, so have IV' she r< similar tone. Roy leant his arms upon the tnffrail, and looking away from her towards the white mountains, with a dogged expression upon his smooth face. "It's bad enough for ua men to go through thia kind of thing. It's not fit for a woman to rough it." He spoke a trifle brusquely. "Once we are over the pass it will be all smooth sailing for me," she laughed. And her white teeth gleamed like pearls between her carmine lips. "I guess I'm not going to dig for what gold I can get!" "You lire going to do much worse!" The hoc reply broke from Roy before he was aware what he was saying. Gowan lifted her beautifully arched eye- brows. "To sing to the tune of nine hundred dollars a week? Really, yon are not very complimentary, Mr. Henderson!" Roy bit his lips, annoyed at his own blunt/iess, yet by no means reconciled to that roseate future. she depicted. "I don't see how it'll pay the company who are running this venture to have a singer of your standard up in a mush-room place like Daweon City!" he rejoined. And his grudging tone detracted from the co- vert compliment. "Well, aa I haven't seen Dawson City yet, I reckon I'm going to wait till I do to abuse it. I'm quite satisfied the com- pany you think so little of will pay me right enough, for I've got a signed con- ."If oue could lorftt this, it would be Just lovely!" tract trom Count Hubert, who's financing it. I'm beginning to think it's a pity I didn't go by 8i. Michael's with him and the rest of the troupe, since you think it'll be such an infliction for dad and you to have me along." She turned from him in evident pique; but Koy put out his hand impetuously and Htuyed her, with a sudden flush in hia frank face. "Yon know, or you ought to know, I »m only too proud yoi^ ore coming with us," he said, in some hasty coafusion. "It's — it's because I hate to think of you Bingmg to evairy Tom, Dick and Harry." Qowao moved away, far from mollified. "How real Scotch yoi< ^re in your old- werid notional" She threw the woi-da over her shoulder, with pretty petulance. "I guess I'm glad dad's not like yiml" Koy let her go in silence, his eyes lixed immovably on tha sword of silver the tiled sun was sending through the lierv clouds to the West. His heart was hot, his spirits strangely (lowucaat; and as he gazed' on the wnii- drous grandeur of the scene, invulunturily a mute "God help us all!" came to his lips. But he little knew how great was the need for that prayer! CHAPTKR III. The slow trip of the Lynn <^anal waa over at last, and the real e cilement of tha journey had in truth bcgui when the lit- tle steamer dropped anchot in Skngiiuy bay, to be soon surrounded by a ileet of row-boats and Biwash canoes, eafter to pick up passengers. It was not till three . days later her freight got transferred into the large m'ows. Then it was towed in by row-boats to the low beach, en route for the Dyea trail. As a recognized pioneer, old Henderson was followed, by one and all, seeking the advice of his experience of the route. And the genial Scot, despite his "closenesH" as to the exuct whereabouts of his claim, freely imparted invaluab'e hints to the. various emigrants bound to the land of gold. It waa Gowan who had felt all these necessary preparation irksome, and fretted with girlish impatience nt the delay. It seemed to come naturally that she should claim Francis as her escort whilst she wiled away the time. They explored the quaint settlement, bargaining with the squaws for moccasins, mackinaw jackets, and Indian blunketH, which she impressed upon Francis would prove treasures to their small community when they arrived at their claim. Francis, who had felt himself of little account in the business transactions tor packing over the trail, was quite willing to vow his appreciation of any purchase Gowan decreed, so long as the choosing of the same shouV: keep her by him siMe. When they h^d exhausted this diversion, he was all too ready to follow her in ex- cursions along the lovely valley, llirouijli groves of Cottonwood and spruce and birch, or by the thickets of alder and willow by the river banks. They conversed in German, by Cowan's request; while she, in turn> taught her companion divers idioms of her native tongue. .The time was fully occupied by the sev- eral proapective miners. They had to ar- range for the somewhat dtflioult landing of their goods, and to secure the services of the Chilcoot Indiana as guides and lielp^ra in the arduous task of packing their trans- ports over the great pass. Once, as she sat by the swift river, watching Francis playing his line for sal- mon, the low chirp of sparrows, breaking the |[reat silence, proved an irresistible in- centive, for Gowan, too, to burst forth in sudden thrilling song. Her notes sounded even a thousand times sweeter aud purer under that great vault of heavcu than in the city music-hall, where Fiuncia had first heard her wondrous voice. Involuntarily the angler o'inndoned his vocation to turn to listen to it now. And then it was Gowan who stopped short h\ artless confusion. "Say, do you mind?" she queried. "I for- got all about the fish. There, I'll be aa quiet at a mouse." The impetuous reply of Francis was in some words of the old German Un-^-mmg of the "Lorelie," which brought a pr«rtty blush to Oowan'a fair check, and router' the speaker himself to a subtle sense of u I the sweetneai oi her charms. "Ahl were you ever in love?" was Oow- I an's nest naive interrogation, uttered in 167722 nmftf^ nAi* p 4 THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE rliildinh ri"ckleii«iie«a, as hIip preimicd to lead the way into tlic townBhip. Anil thru, with a swill leniHiiibiamu of hin liery |iUNt whiuh tlushi'cl hack '.i|>on him, KrHiuin Hwnkp ti> thv iiiiilHiiiniiifi' iiiuiImfhb of thix luve-ilieaiii int,o wbiih he bud uiicunHiiuiiH- ly bt-en drifting. But was it only niidsummpr miidncsa? For aa he made unnwer to (Jovvnn in a low nflinnative Uicmi- eyea met, and Humething ill ' of bia imsl in lier ear Ilia love fnr Count von Nii hish's fair daughter, their brief betrothal, her de- teition jn his reverse of torlnne, and his own reeklesa nndoiiig. "If J ever met that girl I ahould bate her!"_ur- selves, it suits me to be incog, just et pres- ent, so give me away at your peril! Got into rather a tight fix craaaing awortk' with a fellow at Baden. Stupid affair, for- get what is was now— aome woman's bou- quet at the ball, I believe. Anyhow, I raa my man through and had to cut it. "But I'm in for. fresh game now. See no end of tin in it, and. lots of amusement . I've bought up the going concern 'of % comedy company in Triaci, am trotting the lot out to Klondyke, and have got ia i THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE B •a b« loiu!" h* is nativ* it in .the ir« not in tuw the aweetciit niglitinvale you ever set j fves oil to fetili digKei'H. "Slie'» got to rauke my fortune before | I'm (lone with lier. I expert when you i »|iot my Cinwan you'll wunt to fiddle to , her! Ha! ha! glorioua idea! Name your I own dollars a week, my friend, and the ! thing's done!" "I know SVim Hendenon already, and X m going out to atrikc oil in her father's I ilaini, not to fiddle," said Krancia, with a ttiihli bom of annoyance both on hia own nci'ount and (lowan's. "Xo offence, my dear fellow," the count liaHleiied to aver. "Aud you know the Hrndcrsona'^ Aeh! what a omall world it is! And the more renaon the past should be blank, eh?" he added, in tonei meant to bo doubly conciliatoiy. ■"I'lio past and 1 have parted company forever," waa the ealm reply of Francis. ]tis face wai pale now as it had been flushed. ".So," queried the other indulgently, "like a sensible man, you've forsworn the false Erica? A new flame perhaps, eh? (.icing to make your pile for her, and live serenely ever after? Well, by -by. See you soon agin, no doubt." And he was away swinging along the river path, whistling blithely as he went. Francis Kugen passed on in the opposite direction with a lagging spirit. The buoy- ancy had gone from his spirit also. His heart was like lead within him. That cruel past t'-it he had thought buried beyond reach . 1 sprung open, like a yawning abyss, at his feet. He saw him- self tottering once more on its brink, drawn downward by a subtle Influence sti'unger far thaii his own weak will. And Gowan! With the remembrance of lier his brain reeled. Oh, that she should be at the mercy of this man, whom he knew to be unworthy to touch as much as the hem of her garment! His smouldering love, but just acknowl- edged to himself, burst to flame in that moment of passionate desire to protect her at all costs. And, now, alas! was that in his power to do? Like an answer there came in a flash a realization of that faith by which he had been plucked as a brand from the burning. Yesj so surely, even in these far wilds of Alaska, help was near, ready to be given "with a strong hand and a stretched-out arm." The struggling, terror-stricken sonl of the weak mun prostrated itself in an anguished appeal for strength and guidance to fight to the death this evil waiting to asi>aiT botli himself and the woman he held so dear; but his bittetiest prayer was for Gowan. CnAPTER V. It had begun in edriiest— the terrible as- cent of the Chilkoot JJass. Three more days hjd gone by getting the various outfits tran^poi-ted from D,vea to ^^hcep's Canip, the \iA point at the foot of the summit on the r>ver-bank, before the dreaded steep begins. Uouan had gi-owii used to having her sleeping-tent pitched in strange and divers places; to fall asleep one nii^ht to the lul- laby of the bounding rapids, the next to be hushed in the almost deathlike stillnesti of the snow-mountain's spruce-wood slopes. ' «, ' It was a life of unparalleled adventure, with, so far, no discomfort to speak of; for the party wa* well provided with every- tliiiHti tieeemnrf to tuak«. tbejoumey fairly pleasant and' expeditious. And Gowan 8 hiood ■*'ai rirte of constant Yivacity and amiable endurance. She prided herself in proving to the men she was a.^ able to climl; as tney. , She was tb« life and soul of theit- tiinnber, in scattering ber favon broadcast, audi' of winning the heart of each in turn. With Count Hubert's advent ibe- bad come to know her conquest of l''riin> in to be ciiiupleti', for he followed lier about with II silent, doglike devotion that now Qnd then caused her no little rumpuiictiiin. ! The coquettish desire to win it hud almost | lout itH charm once she knew it was heis ' to take or reject. it waa Roy, stern, unbending, with al- ways that look of calm disapproval in his blue eyes, whose heart's citadel she strove to Ktorm in vain. She gloried in fawning to fount Hu- bert's lightest wish to see the iiery Hush of annoyance that swept Koy's young l'u<« thereat. Slie claimed it as her prerogative to l)e worshipped and feted. !Slic looked iipou it all as an innocent diversion to wile away the weary hours of the Arctic day, and she was wholly unprepared for the I'ondeinna- tion that fell nt lust from Koy's lips, uu- able to keep their peace louifer. These days seemed like years to Roy, since that ill-fated morning when Francis had come to him and poured out iu his ear his knowledge of the num who held Gowan's welfare in his hands. For Francis, in the allegiance of his .strong gratitude to Hoy, deemed it only Roy's right to know the bitter secret of his friendship with Hubert; and, in doing so, had betrayed on.y too plainly the love for (jowan which tiled his own breast. Roy seemed so atoic and strong, it nev- er itruck the elder but weaker man that every word he spoke went like a dagger to Roy's heart. She must be warned against him, Roy had said simply. And tiien Francis flushed like a schoolboy. "T would not dare!"' he cried. "She would take it as an insult! She would nev- er forgive me!" Tlien I must speak, and though she doesn't forgive me it won't much matter," Roy answered grimly. And now he had spoken. They were climbing the great white ridge, nearing the summit, for it waa the third 'iy of their journey through the pass. For ahead the fndiana toiled nimbly, bent beneoth the heavy packs piled upon the guy blankets binding their shoulders. The horses, perforce discarded at the foot of the steep trail, had Iwen replaced by sturdy dogs, dragging the sledges laden -with outfits. One hu^ St Remard, owned by Fran- cis, had conceiyed an ardent affection for Gowan, and now had fallen back to trot in her wake, ciuT>'ing a little pack, Indian fashion, sagging on either side. It was the dog's dumb devotion that paved the way for Roy's blunt speech. Roy had adiwitly monaged to outdistance the rest of their party, and detach tJowan to his own especial care— no very difficult manoeuvre w^hen Gi|wan, somewhat flat- tered by his' unwonted attention, wns pleased to rign herself willingly enough to the anuntjjsment. But her complacency wat, short-livid. Roy's heart was hot with the memory of a .scene imprinted upon it the niiilit be- fore—the memory of Gowan springing \\\> at (^ount Hubert') command to sing a cer- tain ditty for their amusement. They had bee in the midst of the savage desolation of the great White Pass. The icy rocks and stunted pine-trees had eclioed to the chorus, taken up by the rough campaign- ers, sauatted in their rude encampments far and near. I don't want to play In your y«rd, I don't like you any more, was the refrain. The flickering light of the oiliainp, swinging fronv the tent-roof, had fallen up- on Gowan's uplifted face, glorifying it with a halo, out o^ which it glowed like the face of an angel. • The sight b»4 filled Roy with an acute desire to spring up and lead her awoy from the vulgar gaw of that strangely-assorted uuillei'ce; but, inoht of all, fiuin the exua- peiuting allentioiis of Count lluliert, which aroused Roy's resentment to fever- heal . 'I'lieie hud come the same lixik of rap- turous beauty on (iiiwan's lute a( this niu- inent ns she had turned and bestowed a carenH upon the faithful St. Reruard's he.ul. She wus I'lnd in a martin-fur coat and a Tuin-o'Sliaiiter cap, froiii beneath Which' tJK' little brown curls of her sillcy hair peeped invitingly. The freshening bre6/e had fanned the pink glow ol perfect health on her chccliN, swept just now by the dark, curly luulies that scarcely hid, but inten- sitiey found himself wondering how it was possible the glory rif those eves coultl so find expression in their lashes' slender line. "I think tlie heart of a dog is just per- fect!" she was Fuylng softly, more address- ing the St. Uernard than Roy. "It must be beautiful to be loved as these creature* love us! 1 believe this one would die for me if need be." "fve no doubt his master would be will- ing to do the some," said Roy dryly. Then he flushed, haling himself for the jealous pang that had prompted his impetuous words. He saw the line of Gowan's red lips straighten. "1 dare say some of our hearts are as true as our dogs' you know" — he tried to soften his former speech with a touch of raillery; "we're not made of cast-iron." "I think .vou are!" And, had he knowl), it, there was some bitterness behind her laughing satire. ''But I'm not, really," he answered earnestly enough; "and, to prove it, I'm going to say something to you, as I might —as a true man would— to— to— to any woman," he broke off lamely. She shot him a tnvift glance from be- neath her thick lashes, and, nt sight of his evident agitation, leant on her alpenstock to say, with insinuating coyness: "Not to one of those hideous' squaws, who daub their cheeks with brown grease, just as we on the stage use powder and paint, to make ourselves look pretty?" Roy had been perilously near betraying himself; but these woiils of hers were just such as he needed to lash him anew to bia self-imposed task. "I was not joking," he said stiffl.v. "If you had never known the contamination of the stage, you woulc understand no pow- der or paint could '.'.er .'nake you so pret- ty as you are without t lem. You " Gowan had interrupted him with a curtsey of mock gratification. "We grow complimentary! This is in- teresting! Go on." "I nm going on," said Roy sturdily; "but you won't have to complain of compli- ments. 1 am going to speak plainly, at peril of offending you— to warn you to be- ware of an evil influence as false as — as the very stage itself that you delight in!" (iowan drew a sharp breath. "Now it smells of liattle at last!" she laughed, "l am to l)eware of an evil in- fluence as fal.se ns the thing I delight in. Yes, that is very plain— more plain than police; but I guess I'll make no rash prom- ises, as I'm rather at a loss what the evil influence can be in thi» lone land. "I don't suppose you mean it's the de- mon of my ovN-n wicked self you wish me to exorcise, though you're so very outspoken I reckon it's just possiole." She turned and looked up into his foca with n droll air of bewitching penitence; but Roy was no match for her levity. .r "Oow-an," he said, forgetfully addreaaiaf her by the name imprinted on his heart,, t'it's the man you call Count Hubert I dis- trust, and ask you, as you value /our hap- piness, to believe I have reason for my warning. If it were any good I would en- treat you, even yet, to retract your yroM- ^f.:-i Mi 6 THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE Im tn him; but I aupponf It ia quite une- She looked at him in antoniahment, but ^Mt )ial n (iiittpr of necrct kiitiifaction in her broiiHl. "Qiiitp u»fleii ne wt«1. And wimt the waur am IT With thi> concluding worda alie peeped lip rogouiahly ia her eompanion'a face, 'llie action wu« fatal to her triumph. An iiiBtiint before Roy had been earried nwny by tho gloi-y of her rich notes, the rapture of her preaence. Now he suddenly bethought liimaelf thia witcheiy wa», with her, but a trick of the gtugo, a forte of the "play-actor," whoia role he would so atenily condemn. ilia whole nature roue in rebellion. Vrancia- himself— waa ahe not striving to bring both to her feet? How had he evar thought it possible ahe could influ- ence Francis for good— that his own heart could Buffer to relinguUh her? Up faced her, almost ilercely. "(tirl," he began in ii voice of thunder, "J was speaking to you seriously and iji re- turn you Hout me with your foolery, your Ilis bnisnue speech stuck in his throat. No, lie could not deny it! He was one of the "lads who lo'ed her weel," in apite of air (Jowan had tragically lifted her handker- chief to her eyes. I dt'ii't wnnt to play in your yard. If you won't be pTood to me. she wliiinpered in a piteous little voice. 'I'he I lianu and dispair of it was irresist- able. Hoy found himself impetuously touching the hand holding the handker- chief. "Don't mind roe! I'm a brute to have been so rouijli with you; but if you only knew of the (Icapicable things tVaneis Ru- gen has toM nie of this man 'ITiere! I've aaid-moic than T meant, and betra.ved his confidence, but it will be sale with you. Won't \l'! (iowan's hanilkereliief had dropped, and hhe was regarding him with brilliant eyes far removed from tears. "You dull wretch! 'iVhy didn't you tell me beloie it was Francis Kugen who knew liimy" Her scorn, and llie conviction that she had not been crying fitter all, roused Hoy's ire again. "What difference does it make which of ns knew him," he demanded, "so long as Uie result is the same; ' "The result is not tlie same," ahe an- swereil ini|ieriously. "Since it is Francis, I -I undeisianil, uud am convinced, llefore, T thought ii wan simply you who were jeal- ous." She luought out the adjective with a little glan(e of scornful defiance that was so iiuieli more fuel to the Hanie of hia wr.nth. "I am quite out of it," he said brusquely. Since she valued his advice so lightly, at least she should never know the pain her contempt of that advice inflicted. "I warned you," he went (in, with less calmness, "as any decent fellow would who hutea to see a — a friend at the mercy of a man like the count. A man can judge other men as women can't," Roy added recklessly, "and your calling is the hardest ia ttta world in which • womau can kteji herself, liku Caesar's wife, alsivu suspic- ion." Oowan stopped and flung herself down on tlie precipitous slope. There was a Hush of mingled anger ami niortilieutinn u|)un her lovely face— anger at his bluntncss. mortification that she had tailed, to sub- due him to her ehanns. "llease, that will do," she said haughti- ly. "I am at the mercy of no one, or noth- ing, but your own very Iwd tante »nd rude temper. And after your ilisparaging re- marks upon my profession I refuse to go Key Srti two shots la qiihk taccessloa, tita a hufe body mat rolllat (town. another step in your company. You have quite convinced ine how iniicli T. hate you. ■fou can go now. I shall wait lor the "oth- ers." tn wluit manner Roy would have met this emphatic declaration of war was to remain a mystery, for, with sudden and seething swiftness, an avalanche of ice and snow hwept the precipice, and would have carried Oowan with it had not the Hi. Bernard caught the skirt ot her fur coat in his teeth. Roy, with a hoarse exclamation, flnng his arm around her, holding her in n tierce embrace, whilst hia other hand clung with desperate clutch to the trunk of the stunt- ed pine-tree against which she had leant. The next instant another cry of greater peril passed his lips as the cause of the eomo. Far away eastward came a glimpse ol the long, narrow valley, studded with in- terniinuble lakes and streams, stretching neaiTr and nearer to the golden V'likon. A great yearning came upon Roy as he stood there in the white silence to lake (iowan's hand and turn back yet from the far-off goal. 'J'bere would viewer eoine to them another moment in life like this, lie knew it only too well. Hut his lips were sealed. Her sobs ceased, and she looked up in his face. "I've lost my alpenstock," she said trag- ically. The remark fell upon Roy like a shock. He had been waiting, waiting for some words of pleading contrition, and thia was all that was in her thoughts! His smooth lips took a sterner line, his bronzed cheek blanched ever so little. It seemed as if something in hia heart had snapped. And tiowan! By that strange affinity with which the thoughts of others are sometimes borne in upon our brain, as she gazed up in his clear-cut, boyish face she read all she had expected and hoped. She arose impetuously. She would have cried out "l''orgive me! I never meant I hated you!" but pride intervened. He had refused to yield to her beguiling, he held her profession in distrust and disdain. Nothing could remove tho sting of that— not even the saving of her life! "How can I ever manage without my alpenstock?'' was what she exiaimed. "You must take my hand," said Roy, holding it out. But he spoke coldly. "1 suppose I have got to," rejoined Oowan, with a fine air of reluctance. And she looked down at her nioccasin-clod little feet, pouting prettily. Roy's arm dropped. He leant his back to a jutting ridge of rough trachyte. "We'll wait for the rest I dare say they can help us out of the difficulty," he said, so brusquely that Uowon, with a sense of pique and outraged pride, turned her attention forthwith to the dog, fawn- ing upon him, and addressing him by divers endearing epithets, for having come to her rescue in the whirling snow. Roy stood silent, gazing blindly over the great white world. Tlie supreme moment had romeandgone. She had not spoken, and they could never be just the same to each other any more. CHAPTKR Vr. Dawson City in the autiunn of '97 waa not the quiet haven on the river-bank it may possibly have been before the magio name of Klondyke had lured prospectors to flock thither from the now deserted me- tropolis of Circle City. It was a lai-ge encampment of log huts, Mb up in fifty-ftet ttreets— by name, First Avenue, Second Avenue, and to on— and boasting.-a popnlation of four thousand souls. There were supply stores and teatau< ranta; aad there were banks, -where bag* itljr r<'preiii<«ur brain, as ;, boyiah face d and hoped, e would have ever meant I ened. Ha had ling, he held and diadain. ing of that— ife! without my xiaimed. ," said Roy, coldly. o," rejoinead invariably done on other nights when he came into bawson City to hear her sing. 8he found herself wondering was his practice of winning gold thus becoming a regular one, and did Itoy know of it. "Fact is, I wanted to have a talk with .vou, my fair Oowan," said Count Hubert — "quite a serious talk; so you must come in and sup with me." He led her, without waiting for permis- sion, within the doors of a gorgeously light- ed restaurant— a rough shanty, boasting in- numerous little pine tables, in addition to the inevitable "bar." Oowan suffered herself to be seated at one of these, whilst her companion ordered of the best the buffet could OWJy- Again she thought of Roj^ (^ what he would think to see her theM^ Hid a little flush of shame deepened the stage-paint still upon her cheek. Then she let her cloak drop from her dazzling shoulders. Iter triumph was sure- ly at band, and she would revel in it to the full. Count Hubert filled her glass with spark- ling fluid, and clinked hia own tumbler with hers ere he raised it to his lips. "Success to my Imperial Oowan and ouf happy contract!" he cried. "Has it oc- curred to you , my dear, it will be out at the end of this month?" "Yes; and I'm gisd," said Oowan, her eyes fixed demurely on her champagne glass. He laughed. "Olad that its' time we nade a new one? Ach! isit not so?" He laughed again confldent1.v. "I did not say that," answered Oowan. Her eyes were lifted, and she was look- ing at him with all the magi.otism of her beauty concentrated in the radiant depths of those '^rown orbs. "Then you shall say it now!" exclaimed the count. The already copious draughts of fiery spirits had mounted to his brain, and there was more of bravado in hia voice and mien. "Its' to be a much better contract this time, Gowan. We've both had enough of Klondyke. I am going to take my star away and make her a countess. She is going to give herself to me." Oowan's great eyes flashed, full of strange exultant fire. "A truly magnificent proapect," she said, with sarcastic composure; "but what if the stai: refuses to grant an Honor?" " "'Teach not thy lips such scorn, fop they weve made for kissing, lady, not for such contempt,' " was Hubert's bold quotation. H* lewud aeran the UttU table^ tad, ob- livious 'if the crowded room, kisied her lovely mouth. Oowan sprang to her feet, her cheeks lilaxing her Ixiaom heaving. Tlie triuiiipli she had plotted for ami so ardently invrteil was swallowril up in the overwheiiiiing hu- miliation by which it had been attHineil. She hud often pictured this hour, Initi never thus. She picked up her cloak, and drew it round her with treniblinglingers. "Let me pass!" she iinid in a voice o( psssinn; "and follow me If you dare!" "Dare?" he repeated, l>urring her way. "I'll dare more than tliat, my sweet (iowan! Come, go bark to your seat and don't lje prudish. It'll hp all one when you're the countess, you know." He put his arms around her, ns if again to kiss her; but, with a little cry, (iowait sprang aside, and the table, with its con- tents, reeled and clattered to the ((ro\in(\. "On, is there no man in the plme who will protect me from this insolent villliiu'" ahe cried out. In truth, she bad that moment cnuxlit sight of a face in the groups that hud niRde her heart stand still. With two strides Hoy was beside lier. Al- though he wore the same rough, high boots and mackinaw suit us the rest, nmong all those boggard and bearded luiiierH his shaven, boyish face showed conHpicuously out of place; and there was a set look of leonine power upon it — power to 't you unrre with mr, ul lou-tt, thin miiaichall in no plice for you* liovv- ever tnir uiid pure a woniui may br, uuih • lil'p muHt I'oli lipr of her glury." lip wamipf'uKiiiKraMii'rincolifrpntly.with putoned calm, lor he wun iimrt' moved than lie raved kIlc xhould know; and u^ain art of oiir bet to-night. I didn't hand you over sis hundred quid for nothing. It's nut the first time you've helped on a lark, to yoa needn't try to fight shy nowadays." Whilst he spoke Francis had been eirar- ing his pockets of the notes and little bags of gold, the touch of which now burnt bis fingers like live coals. He thrust them all into Hubert's hand. "Take back your money!" be cried. "If till' devil claimed me once, he shall no longer. After this you and 1 are done with each other. And I warn you, if lutnn comes to Gowan, it will be acrose my dead body!" "'I'hat may be ver>' probable, my friend!" muttered the count, his fingers closing in- voluntarily over the revolver in his coat pocket, as the retreating footsteps of Frmn* mis died away in the silence. "So the little Erica has been ousted by the star! Ha! ha I But the star is mine — mine! My redskins and I will prove that without you, friend Francis! Yes, Qowan, my nightingale, you flouted me to-nightl You shall learn who's master! You scorned to be a countess, forsooth! When I've got you safe at Circle City, you'll be glad to own whatever name I choose to give you*" Francis was rushing blindly towards the pine-log frame-house on the river bank. The fresh nir blew coolly on his heated brow, but did not allay the burning fever raging in his brain; ifor it was as if a sword had been plunged into his hl^rt, opening anew the bitter wounds of the by- fione past. The better nature of the man lad been roused, and had .'-ine battle with the evil part and had been victorious. Yet the victory was a desperate one, for, in tha calm that came after, he w^as as a rudder- less wheck. drifting over a wide sea. Gowan! what right had he to dream of Oowan? He, a gambler, ready to sell hie soul for gold whilst the vice held him in its relentless grip. He shuddered. And it was to win riches for Oowan he hod first drifted back into the old down- ward path! The irony of it mocked him, for he knew, alas! he had learnt to follow it for his own sake. His love was too generous to take refng* in the thought that Gowan had been pos- sessed of Roy'g stronger and clearer faith it would have been easlet- to itMire to "fi^ the good fight" with so sweet a guide. He only realized, all too {ate, broken r«i« olutions, violated vowD. ' ' He had relied on hie own strength to M> sist the influence of boHcd years. . He had ignored a Redeemer, he had fortottan • God. And he had failed— faiied-^failedl ^<-iiii » i^wMMnMsaMneHaMMH r When 1 «rll St h tiniie his thsuty, I tiiwsrda fuMcia 1 with evei mure to t t/t rescue Hut w Francis v u I'm i ties HI Ins va l( was at lengtl Fraiicia Irom the wuiU at anxiety. (tale of ei? The nipt? It wa tbruiigh vanced. backed far, ui'.i yond tb< miatlikf iiiercing Kov's d< .Mecba the doo atuini si St. Ben Ins ears It wa tpit ao journey iijil pre Haw son The a next m u prosti lie St aliadini The t was lift ail awfi the fuci It w quickly been a 'i'ogeth ill, anc liowan fire. The< compai door. the dof Gowan a verit the sle of (Jo Wenoi Apa. or tw< the ac aside and, 1< laid h No^ flutter to his bis ail "Th is no runnii I'onsci to till his dc Till Franc cob«b up hi vith Ro awift iiard' beyo mem ■: ateo< •i. ii 1 pid," ■pokii you to .Mac ahdl Honanw brevent bit |U hia com- auddenix ■era. |lh-'that't . you have |lie tempea- aonieliow (lirmrd hia ou to wiali al a blow; I atroog ef- atire Ger- U, to apeak filled bia I'HAPTKR Vlll. Uht-n Huy llendrraun bade (Jowan fare- «fll ut her cabin door it Wba not to con- tiiiiii- hia long tramp to hik own diatant thmily, but to turn hia atepa once n.ora tunnida Uawaon City. Oowan'a tale ot Kmiicia had moved him profoundly, and Willi ever)' ttep he took himaeli more and iiiuie lo laak for hia remiuiieaa, Hia work xl ipiit'ue niuat begin now without drlay. Hut when he reached the Variety tiall I'rancia waa no longer there, and he apent II Iniitlena hour going from pi " e to pla'ja III Ilia vain aearrh. It waa with ■ heavy heart that he turned >l length on hia homaward track. That Imiiiia had evidently torn himaelf away I rum the city'a attractiona, to return to hia wiiiU at the creek, did not aaauuge hia mixicly, for how could he tell in what ttute uf mind th« gambler had gone thith- ri f The owner of unholy gaina or a bank- It waa atill that dark, wierd twilight, lliruiigh the Mrly morning waa far ad- vanced. Anit aa he neared the little houae, liarked by ^' , gaunt pine-treea, and the far, ui " I',' II (, anow-olad plain riaing be- yond the river, a ahower uf anow, aolt and niiit'like, auddenly enveloped the acene, tiiercing even the comfortabl* warmth of }toy'< deer-akin overcoat. .Mechanically he made for the ahelter of llie doorway of the frame-houae till the •luini ahould pan, when the whining of the St. Bernard within atruck atrangely upon liiM curd. It waa the dog which had attached him- tpjt' ao peraiatently to (Jowan on their journey over the paas, and which Francia hail prcoented to her on their arrival at DowHon. 'Hip animala' cry waa one of diatreaa. The next moment Roy had almoat fallen over u iiroatrate figure atretohed qn the ground. lie struck a match imd held it down, •hading it with hia handa. The figur* belonged to Francia. Hia face wag lifted akywarda, and in that dual light ail tiwful fear clutched at Ko.va' heart. For the face waa the face of a dead man. it waa no time for weak dallying, and quickly Hoy had knocked at the door and heen admitted by the ever-wakeful Lulu. Together they carried the inert form with- in, and laid it on the treatle couch of I iowan'a parlor, beaide the glowing pine-log lire. The dwelling waa divided into four roomy compartmenta, two on either aide of the ilnor. The houoe-place. where Lulu and the dog kept guard; the living-room, which (iowan had done her beat to glorif.v into u veritable lady'a bower; and behind theae the aleeping cabin* of Un:^le Mac and that of (iowan, ahored by her devoted nurae, Wenonab. ^ • Apart from the houae waa a rough shed or two, uaad aa lardelf and fuel-atore, and the accommodation for' hortes. Roy flun;{ aside IiIh leather mit»na and heavy coat, and, kneeling down maide the atill figure, laid hia strong hand' upon the ailent heart. N*— it waa not ailent! There was a faint flutter beneath Roy's touch, and, apringing to his feet, he flew to get restoratives to Ilia aid. "The paleface is not dead! ()h, aay he is not dead!" appealed Lulu, the teara running doVrn hia mne 'H ""' cunscioualy, Francis nad endeared himself to the faithful Indian by the mere fact of Inn devotion to Lulu's young mistress. Tlie dog was fawning careasingly upon Francis' hand which htmg limply over the colKjb. And tt Lutii'a #ard« he, too, lifted up hia great head and looked in Roy'a face,' vith a diamathowt. Roy's quick wordk and kindly touch B>viftly reatMWcd both: but the St. Ber-' nard'a on had MtiQiii. onfi gei>tle sleepar beyond the thin p'stle. Then she saw it was not her i i - but Francia Mhe lifted her eyes to K might forget. "Why should I stay?" Gowan had pas- sionately met his demur. "All the terrors of the pass cannot be less endurable than this inaction, with nothing but the mem- ory of those two lying out there under die cruel snow, dead— dead for ever!" Koy WHS pacing the room witU unwen, halting steps. He stopped and stood over her, speaking a little hoarsely: "Don't, Gowan! Don't say these things! I cannot bear it! It is wrong to listen to you. It is wrong to yourself, it is wrong to God! If you steel your heart against all faith in the Hereafter, you put from you every ho|>e of happiness that is left to you." He was laboring under ttrong lelf-con- trol to hide the emotion of a stem North- ern nature shrinks to betray, and Gowan little guessed from what an anguished soul that abrupt, almost brusque sentence came. She recovered herself by a mighty ef- fort, and turned from him with a sort of chilled pride. •'You are right!" she said, in a passion- ate voice. All that love me have gone from me. Even Claus was taken." Words failed her. She rushed from the room. j\nd Roy, he hurried out of the house, feeling he could not endure more. CHAPTER X. Often in after days Roy looked back on that wonderous journey southward witli amazement at his own foolhardy conli- dence to attempt it, and Gowan's cour- ageous endurance through untold hardships. The long-suffering Wenonah, and three tnistworthy miners who had satisfied their thirst for gold, and eagerly braved the dangers of the pass to hasten homeward with their hard-earned spoil, made up' the parly suppk'nientcd by the Indian carriers. The most of the Summer's output from the Henderson mines had already been sent down by the last steamer leaving the Yukon that year.. Lulu and his little gang of diggers had again been left in ^iharge, to follow the Winter operations of ; ''^-■•'^g and delving the ground, to reach the bedrock in read- iness for the pick and sluice-box in the Spring; but there had been no definite plans made as to the ultimate working and management of the mine, for Hoy h^ re- frained from harassing Gowan on the sub- ject until she had consulted her uncle in San Francisco. Three months had worn away when the long, never-to-be-forgotten sled-jonmey neared its end at last wivh their arrival at Dyea; and, once there, on board the swift steam launch to Juneau, the perila they had come through seemed indeed of the far past. C)ut of the ■n-inding-sheet of the great white mountains a fresh, young world was breaking, and on all the barren trees of the valley Spring had kissed back the immor- tal blossoms of hope. Yet Gowan's grief-laden heart was slow to take comfort. It seemed to her, as they drew nearer and neared to their goal, uo luture could be so fair to her as the past she had left behind forever. A subdued sadness had fallen upon her, crushing out every remnant of the scornful levity Roy had once so sternly condemned. Sometimes he even found himself longing for a little word of her old playful aouse, in preference to the apathetic indifference to his iiresenee which his conscious love imagined alU too spparent. It was on a fair day in February when their steamer reached San Francisco, and there u wonderous surprise awaited them, which charmed back the first nnile to Gowan's lips. In answer to a letter breaking the leni of J'<«>PillHnM|f<«iM and stood over eJy: ly theae things! ong to listen to elf, it is wrong leart ■sainBt all L put from you that ia left to •troDg telf-con- a rtem North- ay, and Oowan anguished soul e sentence came. y a mighty ef- with a sort of d, in a paasion- Dve me have us was talcen." ilied from the it of the house, more. looked back on louthward with oolhard.v conli- Gowan's cour- intold hardships, lah, and three d siktisfied their rly braved the ■ten homeward il, made up' the Indian carriers, r's output from already been mer leaving the of diggers had . to follow the ■ig and delving edrock in read- Uice-boz in the en no drfnite ite working and !or Roy had re- ran on the sub- ^d her uncle in away when the sled-jonmey their arrival at board the swift he perils they indeed of the t of the great >ung world was ren trees of the ick the immor- leart was slow to her, aaihey their goal, uo ler a< the past illen upon her, of the scornful ily condemned, limself longing playful aouse, ^ic indifference conscious love "ebniary when Krancisco, and awaited them, tint nnile t« king the neiM I own retonif ■end out fnnto nt ofiicer, Ian ome the tnv- famiiiiir face although Tan, oracntary dif- well-groomed ironacd miiMr THE NIGHTINGALE OF KLONDYKE 11 Hut r.ot nil the privations of the wild jiaHs had robbed Roy's blue eyes of their frank gnze, or his boyish voice of its ring- iiifr cadence. True there was sadness in the meeting. The.v spoke of the dead with the lingering rcnict both perforce felt all too keenly. .\iid then Alix stepped timidly forward, and whispering "Kiss me, for Francia' sake," put her arms about Oowan's neck, wiih a little sobbing cry. Roy felt anew all the bitterness of death which had come up- on them in the far Klondyke, when he had looked his last upon that snow-bound grave. "You trusted him to me, and 1 would liave saved him if I aould. You will believe liiat? " he said huskily. For Al'x had turned :imi laid her two hands on his, with a mute svnipathv that touched him deeply. ■It was hard at first, but now I know tliat (iod does everything for the best," was her brave answer. (,'owan heard if in dull despair. Alas! such comfort awoke no responsive chord in lier stricken, unhappy soul. Hei- unhap- piiiess was intensely real, despite the proud effoit she maintained to hide her despair. Hut in the tender companionship of that other woman, who, too, had passed •ilirough the crucible" of pain, and come out pure gold, the iharp edge of her grief gradually wore off. Something in the influence of Alix s guileless faith stole into Oowan's empty heart. It broke down the grim barriers of unbelief, that years of thoughtless frivol- ity had built up, and brought with it the great possibility of that "higher hope of what shall be at hist." But there was another secret sorrow gnawing at Qowan's heart, of which Alix knew nothing. With their arrival in San Fransico, Roy had practically handed over the manage- ment of Oowan's affairs to her uncle, for liov's ultimate return to Edinburgh had poriiehow come to be an understood thing between them from the first; and now, as the expiration of Errolton's leave drew near, Gowan was bracing herself for an- other parting she had learned to dread. Alix had been tenderly solicitous m per- suading the girl to accompany them home, and make the acquainUnce of barrack-town life in the old world; but nothmg would prevail upon Gowan to give her consent. "Roy, alas! was all unconscious that the greatest reason, for her refusal was tliat he himself hid never urged upon her to do so. . , 1 f 11 It was within a week of that farewell when Roy s- 'ight her out one ranfn'nfr ■" her uncle's, hbnn', with an open telegram ill his hand. , He was oac« more the well-groomed, clean-shaven Eoy of old; and «" O"]^';? looked up Ri his approach, •>" heart bounded, for all her glance was so csJm. Koy betraved so j .light excite uent. •I've just had an important message for you." He took a chair and drew it near I.ers, spreadr-ig out the telegram on the table before them. ,. It was from the agent of a wealthy syndi- cate, then buying up a large, tract of land in the Klondyke. Several nch veins had just been purchased not far from the Hen- derson claims, and th* syndicate we»e wil- ling to give a handsome sum to include the latter mines in their operations. The communication had been made to him, Roy explained, owing to his having managed affairs before leaving Dawson. "mat does uncle say?" Oowan asked. She was almost listless in comparison with "itoy rejoined that that gentleman had not yet been consulted, being still absent at bjs ofBca in the city. n«-.« "What do you say?" queried Qew«n then. A little ftush had risen on ber oval "^^Uy Uk* It, « tht expert! who go o?m the claims keep up to this figure. You might never get such an offer again. It would save you no end of worry, and— well, it would bring your fortune to half a mil- lion." He rose abruptly. "And you," she said, a little tremulous- ly, "who have had most of the worry so far, you must let me — " She paused. He picked up the telegram with an air of initation. "Thanks, I undtrstand perfectly. I'm sorry you hate being in my debt so much," he continued, with an attempt at laillery, "for I don't see how it can be helped, un- less, say, you send me back as your mana- ger." "Send you back?" Her voice broke. She stood looking -at him, her bosom heaving, the great pupils of her eyes grow- ing blacker and wilder with entreaty. Roy felt his brain reeling. "(iowan!" he cried. And suddenly, us if a strong baiTier Imd been swept down by a mighty iiiHhing tor- rent, he put out his hands and drew her to him with a jiassion too deep for words. "Not my manager," she wliispereil then, "but my master." It was a long moment that Roy held her in that close embrace as if he could never let her go, and when he released her a lit- tle, it was to say, with tender upbraiding; "Little woman, do you know that once you said you hated me?" She hid her face on his shoulder in pret- ty penitence. "I believe I loved you from the first- straight away," she confessed. "It was be- cause you cared for Francis I longed to help you witU hinr, and then— and then I came to care for him a little— because he was the only one who loved me." Roy stooped then, and sealed her lips with "his first kiss. "No, I'll not let you say he was the only one, for, Gowan, I, too, loved you straight away," he said, copying her words w ith a betrayal of proud proprietorship. "How could I guess?" she pouted. You never did anything but find fault with me —you know you didn't!" , , , , She threw back her head and looked up in his face. "lly darling, il was all because I feared for you so," he answered, in tones that vi- broted with their dee!) feeling. Her eyes dropped, mastered by bis emo- tion. • , .. -n "I will be good, for you are right, Koy. T am learning that at last. And now I shall have vo.i to help me." She paused, then impulsively lifted her eyes, to repeat, vfith all the witching manner of old:. "I go, ai from Siberian plains, To gtrdens of Catbay." NOTES. The stomach has four coats. The tympanum is really a drum. The human skull contains 30 bones The moon moves 3,33.1 feet per secnd. The sense of touch is dullest on f .c back. Every hair has two oil glands at ith Eutop« is less than one-fourth the si«e of Alia. , , The globe of the eye ii moved bjf •« muicUa. *^ SWAM SAN FRANCISCO BAY. Assistant Chief Wharfinger Harry Scott of San PY«ncisco, Cal., is the owner of a Llewellyn setter. Count by name, with the homing instinct developed to an extent that would do credit to a blue Antwerp or any other kind of carrier pigeon. Scott, who lives on tlie 'Frisco side of the ba.v, has acquired a habit of visiting a certain house in Berkeley, and is asually accompanied by Count. He made his reg- ular call one Friday evening, but on going away decided to leave Count with his friends until his next visit. Count was consigned to the cellar, and, with the set- ter's howls ringing in his ears, Scott bade his friends good-by and returned to the citv. In Bomo way Count made his escape from the cellar in the night, and when Srott reached his office Saturday I c tomid a telegram from Kerkcley telling him that his dog was lost. Saturday is a biixy day on the water front, and Soott had not time at once to do anvlhing toward the rccover.v of his dog, but at U o'clock Count saved him the trouble by trawling into mo oilue, wet, covered with mud, tired out and look- ing very much ashamed of hinisclf. Count walked into the office, feeling probably that He deserved and would prob- ably receive punishment for his escapade; but when Scott greeted him with a "Dear old dog" he feebly wagged his tail and dropped asleep right in the middle of the floor. , . , , 1 Count was aroused from his slunilier anrl receiveil a bath, but imniedialely afterward rosumcd his sleep; and. beyond wagging his tail in a half-hearted manner, refused to move for the rest of the day The dog had evidently traveled a long and weary wav, and judging from the ap^ penrance of his coat when he arrived and his worn-out condition, there m every rea- son to lielieve that he not only worked Ins ■Hi-.y across some miles of mud flats, but afterward swain across the bay. MAKE THE MEN MAKKET. There are few things that exhaust a woman more than a day shopping. ^ The average man looks upon a woman's 'pur- chasing day" as nile of pleasure, but when he accompanies her on one of these shop- ping expeditions he goes home, after hm patience has been exhausted, with a differ- ent liclief. He learns, too, that a woman can endure ve'itioiis and disappointment', with much moie equanimity timn he can, and he mentally vows never to ilo it again. The number of miles traversed is really what tires one, and it is , ttle wonder that the woman who does the shopping .or her- self and her entire 'amily, as well as the marketing and the bargaining with the "butcher aud baker and candlestick make- er," shonld feel the need of rest for her "^"no "inother who has the care of little children should give the precious morning hours to anything else but to the nursery, nor should she let butchers nnd giwers bovs cull for and deliver orders, because there is sure to be dissatisfaction if slie does. Some wealthy families allow then- chef to take charge of the hourfchold, and he collects a large percentage from the . tradesmen, which, of course, is adtled to the monthly hill. Reputable storekeepe ; will not do this kind of business, however, and the chef "patronage" >"'=«"'''•" '~™. tirelv by a few men. On the whole, it is much more satisfactory for the man of he house to do the marketing. He will get the beat meat, have his order,, promptly at- tended to and save about twentv-fivw jH-r cent, in the transaction, a* weU •• tM 1 health uf his Wile.