第5章

Twentyyearsinthepenitentiary!

Davidlookedupatthejudgeandsmiled。

Menhavebeenknowntosmilethatwaywhenthecar-wheelcrashesovertheirlegs，orabulletletstheairthroughtheirlungs。

Allthatfollowedwouldhaveseemedmoreterribleifithadnotappearedtobesoremote。Davidhadtoassurehimselfoverandoverthatitwasreallyhewhowasputinthatdisgracefuldress，andlockedinthatshamefulwalkfromcorridortowork-

room，fromwork-roomtochapel。Theworkwasnotmuchmoremonotonousthanthattowhichhehadbeenaccustomedintheoffice。Here，asthere，onewasreprovedfornotdoingtherequiredamount，butneverpraisedforextraordinaryefforts。Here，asthere，theworkersregardedeachotherwithdislikeandsuspicion。Here，asthere，workwasapenaltyandnotapleasure。

Itisthenightsthataretobedreadedinapenitentiary。Speecheasesthebrainoffreemen；butthemancondemnedtoeter-

nalsilenceisboundtoenduretorments。

Thought，whichmightbeadiversion，be-

comesacurse；itisapainfuldiseasewhichbecomeschronic。Itdoesnottakelongtoforgetthedaysoftheweekandthemonthsoftheyearwhentimebringsnovariance。

Daviddruggedhimselfondreams。Heknewitwasweakness，butitwasthewineofforgetfulness，andheindulgedinit。Hewentoverandover，inendlessrepetition，everysceneinwhichZoeLeBaronhadfigured。

HelearnedbyapaperthatshehadgonetoEurope。Hewasgladofthat。Fortherewerehoursinwhichheimaginedthathisfatemighthavecausedherdistress——notmuch，ofcourse，butperhapsanoccasionalhourofsympatheticregret。Butitwaspleasanternottothinkofthat。Hepre-

ferredtorememberthehourstheyhadspenttogetherwhileshewasteachinghimthejoyoflife。

Howlovelyhergrayeyeswere!Deep，yetbright，andfullofsilentlittlespeeches。

Theroomsinwhichheimaginedherasmovingwerealwayssplendid；thegownssheworewereofrustlingsilk。Heneverinanydream，wakingorsleeping，associatedherwithpovertyorsorroworpain。Gayandbeautiful，shemovedfromcitytocity，inthesevisionsofDavid"s，lookingalwaysatwonderfulthings，andfindinglaughterineveryhappening。

Itwassixmonthsafterhisentranceintohissilentabodethatalettercameforhim。

"Byrights，Culross，"saidthewarden，"I

shouldnotgivethislettertoyou。Itisn"tthesortweapproveof。Butyou"reinforagoodspell，andifthereisanythingthatcanmakelifeseemmoretolerable，Idon"tknowbutyou"reentitledtoit。Atleast，I"mnotthemantodenyittoyou。”

Thiswastheletter:——

"MYDEARFRIEND，——Ihopeyoudonotthinkthatallthesemonths，whenyouhavebeensufferingsoterribly，Ihavebeenthink-

ingofotherthings!ButIamsureyouknowthetruth。YouknowthatIcouldnotsendyouwordorcometoseeyou，orIwouldhavedoneit。WhenIfirstheardofwhatyouhaddone，Isawitallasithap-

pened，——thatdreadfulscene，Imean，inthesaloon。IamsureIhaveimaginedevery-

thingjustasitwas。Ibeggedpapatohelpyou，buthewasveryangry。Yousee，papawassopeculiar。Hethoughtmoreoftheappearancesofthings，perhaps，thanoffacts。Itinfuriatedhimtothinkofmeasbeingconcernedaboutyouorwithyou。

Ididnotknowhecouldbesoangry，andhisangerdidnotdie，butfordaysitcastsuchashadowovermethatIusedtowishIwasdead。OnlyIwouldnotdisobeyhim，andnowIamgladofthat。WewereinFrancethreemonths，andthen，cominghome，papadied。Itwasonthevoyage。Iwishhehadaskedmetoforgivehim，forthenIthinkIcouldhaverememberedhimwithmoretenderness。Buthedidnothingofthekind。Hedidnotseemtothinkhehaddonewronginanyway，thoughIfeelthatsomewaywemighthavesavedyou。IambackhereinChicagointheoldhome。ButIshallnotstayinthishouse。Itissolargeandlonesome，andIalwaysseeyouandfatherfacingeachotherangrilythereintheparlorwhenIenterit。SoIamgoingtogetmesomecoseyroomsinanotherpartofthecity，andtakemyaunt，whoisasweetoldlady，tolivewithme；andIamgoingtodevotemytime——allofit——andallofmybrainstogettingyououtofthatterribleplace。Whatistheuseoftellingmethatyouareamurderer？DoInotknowyoucouldnotbebroughttohurtanything？

Isupposeyoumusthavekilledthatpoorman，butthenitwasnotyou，itwasthatdreadfuldrink——itwasMe!Thatiswhatcontinuallyhauntsme。IfIhadbeenabravergirl，andspokenthewordsthatwereinmyheart，youwouldnothavegoneintothatplace。Youwouldbeinnocentto-day。

ItwasIwhowasresponsibleforitall。I

letfatherkillyourheartrighttherebeforeme，andneversaidaword。YetIknewhowitwaswithyou，and——thisiswhatI

oughttohavesaidthen，andwhatImustsaynow——andallthetimeIfeltjustasyoudid。IthoughtIshoulddiewhenI

sawyougoaway，andknewyouwouldnevercomebackagain。OnlyIwassoselfish，Iwassowicked，Iwouldsaynothing。

"Ihavenorighttobecomfortableandhopeful，andtohavefriends，withyoushutupfromlibertyandhappiness。Iwillnothavethosecomfortablerooms，afterall。

Iwillliveasyoudo。Iwilllivealoneinabareroom。ForitisIwhoamguilty!

AndthenIwillfeelthatIalsoambeingpunished。

"Doyouhateme？Perhapsmytellingyounowallthesethings，andthatIfelttowardyoujustasyoudidtowardme，willnotmakeyouhappy。Foritmaybethatyoudespiseme。

"Anyway，Ihavetoldyouthetruthnow。

IwillgoassoonasIhearfromyoutoalawyer，andtrytofindouthowyoumaybeliberated。Iamsureitcanbedonewhenthefactsareknown。

"Poorboy!HowIdohopeyouhaveknowninyourheartthatIwasnotfor-

gettingyou。Indeed，dayornight，Ihavethoughtofnothingelse。NowIamfreetohelpyou。Andbesure，whateverhappens，thatIamworkingforyou。

"ZOELEBARON。”

Thatwasall。Justagirlish，constrainedletter，hardlyhintingatthehottearsthathadbeenshedformanywearynights，coylytellingoftheimpatientyoungloveandallthemaidenlyshame。

Davidpermittedhimselftoreaditonlyonce。Thenasuddenresolutionwasborn——

aheroicone。Beforehegottheletterhewasacrushedandunsophisticatedboy；

whenhehadreadit，andabsorbeditsfullsignificance，hebecamesuddenlyaman，capableofagreatsacrifice。

"Ireturnyourletter，"hewrote，withoutsuperscription，"andthankyouforyouranxietyaboutme。Butthetruthis，Ihadforgottenallaboutyouinmytrouble。Youwerenotintheleasttoblameforwhathap-

pened。ImighthaveknownIwouldcometosuchanend。YouthoughtIwasgood，ofcourse；butitisnoteasytofindoutthelifeofayoungman。Itisrathermortifyingtohaveaprivatelettersenthere，becausethewardenreadsthemall。Ihopeyouwillenjoyyourselfthiswinter，andhastentoforgetonewhohadcertainlyforgottenyoutillremindedbyyourletter，whichIreturn。

"Respectfully，"DAVIDCULROSS。”

Thatnightsomedeeplinescameintohisfacewhichneverleftit，andwhichmadehimlooklikeamanofmiddleage。

Heneverdoubtedthathisplanwouldsucceed；that，piquedandindignantathisingratitude，shewouldhatehim，andinalittletimeforgetheeverlived，orrememberhimonlytoblushwithshameatherpastassociationwithhim。Hesawherhappy，loved，livingtheusuallifeofwomen，withallthosethingsthatmakeliferich。

Forthereinthesolitudeanunderstand-

ingofdeepthingscametohim。Hewhothoughtnevertohaveawifegrewtoknowwhatthejoyofitmustbe。Heperceivedallthesubtleraptureofweddedsouls。Helearnedwhattheloveofchildrenwas，theprideofhome，theunselfishambitionforsuccessthatspursmenon。Alltheemo-

tionspassedinprocessionatnightbeforehim，trickedoutinpalpableforms。

AburstofgirlishtearswoulddissipatewhateverlingeringpityZoefeltforhim。

Howoftenhesaidthat!Withhersensi-

tivenessshewouldbesuretohateamanwhohadmortifiedher。

Sohefelltodreamingofheragainasmovingamonghappyandluxuriousscenes，exquisitelyclothed，withflowersonherbosomandjewelsonherneck；andhesawmenlovingher，andwasglad，andsawheratlastlovingthebestofthem，andtoldhimselfinthesilenceofthenightthatitwasashewished。

Yetalways，always，fromwearyweektowearyweek，herehearsedthescenes。Theywerehistheatre，hisopera，hislibrary，hislecturehall。

Herehearsedthemagainthereonthecars。Heneverweariedofthem。Tobesure，otherthoughtshadcometohimatnight。Muchthattomostmenseemscom-

plexandpuzzlinghadgrowntoappearsimpletohim。Inawayhisbrainhadquickenedanddeepenedthroughtheyearsofsolitude。Hehadthoughtoutagreatmanythings。Hehadreadafewgoodbooksanddigestedthem，andthevisionsinhishearthadkepthimfrombeingbitter。

Yet，suddenlyconfrontedwithliberty，turnedlooselikeapasturedcolt，withoutmasterorrein，hefeltonlyconfusionanddismay。Hemightbeexpectedtofeelex-

ultation。Heexperiencedonlyfright。Itispreciselythesamewiththeliberatedcolt。

Thetrainpulledintoabustlingstation，inwhichthemultitudinousnoiseswerethrownbackagainfromthearchedironroof。Therelentlesshasteofallthepeoplewasinexpressiblycrueltothemanwholookedfromthewindowwonderingwhitherhewouldgo，andif，amongallthethousandsthatmadeupthatvastandthrobbingcity，hewouldeverfindafriend。

ForamomentDavidlongedevenforthatunmaternalmotherwhohadforgottenhiminthehourofhisdistress；butshehadbeendeadformanyyears。

Thetrainstopped。Everyonegotout。

Davidforcedhimselftohisfeetandfollowed。

Hehadbeendrivenbackintotheworld。

Itwouldhaveseemedlessterribletohavebeendrivenintoadesert。Hewalkedtowardthegreatirongates，seeingthepeopleandhearingthenoisesconfusedly。

Asheenteredthespacebeyondthegrat-

ingsomeonecaughthimbythearm。Itwasalittlemiddle-agedwomaninplainclothes，andwithsadgrayeyes。

"IsthisDavid？"saidshe。

Hedidnotspeak，buthisfaceansweredher。

"Iknewyouwerecomingto-day。I"vewaitedalltheseyears，David。Youdidn"tthinkIbelievedwhatyousaidinthatletterdidyou？Thisway，David，——thisisthewayhome。”

TwoPioneersITwastheyearofthesmall-pox。ThePawneeshaddiedintheircoldtepeesbythefifties，thesoldierslaydeadinthetrencheswithoutthefort，andmanyagayFrenchvoyageur，whohadthoughttogosingingdowntheMissourionhisfur-ladenraftinthespringtime，wouldneveragainseethelightsofSt。Louis，orthecoinofthemightyChoteaucompany。

Ithadbeenawinteroftragedies。TherigorsoftheweatherandthescourgeofthediseasehadbeenfoughtwithIndiancharmandwithCatholicprayer。Bothwereequallyunavailing。Ifamanwastakensickattheforttheyputhiminawarmroom，broughthimajugofwateronceaday，andlefthimtofindoutwhathisconstitutionwasworth。Generallyhere-

covered；forthesurgeon"ssupplieshadbeenexhaustedearlyintheyear。ButtheIndians，intheirtorment，rushedintotheriverthroughtheice，andreturnedtorollthemselvesintheirblanketsanddieinungroaningstoicism。

Everyonehadgrownbitterandhard。

Theknivesofthetrappersweresharp，andnotonewhitsharperthantheirtempers。

SomeonesaidthatthefriendlyPawneeswereconspiringwiththeSioux，whowerealwaystreacherous，tosackthesettlement。

Thetrappersdoubtedthis。TheyandthePawneeshadbeenfriendsmanyyears，andtheyhadtogetherkilledtheSiouxinfourfamousbattlesonthePlatte。Yet——whoknows？Therewaspestilenceintheair，andithadsomehowgotintomen"ssoulsaswellastheirbodies。

So，atleast，FatherdeSmetsaid。Healonedidnotdespair。Healonetriedneithercharmnorcurse。Hedressedhimanaltarinthewilderness，andheprayedatit——butnotforimpossiblethings。Wheninaday"sjourneyyoucomeacrosstwolodgesofIndians，sixtysoulsineach，lyingdeadanddistortedfromtheplagueintheirdesolatetepees，youdonotpray，ifyouareamanlikeFatherdeSmet。Yougoontothenextlodgewherethelivingyetare，andteachthemhowtoavoiddeath。

Besides，whenyouareyoung，itismucheasiertoactthantopray。Whenthechil-

drencriedforfood，FatherdeSmettookdowntheriflefromthewallandwentoutwithit，comingbackonlywhenhecouldfeedthehungry。Therewereplaceswheretheprairiewasblackwithbuffalo，andtheshydeershowedtheirdelicateheadsamongtheleaflesswillowsofthePapillion。Whenthey——thechildren——werecold，thisyoungmanbroughtinbasketsofbuffalochipsfromtheprairieandbuiltthemafire，orhehungmoreskinsupattheentrancetothetepees。Ifhewantedtocrossariverandhadnoboatathand，heleapedtheuncertainice，or，inclearcurrent，swam，withhisclothesonhisheadinabundle。

AwonderfultravellerforthetimewasFatherdeSmet。TwicehehadgoneasfarasthelandoftheFlatheadnation，andhecouldclimbmountainpassesaswellasanyguideoftheRockies。Hehadbuiltadozenmissions，lyingallthewayfromtheColum-

biatotheKaw。Hehadalwaysajestathistongue"send，andserveditoutwithasmuchreadinessasaprayer；andhehad，withal，anarmtrainedtodoexecution。

Everymanontheplainsunderstoodtheartofself-preservation。EveninCainsville，overbythecouncilgroundofthewesterntribes，whichwasquitethemostcivilizedplaceforhundredsofmiles，lifewasuncer-

tainwhentheboatscamefromSt。Louiswithbadwhiskeyintheirholds。Butnoonedaredtakelibertieswiththeholyfather。

Thethrustfromhisshoulderwasstraightandsure，andhisfistwashard。

YetitwasnotthesinnerthatFatherdeSmetmeanttocrush。Healwayssupple-

mentedhisactsofphysicalprowesswiththatexplanation。Itwasthesinthathestruckatfromtheshoulder——andmaynotevenananointedonestrikeatsin？

FatherdeSmetcoulddrawafineline，too，betweenthethingswhichwerebadinthemselves，andthethingswhichwereonlyextrinsicallybad。Forexample，therewerethesoupsofMademoiselleNinon。Mam"selleherselfwasnotabovereproach，buthersoupswere。MademoiselleNinonwastheonlyParisianthinginthesettlement。Andshewascertainlytobeavoided——whichwasper-

hapsthereasonthatnooneavoidedher。ItwasfouryearssinceshehadseenParis。Shewassixteenthen，andshefollowedthefor-

tunesofacertainadventurerwhofounditadvisabletosailforMontreal。NinonhadbeenboredbackinParis，itbeingdullinthemantua-makingshopofMadameGuittar。Ifshehadbeenamanshewouldhavetakentonavigation，andmighthavemadeherselffamousbysailingtosomeunknownpartoftheNewWorld。Beingawoman，shetookaloverwhowasgoingtoNewFrance，andfor-

gottoweepwhenhefoundanearlyandvio-

lentdeath。Andtherewereothersathand，andNinonsailedaroundthecoldbluelakes，pastSaultSt。Marie，andmadeherwayacrosstheportagestotheMississippi，andsodowntothesacredrockofSt。Louis。

Thatwasamerryplace。Ninonhadfaulttofindneitherwiththewinenorthedances。

Theywereallthatonecouldhavedesired，andtherewasnolimittoeitherofthem。

Butstill，afteratime，eventhisgrewtire-

sometooneofNinon"sspirit，andshetookthefirstopportunitytosailuptheMissouriwithacertainyoungtrapperconnectedwiththegreatfurcompany，andsofoundher-

selfatCainsville，withthebluebluffsrisingtotheeastofher，andthelowwhitestretchesoftheriverflatsundulatingdowntowherethesluggishstreamwounditswaysouthwardcapriciously。

Ninonsoontiredofhertrapper。Foronethingshefoundoutthathewasacoward。Shesawhimrunonceinabuffalofight。ThatwaswhenthePawneestoodstillwithablanketstretchedwideinagaudysquare，andcaughttheheadofthemadanimalfairlyinthetoughfabric；hismus-

tang"slegstrembledunderhim，buthedidnotmove，——foramustangisthesoulofanIndian，andobeyseachthought；theIndianhimselffelthisheartpoundingathisribs；

butoncewiththatgarmentfastoverthebaffledeyesofthestrugglingbrute，therestwasonlyamatterofjudiciousknife-

thrusts。Ninonsawthis。Sherodepastherlover，andsnatchedthetwistedbullioncordfromhishatthatshehadbraidedandputthere，andthatnightshetieditonthehatofthePawneewhohadkilledthebuffalo。

ThePawneeswereratherproudoftheepisode，andasfortheFrenchmen，theydidnotmind。TheFrenchhavealwaysbeenveryadaptableinAmerica。Ninonwasuniversallypopular。

Andsowerehersoups。

Everymanhashisprice。FatherdeSmet"swasthesoupsofMademoiselleNinon。

Fancy!Ifyouhaveaneducatedpalateandareobligedtoeatthestrongdistillationofbuffalomeat，cookedinapotwhichhasbeenwipedoutwiththegreasypetticoatofasquaw!WhenNinoncamedownfromSt。Louisshebroughtwithheragreatboxcontainingneitherclothes，furniture，nortrinkets，butsomethingmuchmorewonderful!Itwasamarvellouscompound-

ingofspicesandseasonings。ThearomaticliquidsshesetbeforetheenchantedmenofthesettlementborenomorerelationtoordinarybuffalosoupthanChateaubrand"sIndianmaidensdidtooneofthePaw-

neegirls，whoslouchedaboutthesettle-

mentwithnoxioustressesandsullenslavishcoquetries。

FatherdeSmetwouldnotatanytimehavecalledNinonascarletwoman。Butwhenheatethedishofsouportastedthehotcorn-cakesthatsheinvariablyinvitedhimtopartakeofashepassedherlittlehouse，herefrainedwithallthecharityofatrueChristianandanaccomplishedepicurefromeventhinkinghersuch。Andhere-

memberedthewordsoftheSaviour，"Lethimwhoiswithoutsinamongyoucastthefirststone。”

ToFatherdeSmet"shealthynaturenothingseemedmoresuperfluousthansin。

Andhewasaversetothinkingthatanycommitteddeedsofwhichheneedbeashamed。Soitwashishabit，especiallyifthedaywaspleasantandhisownthoughtshappy，tosaytohimselfwhenhesawoneofthewildyoungtrappersleavingthecabinofMademoiselleNinon:"Hehasbeenforsomeofthegoodwoman"shotcakes，"

tillhegrewquitetobelievethattheonlyattractionsthattheadroitFrenchwomanpossessedwereofagastronomicnature。

Totellthetruth，theattractionsofMade-

moiselleNinonwerevaried。Tobeginwith，shewastheonlythinginthatwilder-

nesstosuggesthome。Ninonhadageniusforhome-making。Hercabin，inwhichshecooked，slept，ate，lived，hadbecomeaboudoir。

Thewallswerehungwithrareandbeau-

tifulskins；theveryfloormaderichwithhugebearrobes，theirpermeatingodorssubduedbyheavyperfumesbrought，likethespices，fromSt。Louis。Thebed，inday-

time，wasacouchofbeaver-skins；thefire-

placehadbranchingantlersaboveit，onwhichwerehungsomeoftheevidencesofthefairNinon"scoquetry，suchassilkenscarves，ofthesortthevoyageursfromthefarnorthwore；andnecklacesmadebytheIndiansofthePacificcoastandbroughttoNinonby——butitisnotpolitetoinquireintothesematters。Therewerelittlemoc-

casinsalso，muchdecoratedwithporcupine-

quills，onepairofwhichFatherdeSmethadbroughtfromtheFlatheadnation，andpresentedtoNinonthattimewhenshenursedhimthroughafrightfulrunoffever。

Shewouldtakenomoneyforherpatientservices。

"Father，"saidshe，gravely，whenheofferedittoher，"Iamnotmyselfvirtuous。

ButIhavethedistinctionofhavingpre-

servedtheonlyvirtuouscreatureinthesettlementforfurtherusefulness。Some-

times，perhaps，youwillprayforNinon。”

FatherdeSmetneverforgotthoseprayers。

Thesewerewildtimes，mindyou。Nousetokeepyourskirtscoldlycleanifyouwishedtobeofhelp。Thesemenweresub-

duingacontinent。Theirprimitivequalitiescameout。Courage，endurance，sacrifice，sufferingwithoutcomplaint，friendshiptothedeath，indomitablehatred，unfalteringhope，deep-seatedgreed，splendidgayety——ittakesthesethingstosubdueaconti-

nent。Viceisalsoanincidental，——thatistosay，whatonecallsvice。Thisisbecauseitisthecustomtomeasurethesemenasiftheyweregovernedbythelawsofcivili-

zation，wherethereisneitherlawnorcivilization。

Thismuchiscertain:gentlemencannotconqueracountry。TheytriedgentlemenbackinVirginia，andtheydied，partlyfromlackofintellect，butmostlyfromlackofenergy。Aftertheyeomenhavefoughttheconqueringfight，itiswellenoughtobringingentlemen，whoaresometimescleverlawmakers，andwholookwellonthronesorinpresidentialchairs。

Buttoreturntothewinterofthesmall-

pox。ItwasthenthatthepriestandNinongrewtoknoweachotherwell。Theybe-

cameacquaintedfirstinthecabinwherefourofthetrapperslaytossingindelirium。

Thehorriblesmellofdiseaseweightedtheair。Outsidewetsnowfellcontinuouslyandthecloudsseemedtorestonlyafewfeetabovethesullenbluffs。Theroomwasbareofcomforts，andverydirty。Ninonlookedaboutwithdisgust。

"Youpray，"saidshetothepriest，"andIwillcleantheroom。”

"Notso，"returnedthebroad-shoulderedfather，smilingly，"wewillbothcleantheroom。”Thusitcamethattheyscrubbedthefloortogether，andmadethechimneysothatitwouldnotsmoke，andwashedtheblanketsonthebeds，andkeptthewood-

pilehigh。Theyalsodevisedventilators，andletinfreshairwithoutexposingthepatients。Theyhadnomedicine，buttheycontinuallyrubbedthesufferingmenwithbear"sgrease。

"It"sbetterthanmedicine，"saidNinon，afterthetenthday，as，wanwithwatching，sheheldthecoolhandofoneoftherecoveringmeninherown。"Ifwehadhadmedicinesweshouldhavekilledthesemen。”

"Youareawomanofremarkablesense，"

saidtheholyfather，whowaseatingadishofcorn-mealandmilkthatNinonhadjustprepared，"andawomanalsoofChristiancourage。”

"Christiancourage？"echoedNinon；"doyouthinkthatiswhatyoucallit？Iamnotafraid，no，notI；butitisnotChristiancourage。Youmistakeincallingitthat。”

Thereweretearsinhereyes。Thepriestsawthem。

"Godleadyouatlastintopeacefulways，"

saidhe，softly，liftingonehandinblessing。

"Yourvigilisended。Gotoyourhomeandsleep。YouknowthevalueofthetemporallifethatGodhasgiventoman。

Inthehoursofthenight，Ninon，thinkofthevalueofeternallife，whichitisalsoHistogive。”

Ninonstaredathimamomentwithadawninghorrorinhereyes。

Thenshepointedtothetable。

"Whateveryoudo，"saidshe，"don"tforgetthebear"sgrease。”Andshewentoutlaughing。Thepriestdidnotpausetorecommendhersoultofurtherblessing。

Heobeyedherdirections。

Marchwaswearingawaytediously。Theriverwasnotyetopen，andthebelatedboatswithneededsuppliesweremooredfardowntheriver。ManyofthereducedsettlersweredependentonthemeattheIndiansbroughtthemforsustenance。Themudmadetheroadsalmostimpassable；forthefrostlayinasolidbedsixinchesbelowthesurface，andallabovethatwassemi-

liquidmuck。Snowandrainalternated，andthefrightfuldiseasedidnotceaseitsravages。

Thepriestgotlittlesleep。Nowhewasatthebedofalittlehalf-breedchild，smoothingthestraightblacklocksfromthenarrowbrow；nowatthecotofsomehulkingtrapper，whoweptatthepain，butdiedfinallywithagrinofbravadoonhislips；nowinafoultepee，wheresomegravePawneewrappedhismantleabouthim，andgazedwithpropheticandunflinchingeyesintothelandofthehereafter。

Thelittleschoolthattheprieststartedhadbeenlongsinceabandoned。Itwasonlythepreservationoflifethatonethoughtofinthesedays。Andrecklessnesshadmadethemendesperate。Totheravagesofdis-

easewereaddedhorriblemurders。Moralhealthisalwayslowwhenphysicalhealthisso。

Giveanationtwowintersofgrippe，anditwillhaveanepidemicofsuicide。Giveitstarvationandsmall-pox，anditwillhaveacontagionofmurders。Therearesubtlelawsunderlyingthesethings，——lawswhichthephysiciansthinktheycanexplain；buttheyaremistaken。Thereasonisnotsomaterialasitseems。

Butspringwasnearinspiteoffallingsnowandthedirtyiceintheriver。Therewasnotevenaflushingofthewillowtwigstotellitby，noraclearingoftheleadensky，——onlythealmanac。YetallmenwerelookingforwardtoitThetrappersputinthefeebledaysofconvalescence，makinglongraftsonwhichtopiletheskinsdriedoverwinter，——afinevariety，worthallbuttheirweightingold。Moneywaseasilygotinthosedays；buttherearecircumstancesunderwhichmoneyisvalueless。

FatherdeSmetthoughtofthisthedaybeforeEaster，asheplungedthroughthemudofthewindingstreetinhisbearskingaiters。Stoutwerehislegs，firmhislungs，asheturnedtobreatheinthewestwind；

clearhissharpandhumorouseyes。Hewasgoingtothelittlechapelwherethemissionschoolhadpreviouslybeenheld。

Herewasarudepulpit，andbackofitamuch-disfiguredvirgin，dressedinturkey-

redcalico。Twocheapcandlesintheirtinsticksguardedthisfigure，andbeneath，onthefloor，wasspreadanotter-skinofperfectbeauty。Theseatswereofpine，withoutbacks，andthewindwhistledthroughthechinksbetweenthelogs。Moreover，theplacewasdirty。Lentenservicehadbeenoutofthequestion。Thelivinghadneithertimenorstrengthtocometoworship；andthedeadwerenotgiventhehonorofaburialfromchurchinthesetimesofterror。

Thepriestlookedabouthimindismay，theplacewassoutterlyforsaken；yettoletEastergobywithoutrecognitionwasnottohisliking。Hehadbeenthenightbeforetoeveryhouseinthesettlement，biddingthepeopletocometodevotionsonSundaymorning。Heknewthatnotoneofthemwouldrefusehisinvitation。Therewasnoherolargerintheeyesoftheseunfortunatesthanthesimplepriestwhowalkedamongthemwithhisunpretentiouspiety。Thepromisesweregivenwithwhisperedbless-

ings，andtherewerevoicesthatbrokeinmakingthem，andhandsthatshookwithhonestgratitude。Thepriest，rememberingthesethings，andalltheawfulsufferingofthewinter，determinedtomaketheser-

vicesymbolic，indeed，oftheresurrectionandthelife，——theannualresurrectionandlifethatcomeseachyear，apalpablemiracle，toteachthedullestthatGodreigns。

"Howareyougoingtotrimthealtar？"

criedavoicebehindhim。

Heturned，startled，andinthedoorwaystoodMademoiselleNinon，hershortskirtbeltedwitharedsilkscarf，——thetokenofsometrapper，——heranklesprotectedwithfringedleggins，herheadcoveredwithabe-

ribbonedhatoffelt，suchasthevoyageurswore。

"Ourdevotionswillbetheonlydecora-

tionswecanhangonit。Butgratitudeisbetterthanblossoms，andhumanitymorebeautifulthangreenwreaths，"saidthefather，gently。

Itwasacuriousthing，andonethathehadoftennoticedhimself；hegavethiswoman——unworthyasshewas——thebestofhissimplethoughts。

Ninontiptoedtowardthepriestwithonefingercoquettishlyraisedtoinsuresecrecy。

"Youwillneverbelieveit，"shewhis-

pered，"noonewouldbelieveit!Butthefactis，father，Ihavetwolilies。”

"Lilies，"criedthepriest，incredulously，"twolilies？"

"That"swhatIsay，father——twomarvel-

louslyfairlilieswithlittlesceptresofgoldinthem，andleavesaswhiteassnow。Thebulbswerebroughtmelastautumnby——；thatistosay，theywerebroughtfromSt。Louis。

Onlynowhavetheyblossomed。Heavens，howIhavewatchedthebuds!Ihavesaidtomyselfeverymorningforafortnight:

"Willtheyopenintimeforthegoodfather"sEastermorningservice？"ThenI

said:"Theywillopentoosoon。Buds，"I

havecriedtothem，"donotdaretoopenyet，oryouwillbehorriblypassé；ebyEaster。

Havethekindness，willyou，tosaveyour-

selvesforagreatevent。"Andtheydidit；

yes，father，youmaynotbelieve，butnolaterthanthismorningthesesensibleflowersopeneduptheirleavesboldly，quiteconsciousthattheyweredoingtherightthing，andto-morrow，ifyouplease，theywillbehere。Andtheywillperfumethewholeplace；yes。”

Shestoppedsuddenly，andrelaxedhervivaciousexpressionforoneofpain。

"Youarecertainlyill，"criedthepriest。

"Restyourself。”Hetriedtopushherontooneoftheseats；butasortofconvulsiverigiditycameoverher，veryalarmingtolookat。

"Youarewornout，"hercompanionsaidgravely。"Andyouarechilled。”

"Yes，I"mcold，"confessedNinon。"ButIhadtocometotellyouaboutthelilies。

But，doyousee，Inevercouldbringmyselftoputtheminthisroomasitisnow。Itwouldbetooabsurdtoplacethemamongthisdirt。Wemustcleantheplace。”

"Theplacewillbecleaned。Iwillseetoit。Butasforyou，gohomeandcareforyourself。”Ninonstartedtowardthedoorwithanuncertainstep。Suddenlyshecameback。

"Itistoofunny，"shesaid，"thatredcalicothereontheVirgin。Father，Ihavesomelaceswhichweremymother"s，whowasagoodwoman，andwhichhaveneverbeenwornbyme。TheyareallIhavetorememberFrancebyandthedayswhenI

was——different。IfImightbepermitted——"

shehesitatedandlookedtimidlyatthepriest。

""Shehathdonewhatshecould，""mur-

muredFatherdeSmet，softly。"Bringyourlaces，Ninon。”Hewouldhaveadded:

"Thysinsbeforgiventhee。”Butun-

fortunately，atthismoment，Pierrecameloungingdownthestreet，throughthemud，freshfromFortLaramie。Hisriflewasslungacrosshisback，andafullgame-bagrevealedthefactthathehadamusedhim-

selfonhisway。Hiscurlyandwind-bleachedhairblewoutintime-tornbannersfromtheedgeofhiswidehat。Hispiercing，blackeyeswerethoseofamanwhodrinksdeep，fightshard，andlivesalwaysintheopenair。

Wildanimalshavesucheyes，onlythereisthisdifference:theviciousnessofananimalisnatural；atleastone-halfoftheviciousnessofmanisartificialanddevised。

WhenNinonsawthefrost-reddenedfaceofthisgallantoftheplains，shegavealittlecryofdelight，andthecolorrushedbackintoherface。Thetrappersawher，andgavearudeshoutofwelcome。Thenextmoment，hehadswungherclearofthechapelsteps；andthenthetwowentdownthestreettogether，Pierrepausingonlylongenoughtodoffhishattothepriest。

"TheVirginwillwearnofreshlaces，"

saidthepriest，withsomebitterness；buthewasmistaken。Anhourlater，Ninonwasback，notonlywithaboxoflaces，butalsowithacollectionofcosmetics，withwhichsheproceededtomakestartlingthescratchedandfadedfaceofthewoodenVirgin，whowore，afterthecompletionofNinon"slabors，adecidedlypiquantandsaucyexpression。

TheverymannerinwhichthelacesweredrapedhadasuggestionofNinon"sstillunforgottenartasamakerofmillinery，andwasreallyaverygoodpresentmentofParisfashionsfouryearspast。Pierre，meantime，amusedhimselfbyfillingupthechinksinthelogswithfreshmud，——acommodityofwhichtherewasnolack，——andothersoftheneighbors，incitedbytheseextraordinaryefforts，washedthedirtfromseats，floor，andwindows，andbroughtfurswithwhichtomakepresentabletheflooraboutthepulpit。

FatherdeSmetworkedharderthananyofthem。Inhishappyenthusiasmhechosetothinkthisenergyonthepartoftheotherswaspromptedbypiety，thoughwellheknewitwasonlyarefugefromtheinsuffer-

ableennuithatpervadedtheplace。Ninonsuddenlycameuptohimwithawhiteface。

"Iamnotwell，"shesaid。Herteethwerechattering，andhereyeshadalittleblueglazeoverthem。"Iamgoinghome。

InthemorningIwillsendthelilies。”

Thepriestcaughtherbythehand。

"Ninon，"hewhispered，"itisonmysoulnottoletyougoto-night。Somethingtellsmethatthehourofyoursalvationiscome。

Womenworsethanyou，Ninon，havecometoleadholylives。Pray，Ninon，praytotheMotherofSorrows，whoknowsthesuf-

feringsandsinsoftheheart。”HepointedtothebefrilledandhighlyfashionableVirginwithherrouge-stainedcheeks。

Ninonshrankfromhim，andthesameconvulsiverigidityhehadnoticedbefore，heldherimmovable。Amomentlater，shewasonthestreetagain，andthepriest，watchingherdownthestreet，sawherenterhercabinwithPierre