Part 28 (1/2)
At the er breakfast Donald realized for the first tiht before, when he had seen her upon their arrival When he had pulled up his belt a notch, and lighted his pipe, the trapper's substitute for a full meal, he wandered back to the tent where he had slept He was allowed perfect liberty a these men, first, because the weather made it impossible for him to attempt escape, and, second, because they had received no orders to keep hiuard Despite his wretched situation, thisthe spirit of happiness and deter upon hi his plans Suddenly, right beside him at the tent door, he discovered the bent forot there he did not know, for she seemed to have risen directly out of the earth Her presence both startled him, and filled him with a quick hatred
This was the creature who held in her filthy, withered hand the happiness of so many persons; this was the creature that his father had lov--No! Not that, for he could only have loved the beautiful girl he had married in Montreal
Donald looked at the old wo
What a terrible thing it was that such a worthless bit of humanity should hold so much power! She ithin reach of his hands A quick clutch, a stifled squawk, a brief struggle, and she would be dead And how hed a little at such a h while you can, young McTavish,” Maria croaked, suddenly
”It won't be for long”
”Why not, old raven?” he asked, regarding her interestedly
The certificate! That was it She had the certificate, and he ,” she replied ”The pride of his father's heart! Ha, ha! Yes, the pride of his father's heart! He'll be rich, and have the honors heaped high You'd better go, young McTavish--go while there's yet ti about, anyway, old wo close ”I see it in your eyes You know all You knohy you should go And I warn you to go”
”Warn me? What about?”
”If there should be blood, it would do no hurt,” she htful heir, lanced at the beldam with a certain uneasiness now He felt a veiled threat, although, he told hiuisincalculable harm?
”You talk a lot, but you say little,” he retorted, with a sneer
”YouThat's a squaw every time”
The little eyes blazed upon him red, and her withered face shook with fury
”Acco McTavish? We shall see Ha! You'll wish you'd never been born--you and your father and ibed ”I want proofs If you can show me proofs of what you claihtful place”
”My son!” she taunted, in turn ”Your brother? Your brother, young McTavish!+ Call hiled fittingly with the anguish of the wind a the trees But suddenly, she stopped short, and looked at hi eyes
”You'll help hiive the proof that I was McTavish's wife?”
”Yes”
Donald lied heartily: the occasion de since, he had decided for hiarment to be worn on all occasions To those he loved, he would tell the truth if it killed him, but others must depend upon the circuet docuh it earned him a knife between the ribs He watched her like a hawk, although apparently totally indifferent to the conversation
”You promise you'll help him--my son?
”Yes”
Donald's vision suddenly beca An involuntaryof the brain, had moved perhaps three inches toward her breast There, it stopped, and slipped down again
”Look inher face close