30
U n iv er sity
of
O regon M onthty
answer came from within. I tried the door,—locked. Jaeques was
not there. Then suddenly there arose from the distance" the sounds
of drunken'cheers’ rough,-'coarse, and boisterous ; and then all B 3 |
again quiet. A feeling of doubt and disappointment crept into -pay
heart, and'with its’corning there sdemed to-go from' flae my faith in
the Canadian forest. The founds which but a few moments'before
had beep so' significant of promise, now ss<aemed empty and meanT
ingless, and the whole trip|seemed to havedéfet its-charm. -I'wàb
sorry I had comdZ’;
I As I started away w/was attracted by a distant Tight shining'
dimly through the Woods, not steadily like a candle or lamp, but pale
and flickering, as the reflection'of fire upon running water. I picked
mT way through the darkness/ stphibling over fallen trees/ until I'
came to a house; /In response to my knocking a woman appeared in
the doorway. The light which cameJ from the burning logs inr the
grate was too dim to reveal her feature’s /T ut there geemedjwnér
thing veryfamiliar in her voice—a strange sweetness that recalled
some memory. I As I stepped into the room, a tall, broad-shopldered
man sitting before the fire rosje^quickly tohis fèet and turned toward
më.
//Jacques !
“M sieu’ it is you? Welcome to my house.”
“Your house?’3
A broad smile spread over his face and he turned toward the
woman who had just closed-the door. “%es, m’ sieu’, mine'and
Anette’si '
'“And-yofi do not miss the—the good times, Jacqu^f’^said I,
laughing.
We had drawn our "chairs before the fire, and' Anetfe coming
forward settled herself proudly beside her partner, Putting his arm
around lifer, he slowly answered, “This is the good time, m’ sieu’.”