The Barrier Page 3

  CHAPTER III

  WITHOUT BENEFIT OF CLERGY

  When the steamer had gone Napoleon Doret went to look for Necia, andfound her playing with the younger Gales, who revelled in the gifts hehad brought. Never had there been such a surprise. Never had there beensuch gorgeous presents for little folks. This was a land in which therewere no toys, a country too young for babes; and any one whose youthhad been like that of other children would have seen a pathos in thejoy of these two. Poleon had been hard put to it to find anythingsuitable for his little friends, for although there was all manner ofmerchandise coming into Dawson, none of it was designed for tinypeople, not even clothes.

  It was evident that he had pleased them, for when he appeared they ranat his legs like twin cubs, incoherent and noisy, the pleasure withinthem too turbulent for expression. They had never played with a toythat Poleon had not built for them, nor worn a garment that Alluna hadnot made. This, then, was a day of revelations, for the first thingthey beheld upon opening their packs was a pair of rubber boots foreach. They were ladies' knee-boots, the smallest size in stock, but theGales entered them bodily, so to speak, moccasins and all, clear totheir hips, like the waders that duck-hunters use. When they ran theyfell down and out of them, but their pride remained upright and serene,for were not these like the boots that Poleon wore, and not of Indianmake, with foolish beads on them? Next, the youthful heir had found astraw hat of strange and wondrous fashion, with a brim like a board anda band of blue, which Poleon had bought from a college man who hadretained this emblem of his past to the final moment. Like the boots,it was much too large for little John, and hard to master, but it madea brave display, as did a red cravat, which covered his front like abaseball catcher's harness. Molly had also two sets of side-combs,gorgeously ornamented with glass diamonds, and a silver-handledtooth-brush, with which she scrubbed the lame puppy. This puppy hadthree legs and the mange, and he was her particular pride.

  There were certain other things, the use of which they did notunderstand, like queer-smelling, soft, yellow balls which Necia saidwere oranges and good to eat, although the skins were leathery and verybitter, nor were they nearly so pleasant to the nose as the toiletsoap, which Necia would not allow them even to taste. Then there was abox of chocolate candies such as the superintendent at St. Michael'ssent them every spring, and an atomizer, which Necia had filled withFlorida Water. This worked on the puppy even better than thetooth-brush.

  The elder girl laughed gladly as Poleon entered, though her eyes werewet with the pity of it.

  "You seem to bring sunshine wherever you go," she said. "They havenever had things to play with like other children, and it makes me cryto watch them."

  "Ho, ho!" he chuckled, "dis ain'no time for cryin'. Ba gosh! I guessyou don' have so much present w'en you was li'l' gal you'se'f, w'at?Mebbe you t'ink I forget you. Wal, I didn't."

  He began to undo the fastenings of a parcel he carried in his arms, forNapoleon Doret had brought other things from Dawson besides his giftsto the children. Necia snatched at the package.

  "Don't you dare open it! Why, that's half the fun." She was a childherself now, her face flushed and her hands a-tremble. Taking thepackage to the table, she hurriedly untied the knots while he stoodwatching her, his teeth showing white against his dark face, and hiseyes half shut as if dazzled by the sight of her.

  "Oh, why didn't you tie more knots in it?" she breathed as she undidthe last, and then, opening the wrappings slowly, she gasped inastonishment. She shook it out gently, reverently--a clinging blacklace gown of Paris make. Next she opened a box and took from it apicture hat, with long jet plumes, which she stroked and pressed fondlyagainst her face. There were other garments also--a silken petticoat,silk stockings, and a pair of high-heeled shoes to match, with certainother delicate and dainty things which she modestly forbore to inspectbefore the Frenchman, who said no word, but only gazed at her, and forwhom she had no eyes as yet. Finally she laid her presents aside, and,turning to him, said, in a hushed, awe-stricken voice:

  "It's all there, everything complete! Oh, Poleon--you dear, dearPoleon!" She took his two big hands by the thumbs, as had been hercustom ever since she was a child, and looked up at him, her eyes wetwith emotion. But she could not keep away from the dress for long, andreturned to feast her eyes upon it, the two children standing besideher, sprouting out of their rubber boots, with eyes and mouths roundand protruding.

  "You lak' it, eh?" pressed Poleon, hungry for more demonstrativeexpression.

  "Oh-h," she sighed, "can't you SEE? Where on earth did you get it?"Then suddenly realizing its value, she cried, "Why, it must have cost afortune!" A quick reproach leaped into her face, but he only laughedagain.

  "Wan night I gamble in beeg saloon. Yes, sir! I gamble good dat night,too. For w'ile I play roulette, den I dance, den I play some more, an'by-an'-by I see a new dance gal. She's Franche gal, from Montreal.Dat's de one I tol' you 'bout. Ba Gar! She's swell dress', too. She'sname' Marie Bourgette."

  "Oh, I've heard about her," said Necia. "She owns a claim on BonanzaCreek."

  "Sure, she's frien's wit' Charlie McCormack, dat riche feller, but Idon' know it dis tam', so I ask her for dance wit' me. Den we drink abottle of champagne--twenty dollar."

  "'Mamselle,' I say, 'how much you charge for sell me dat dress?'"

  "'For w'y shall I sell im,' she say; 'I don' wear 'im before tillto-night, an' I don' get no more dress lak' dis for t'ousan' dollar.'"

  Necia exclaimed excitedly.

  '"For w'y you sell 'im?' I say. 'Biccause I'll tak' 'im down toFlambeau for Necia Gale, w'at never had no dress lak' dat in all herlife.' Wal, sir, dat Marie Bourgette, she's hear of you before, an'your dad, too--mos' all dose Cheechakos know 'bout Old Man Gale--so shesay:

  "'Wat lookin' kind of gal is dis Necia?' An' I tell her all 'bout you.Wen I'm t'rough she say:'"

  "'But maybe your little frien' is more bigger as I am. Maybe de dresswon't fit.'"

  "'Ha! You don' know me, mamselle,' I say. 'I can guess de weight of acaribou to five poun'. She'll be same size la'kin' one inch 'roun' dewais'.'"

  "'Poleon Doret,' she say, 'you ain' no Franchemans to talk lak'dat.Look here! I can sell dis dress for t'ousan' dollar to-night, or I cantrade 'im for gol'-mine on El Dorado Creek to some dose Swede w'at wantto catch a gal, but I'm goin' sell 'im to you for t'ree hondred dollar,jus' w'at I pay for 'im. You wait here till I come back.'"

  "'No, no, Mamselle Marie, I'll go 'long, too, for so you don' changeyour min',' I say; an' I stan' outside her door till she pass me dewhole dam' works."

  "' Don' forget de little shoes,' I say--an' dat's how it come!"

  "And you paid three hundred dollars for it!" Necia said, aghast. TheCanadian shrugged.

  "Only for de good heart of Marie Bourgette I pay wan t'ousan'," saidhe. "I mak' seven hondred dollar clean profit!"

  "It was very nice of both of you, but--I can't wear it. I've never seena dress like it, except in pictures, and I couldn't--" She saw his facefall, and said, impulsively:

  "I'll wear it once, anyhow, Poleon, just for you. Go away quick, now,and let me put it on."

  "Dat's good," he nodded, as he moved away. "I bet you mak' dosedance-hall women look lak' sucker."

  No man may understand the girl's feelings as she set about clothingherself in her first fine dress. Time and again she had studiedpictures from the "outside" showing women arrayed in the newest styles,and had closed her eyes to fancy herself dressed in like manner. Shehad always had an instinctive feeling that some day she would leave theNorth and see the wonderful world of which men spoke so much, andmingle with the fine ladies of her picture-books, but she never dreamedto possess an evening-gown while she lived in Alaska. And now, evenwhile she recognized the grotesqueness of the situation, she burned towear it and see herself in the garb of other women. So, with themorning sun streaming brightly into her room, lighting up themoss-chinked walls, the rough barbarism of fur and head and trophy, shedonned the beautiful garments.
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  Poleon's eye had been amazingly correct, for it fitted her neatly, saveat the waist, which was even more than an inch too large,notwithstanding the fact that she had never worn such a corset as thewell-formed Marie Bourgette was accustomed to.

  She pondered long and hesitated modestly when she saw its low cut,which exposed her neck and shoulders in a totally unaccustomed manner,for it struck her as amazingly indecent until she scurried through hermagazines again and saw that its construction, as compared with others,was most conservative. Even so she shrank at sight of herself below theline of sunburn, for she was ringed about like a blue-winged teal, thedemarcation being more pronounced because of the natural whiteness ofher skin. The year previous Doret had brought her from the coast aSpanish shawl, which a salt-water sailor had sold him, and which hadlain folded away ever since. She brought it forth now and arranged itabout her shoulders, but in spite of this covering the fair fleshbeneath peeped through its wide interstices most brazenly. She hadnever paid marked attention to the fairness of her skin till now, andall at once this difference between herself and her little brother andsister struck her. She had been a mother to them ever since they came,and had often laughed when she saw how brown their little bodies were,rejoicing in blushing quietude at her own whiteness, but to-day sheneither laughed nor felt any joy, rather a dim wonder. She sat down,dress and all, in the thick softness of a great brown bear-skin andthought it over.

  How odd it was, now that she considered it, that she needed no aid withthese alien garments, that she knew instinctively their every feature,that there was no intricacy to cause her more than an instant'strouble. This knowledge must be a piece with the intuitive wit that hadbeen the wonder of Father Barnum and had enabled her to absorb histeachings as fast as he gave them forth.

  She was interrupted in her reverie by the passing of a shadow acrossher window and the stamp of a man's feet on the planks at the door. Ofcourse, it was Poleon, who had come back to see her; so she rosehastily, gave one quick glance at the mirror above her washstand,choosing the side that distorted her image the least, and, hearing himstill stamping, perfunctorily called:

  "Come in! I'll be right out."

  She kicked the train into place behind her, looped the shawl carelesslyabout her in a way to veil her modesty effectively, and, with anexpectant smile at his extravagance of admiration, swept out into thebig room, very self-conscious and very pleasing to the eye. She crossedproudly to the reading-table to give him a fair view of her splendor,and was into the middle of the room before she looked up. Taken aback,she uttered a little strangled cry and made a quick movement ofretreat, only to check herself and stand with her chin high in the air,while wave after wave of color swept over her face.

  "Great lovely dove!" ejaculated Burrell, fervently, staring at her.

  "Oh, I--I thought you were Poleon. He--" In spite of herself sheglanced towards her room as if to flee; she writhed at the utterabsurdity of her appearance, and knew the Lieutenant must be laughingat her. But flight would only make it worse, so she stood as she was,having drawn back as far as she could, till the table checked her.Burrell, however, was not laughing, nor smiling even, for hisembarrassment rivalled hers.

  "I was looking for your father," he said, wondering if this gloriousthing could be the quaint half-breed girl of yesterday. There wasnothing of the native about her now, for her lithe young figure wasdrawn up to its height, and her head, upon which the long, black braidswere coiled, was tipped back in a haughty poise. She had flung herhands out to grasp the table edge behind her, forgetful of her shawl,which drooped traitorously and showed such rounded lines as herordinary dress scarce hinted at. This was no Indian maid, the soldiervowed; no blood but the purest could pulse in such veins, no spiritsave the highest could flash in such eyes as these. A jealous rancorirked him at the thought of this beauty intended for the Frenchman'seyes.

  "Can't you show yourself to me as well as to Poleon?" he said.

  "Certainly not!" she declared. "He bought this dress for me, and I putit on to please him." Now she was herself again, for some note in theLieutenant's voice gave her dominance over him. "After he sees it Iwill take it off, and--"

  "Don't--don't take it off--ever," said Burrell. "I thought you werebeautiful before, because of your quaintness and simplicity, but now--"his chest swelled--"why, this is a breath from home. You're like mysister and the girls back in Kentucky, only more wonderful."

  "Am I?" she cried, eagerly. "Am I like other girls? Do I really look asif I'd always worn clothes like these?"

  "Born to them," said he.

  A smile broke over her grave face, assuming a hundred different shadesof pleasure and making a child of her on the instant; all her reserveand hauteur vanished. Her warmth and unaffected frankness suffused him,as she stood out, turning to show the beauties of her gown, her brownhands fluttering tremulously as she talked.

  "It's my first party-dress, you know, and I'm as proud of it as Mollyis of her rubber boots. It's too big in here and too small right there;that girl must have had a bad chest; but otherwise it fits me as if ithad been made for me, doesn't it? And the shoes! Aren't they thedearest things? See." She held her skirts back, showing her two feetside by side, her dainty ankles slim and shapely in their silk.

  "They won't shed water," he said.

  "I know; and look at the heels. I couldn't walk a mile to save my life."

  "And they will come off if they get wet."

  "But they make me very tall."

  "They don't wear as well as moccasins." Both laughed delightedly tillhe broke in, impulsively:

  "Oh, girl, don't you know how beautiful you are?"

  "Of course I do!" she cried, imitating his change of voice; then added,naively, "That's why I hate to take it off."

  "Where did you learn to wear things like that?" he questioned. "Wheredid you get that--well--that air?"

  "It seems to me I've always known. There's nothing strange about it.The buttons and the hooks and the eyes are all where they belong. It'sinstinct, I suppose, from father's side--"

  "Probably. I dare say I should understand the mechanism of adress-suit, even if I'd never seen one," said the man, amused, yetimpressed by her argument.

  "I've always had visions of women dressed in this kind of clothing,white women--never natives--not dressed like this exactly, but indainty, soft things, not at all like the ones I wear. I seem to have amemory, although it's hardly that, either--it's more like a dream--asif I were somebody else. Father says it is from reading too much."

  "A memory of what?"

  "It's too vague and tantalizing to tell what it is, except that Ishould be called Merridy."

  "Merridy? Why that?"

  "I'll show you. See." She slipped her hand inside the shawl and drewfrom her breast a thin gold chain on which was strung a band ring. "Itwas grandmother's--that's where I got the fancy for the name ofMerridy, I suppose."

  "May I look?"

  "Of course. But I daren't take it off. I haven't had it off my necksince I was a baby." She held it out for him to examine, and, althoughit brought his head close to hers, there was no trace of coquetry inthe invitation. He read the inscription, "From Dan to Merridy," but hadno realization of what it meant, for he glimpsed the milk-white fleshalmost at his lips, and felt her breath stirring his hair, while thedelicate scent of her person seemed to loose every strong emotion inhim. She was so dainty and yet so virile, so innocent and yet so wise,so cold and yet so pulsating.

  "It is very pretty," he said, inanely.

  At the look in his eyes as he raised his head her own widened, and shewithdrew from him imperceptibly, dismissing him with a mere inflection.

  "I wish you would send Poleon here. It's time he saw his present."

  As Burrell walked out into the air he shut his jaws grimly andmuttered: "Hold tight, young man. She's not your kind--she's not yourkind."

  Inside the store he found Doret and the trader in conversation with aman he had not met before, a ragged nondescript
whose overalls wereblue and faded and patched, particularly on the front of the legs abovethe knees, where a shovel-handle wears hardest; whose coat was ofyellow mackinaw, the sleeves worn thin below the elbows, where they hadrubbed against his legs in his work. As the soldier entered, the manturned on him a small, shrewd, weather-beaten face with one eye, whilehe went on talking to Gale.

  "It ain't nothin' to git excited over, but it's wuth follerin'. If Iwasn't so cussed unlucky I'd know there was a pay streak som'ere closeby."

  "Your luck is bound to change, Lee," said the trader, who helped him toroll up a pack of provisions.

  "Mebbe so. Who's the dressmaker?" He jerked his bushy head towardsBurrell, who had stopped at the front door with Poleon to examine someyellow grains in a folded paper.

  "He's the boss soldier."

  "Purty, ain't he?"

  "If you ain't good he'll get you," said Gale, a trifle cynically, atwhich Lee chuckled.

  "I reckon there's several of us in camp that ain't been a whole lot toogood," said he. "Has he tried to git anybody yet?"

  "No, but he's liable to. What would happen if he did? Suppose, forinstance, he went after you--or me?"

  The one-eyed man snorted derisively. "It ain't wuth considerin'!"

  "Why not?" insisted Gale, guardedly. "Maybe I've got a record--youdon't know."

  "If you have, don't tell me nothin' about it," hastily observed Lee."I'm a God-fearin' citizen myself, leanin' ever towards peace andquietudes, but what's past is dead and gone, and I'd hate to see alispin' child like that blue-and-yeller party try to reezureck it."

  "He's got the American army to back him up--at least five of them."

  "Five agin a hundred. He aims to overawe us, don't he?" snickered theunregenerate Lee, but his wrinkles changed and deepened as he leanedacross the counter confidentially.

  "You say the word, John, and I'll take some feller along to help me,and we'll transfer this military post. There's plenty that would likethe job if you give the wink."

  "Pshaw! I'm just supposing," said the trader. "As long as they playaround and drill and toot that horn, and don't bother anybody, I allowthey're not in the way."

  "All right! It's up to you. However, if I happen to leap down on thispay streak before it sees me comin', I'm goin' to put my friends infirst and foremost, and shut out these dressmakers complete. So long!"He thrust his arms beneath the legs of a new pair of blue overalls thatformed his pack-straps, wriggled the burden comfortably into placebetween his shoulders, and slouched out past Doret, to whom he nodded,ignoring the "dressmaker."

  Having given Necia's message to Poleon, the Lieutenant took up hisbusiness with the trader. It concerned the purchase of certain suppliesthat had been omitted from the military outfit, and when this wasconcluded he referred to the encounter of that morning.

  "I don't want you to think I bungle everything in that manner," hesaid, "for I don't. I want to work with you, and I want to be friendswith you."

  "I'm willing," said Gale.

  "Nobody dislikes playing policeman more than I do, but it's a part ofmy duty, and I'll have to do it," continued the young man.

  "I reckon you simply aim to keep peace, eh? You ain't lookin' fornobody in particular?"

  "Of course not--outside of certain notorious criminals who have escapedjustice and worked north."

  "Then there is a few that you want, eh?"

  "Yes, certain old-timers. The officers at every post have descriptionsof a few such, and if they show up we will take them in and hold themtill courts are established."

  "If you've got their names and descriptions, mebbe I could help you,"said the trader, carelessly.

  "Thank you, I'll bring up the list and we'll go over it together. Youmust have been here a good while."

  "About ten years."

  "Then Miss Necia was born out in the States?"

  Gale shot a startled glance at the soldier before he answered in theaffirmative, but Burrell was studying a pattern of sunlight on thefloor and did not observe him. A moment later he inquired, hesitatingly:

  "Is this your first marriage, Mr. Gale?" When the other did not answer,he looked up and quickly added:

  "I beg your pardon, sir. What led me to ask was Miss Necia--she isso--well--she is such a remarkable girl."

  Gale's face had undergone a change, but he answered, quietly:

  "I 'ain't never been married."

  "What?"

  "When I took Alluna it wasn't the style, and neither one of us hasthought much about it since."

  "Oh, I see," exclaimed Burrell, hurriedly. "I'll bring that list withme the first time I think about it," and, nodding amiably, he saunteredout. But his mind was in a whirl, and even after he had reached hisquarters he found himself repeating:

  "The other was bad enough. Poor little girl! Poor little girl!"

  Gale likewise left the store and went into his house, the odd lookstill strong in his eyes, to find Necia posing in her new regalia forPoleon's benefit. At sight of her he fell into a strange and unexpectedhumor, and to their amazement commanded her roughly to take the thingsoff. His voice and manner were harsh and at utter variance with anymood he had ever displayed before; nor would he explain his unreasoningfury, but strode out again, leaving her in tears and the Frenchmanstaring.