It was the last they ever heard of the factor, except
that he died some time in March, and was burned by the Crees.
Croisset went back over the Churchill trail, and found his wife ready
to greet him with open arms. After that he joined Per-ee, who came in
from the north, in another search for Jan. They found neither trace
nor word of him after passing the Gray Otter, and Cummins gave up
hope.
It was not for long that their fears could be kept from Melisse. This
first bitter grief that had come into her life fell upon her with a
force which alarmed Cummins, and cast him into deep gloom. She no
longer loved to play with her things in the cabin. For days at a time
she would not touch the books which Jan had brought from Churchill,
and which he had taught her to read. She found little to interest her
in the things which had been her life a few weeks before.
With growing despair, Cummins saw his own efforts fail. As the days
passed Melisse mingled more and more with the Indian and half-breed
children, and spent much of her time at the company's store, listening
to the talk of the men, silent, attentive, unresponsive to any efforts
they might make to engage her smiles. From her own heart she looked
out upon a world that had become a void for her.
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