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Romany of the Snows, Continuation of "Pierre and His People" by Gilbert Parker
page 76 of 206 (36%)
Norice, and noticed things. I don't believe that Trevoor or Malachi ever
knew how sweet was the smell of the fresh sawdust till she held it to
their noses; and it was she that had the saws--all sizes--start one after
the other, making so strange a tune. She made up a little song about
fairies and others to sing to that tune. And no one ever thought much
about Indian Island, off beyond the sweating, baking piles of lumber, and
the blistering logs and timbers in the bay, till she told stories about
it. Sure enough, when you saw the shut doors and open windows of those
empty houses, all white without in the sun and dark within, and not a
human to be seen, you could believe almost anything. You can think how
proud Malachi was. She used to get plenty of presents from the men who
had no wives or children to care for--little silver and gold things as
well as others. She was fond of them, but no, not vain. She loved the
gold and silver for their own sake."

Pierre paused. "I knew a youngster once," said Gohawk, "that--"

Pierre waved his hand. "I am not through, M'sieu' Gohawk the talker.
Years went on. Now she took care of the house of Malachi. She wore the
whistle that Trevoor gave her. He kept saying to her still, 'If ever you
need me, little Norice, blow it, and I will come.' He was droll, that
M'sieu' Trevoor, at times. Well, she did not blow, but still he used to
come every year, and always brought her something. One year he brought
his nephew, a young fellow of about twenty-three. She did not whistle for
him either, but he kept on coming. That was the beginning of 'Exit
Malachi.' The man was clever and bad, the girl believing and good. He was
young, but he knew how to win a woman's heart. When that is done, there
is nothing more to do--she is yours for good or evil; and if a man,
through a woman's love, makes her to sin, even his mother cannot be proud
of him-no. But the man married Norice, and took her away to Madison, down
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