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solemnized； in the white man's fashion； before a priest。 From
Dawson； which to her was all a marvel and a dream； she was taken
directly to the Bonanza claim and installed in the square…hewed
cabin on the hill。
The nine days' wonder that followed arose not so much out of the
fact of the squaw whom Lawrence Pentfield had taken to bed and
board as out of the ceremony that had legalized the tie。 The
properly sanctioned marriage was the one thing that passed the
community's comprehension。 But no one bothered Pentfield about it。
So long as a man's vagaries did no special hurt to the community；
the community let the man alone； nor was Pentfield barred from the
cabins of men who possessed white wives。 The marriage ceremony
removed him from the status of squaw…man and placed him beyond
moral reproach； though there were men that challenged his taste
where women were concerned。
No more letters arrived from the outside。 Six sledloads of mails
had been lost at the Big Salmon。 Besides； Pentfield knew that
Corry and his bride must by that time have started in over the
trail。 They were even then on their honeymoon tripthe honeymoon
trip he had dreamed of for himself through two dreary years。 His
lip curled with bitterness at the thought； but beyond being kinder
to Lashka he gave no sign。
March had passed and April was nearing its end； when； one spring
morning； Lashka asked permission to go down the creek several miles
to Siwash Pete's cabin。 Pete's wife； a Stewart River woman； had
sent up word that something was wrong with her baby； and Lashka；
who was pre…eminently a mother…woman and who held herself to be
truly wise in the matter of infantile troubles； missed no
opportunity of nursing the children of other women as yet more
fortunate than she。
Pentfield harnessed his dogs； and with Lashka behind took the trail
down the creek bed of Bonanza。 Spring was in the air。 The
sharpness had gone out of the bite of the frost and though snow
still covered the land； the murmur and trickling of water told that
the iron grip of winter was relaxing。 The bottom was dropping out
of the trail； and here and there a new trail had been broken around
open holes。 At such a place； where there was not room for two
sleds to pass； Pentfield heard the jingle of approaching bells and
stopped his dogs。
A team of tired…looking dogs appeared around the narrow bend；
followed by a heavily…loaded sled。 At the gee…pole was a man who
steered in a manner familiar to Pentfield； and behind the sled
walked two women。 His glance returned to the man at the gee…pole。
It was Corry。 Pentfield got on his feet and waited。 He was glad
that Lashka was with him。 The meeting could not have come about
better had it been planned； he thought。 And as he waited he
wondered what they would say； what they would be able to say。 As
for himself there was no need to say anything。 The explaining was
all on their side； and he was ready to listen to them。
As they drew in abreast； Corry recognized him and halted the dogs。
With a 〃Hello； old man；〃 he held out his hand。
Pentfield shook it； but without warmth or speech。 By this time the
two women had come up； and he noticed that the second one was Dora
Holmes。 He doffed his fur cap； the flaps of which were flying；
shook hands with her； and turned toward Mabel。 She swayed forward；
splendid and radiant； but faltered before his outstretched hand。
He had intended to say； 〃How do you do； Mrs。 Hutchinson？〃but
somehow； the Mrs。 Hutchinson had choked him； and all he had managed
to articulate was the 〃How do you do？〃
There was all the constraint and awkwardness in the situation he
could have wished。 Mabel betrayed the agitation appropriate to her
position； while Dora； evidently brought along as some sort of
peacemaker； was saying：…
〃Why； what is the matter； Lawrence？〃
Before he could answer； Corry plucked him by the sleeve and drew
him aside。
〃See here； old man； what's this mean？〃 Corry demanded in a low
tone； indicating Lashka with his eyes。
〃I can hardly see； Corry； where you can have any concern in the
matter；〃 Pentfield answered mockingly。
But Corry drove straight to the point。
〃What is that squaw doing on your sled？ A nasty job you've given
me to explain all this away。 I only hope it can be explained away。
Who is she？ Whose squaw is she？〃
Then Lawrence Pentfield delivered his stroke； and he delivered it
with a certain calm elation of spirit that seemed somewhat to
compensate for the wrong that had been done him。
〃She is my squaw；〃 he said； 〃Mrs。 Pentfield； if you please。〃
Corry Hutchinson gasped； and Pentfield left him and returned to the
two women。 Mabel； with a worried expression on her face； seemed
holding herself aloof。 He turned to Dora and asked； quite
genially； as though all the world was sunshine：… 〃How did you stand
the trip； anyway？ Have any trouble to sleep warm？〃
〃And； how did Mrs。 Hutchinson stand it？〃 he asked next； his eyes on
Mabel。
〃Oh； you dear ninny！〃 Dora cried； throwing her arms around him and
hugging him。 〃Then you saw it； too！ I thought something was the
matter； you were acting so strangely。〃
〃II hardly understand；〃 he stammered。
〃It was corrected in next day's paper；〃 Dora chattered on。 〃We did
not dream you would see it。 All the other papers had it correctly；
and of course that one miserable paper was the very one you saw！〃
〃Wait a moment！ What do you mean？〃 Pentfield demanded； a sudden
fear at his heart； for he felt himself on the verge of a great
gulf。
But Dora swept volubly on。
〃Why； when it became known that Mabel and I were going to Klondike；
EVERY OTHER WEEK said that when we were gone； it would be lovely on
Myrdon Avenue； meaning； of course； lonely。〃
〃Then〃
〃I am Mrs。 Hutchinson；〃 Dora answered。 〃And you thought it was
Mabel all the time〃
〃Precisely the way of it；〃 Pentfield replied slowly。 〃But I can
see now。 The reporter got the names mixed。 The Seattle and
Portland paper copied。〃
He stood silently for a minute。 Mabel's face was turned toward him
again； and he could see the glow of expectancy in it。 Corry was
deeply interested in the ragged toe of one of his moccasins； while
Dora was stealing sidelong glances at the immobile face of Lashka
sitting on the sled。 Lawrence Pentfield stared straight out before
him into a dreary future； through the grey vistas of which he saw
himself riding on a sled behind running dogs with lame Lashka by
his side。
Then he spoke； quite simply； looking Mabel in the eyes。
〃I am very sorry。 I did not dream it。 I thought you had married
Corry。 That is Mrs。 Pentfield sitting on the sled over there。〃
Mabel Holmes turned weakly toward her sister； as though all the
fatigue of her great journey had suddenly descended on her。 Dora
caught her around the waist。 Corry Hutchinson was still occupied