West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-02

AAo viz was "tiilnS anu good natured,
and tried to conform herself TO his tastes
and customs. The picturesque Indian
dress he would never allow her 10 ex.
change for civilized costume. and sbe
looked neat and pretty in the house.
Poor Gordie lay in the corner on n
rude lounge, death pale. His wife
crouched on the floor beside him. trem-
pnng In every limb, and uttering low
means of anguish.
DOT had the fire replenished, and put
on water to boil, while | concentrated
my forces on poor Youida, or, as her
husband called her, Ida, For a long
time she resisted my entreaties, and
shrank from me, shivering and moaning.
Don't you see you disturb him ?' /
said. Come over here and help us.
We are going to cure him if we can"
But he will die, he will die, and
leave poor Ida all alonel"
You don't know that he will die ;" |
said, trying To soothe her.
3" Yes do, do; for he said l must
go back To the tribe, when he was wild
in his speech. Yes, Ida must 90 back.
but not the baby, he say. He care not
for me, only for him."
She let me lead her, sobbing, TO the
fire, and we contrived to keep her busy
for a while.
Suddenly she turned to me with wild
light in her eyes
do you think he dep she asked.
81 can't tell, Ida. lie il in the hands
of God. l hope he will live"
Do yOU think he der she asked
again, turning TO Dot.
i hope not, said Dot, calmly.
Because il he die, l die too % she et-
claimed, passionately.
Oh, no, you would live for your
child, said Dot, in her quiet way.
Her answer was in Indian, and we
could not understand il, but after that
she looked on passively, and seemed TO
have made up her mind TO some course
of action.
The night wore on. The little clock
over the chimney struck the hours of
eleven, twelve, one. Dot had done all
she could. Two or three of the miners.
Gordie's friends, were sitting up in the
next room, which was used as sort of
a parlor and kitchen combined.
The Indian wife was very quiet now.
She sat at the foot of the bed in which
Gordie had been placed, like statue,
her large, glittering eyes fastened upon
the sick mans ghastly face. The baby
was sleeping quietly on some soft skins
in corner. i had thrown myself on
the couch at Dots command, and was
Just closing my eyes in sleep when she
called me-
shall never forget the sight that met
my gaze. / saw in moment that
Gordie was dead. The Indian wife stood
in the middle OF the floor, hands and
eyes lifted, and her slight figure seemed
to grow taller and taller as / looked.
She was talking rapidly in a low voice,
like one at prayer.
Then she gave shrill cry, few to the
bed and clasped the head of her hus-
band, with passionate language, then
turned to us, with a smile that was terri
BILE to see, and rushed out into the other
room.
What she did then, no one can tell.
Probably she swallowed some Indian
poison which her husband had used i'm
huntingdon he had adopted MANY
Indian ways. When we followed her
we found her lying upon the floor, quite
insensible, and in less than an hour, she.
too, was dead.
Never did j see such funeral. The
miners came from far and near to testify
their respect; for Gordie was universally
liked. Something happened to delay the
arrival OF the minister; but they waited
IN decOrouS silence till 1T was quite dark
Then, when the minister arrived, they
made torches and followed their friend
to wild place-a gorge in the noun
tains, which was a favorite resort of his
and there, under the starry canopy,
with the torches revealing the rocks, the
waters, the trunks and branches of
trees, the black earth, and the rough but
sympathetic faces, they lowered poor
Gerdie and wife into their lonely grave.
The miners made up handsome sum
OF money to the little boy, and put him
I'm our care. He was a bright, patient
little fellow, and we became very much
attached to him; but he lived only a
year.
After while, some friends came out
to California, and the sight of them re-
vived our love of the old home. AS the
facilities Of travelling had been greatly
increased, when our friends went back
we returned with them; but our Cali,
fornia experience remains always. n
vivid, central picture among all that
our memory has garnered.