The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-08-14

and out upon an open grassy place In
/ front OF comfortable looking house,
where our driver drew UP with flour
ISL informing us that "folks most always
gifts supper here if the steamer amt
ready to start back when they gifts here.
She amt here nuther," shading his eyes
and gazing down the bay.
''What time does the steamer usually
arrive p l inquired of our host as we en-
tel ed the cool, dark sitting-room with
its bare floor and yawning fireplace.
II low she'll be along pretty soon, y
was the unconcerned reply.
"Ought to be here now," said the
driver. "The tide II turn pretty soon,
then it II take her all night to get up
the bay"
"Does she always make connection
here :" was my next query.
"Hain't missed but once in three
weeks" said the host assuringly
"Come Cts, never mind if the boat is
little late, let's take walk" called
John cheerily.
| went half sulkily, for 1 thought my
companion might lave relieved my curl
osity concerning his residence at the
waysidc cabin. Then, too. l was anx-
ious lest the steamer should fail to make
connection that night at Olympia, where
| intended meeting my wife. We
walked along the beach admiring the
ever changing skies reflected in the
skies at our feet The tide was turn-
ing and the waves Tapped higher up the
sands with that ceaseless murmur with
which all of oceans children lull the
earth to sleep.
cold Peters camp used to be here"
said John, US we paused on a grassy
point that projected into the bay. "This
is a familiar scene to me-" he went on !;
"many night like this / have stood
watching the rosy hues fade from the
skies and the moon rise white and still,
while the tide ebbed and flowed. was
young then, very young sad smile
fitted over his face 81 even had some
wild thoughts of making an Indian of
myself
shrugged my shoulders as thought
of the dirty savages we had seen the day
before.
"The Indians now," he replied to my
shrug, "are entirely different to the bet
ter class of Indians Of those days. To-
day they are in a transition state from
barbarism TO civilization. They are
neither hunters in the forests or workers
on farms, but exc out miserable exist
ence, neither white men nor Indians
The present generation, all fostered in
idleness, have lost their independence
and love of the wild, free life of the
woods, sinking into lives of hamilton
A few will rise above their fellows, but
the majority are doomed to destruction"
cit is but the universal law of
nature" replied, "that the weak shall
60 down and the strong survive. The
Indians must give way before the supe-
rior white race, just as the forests disap-
pear to make room for wheat fields and
homes"
81 grant you that they are going
down fast enough" he replied "but let
us return and see if the belated steamer
has put in an appearance yet"
No steamer was there, and we obeyed
our hosts summons to supper, feeling
that to reach Olympia that night was
something not to be hoped for AS we
took our seats at the table an outer door
swung noiselessly open, and tall, slim
girl of eighteen or twenty entered and
sat down by the hostess | was at once
charmed and puzzled by her face. She
was fair, with dark eyes and delicate
features. Her dark-brown hair hung in
wavy curls There was something in
the 1.-the form, shadowy, dark eyes, and
subdued vet proud manner, that spoke
of mixed blood in her veins. "She is a
half breed" was my mental comment
yet her face seemed strangely familiar to
me. Where had l seen her, or some
one who resembled herr l glanced at
Williams, whose frowning brow ar d pale
face told me he was making strong
effort to control his emotions. Some
how, all this Jared upon me. was
half vexed with Williams for being so
agitated, when had always regarded
him as one of the most impressive of men.
was startled, too, by the face of the
girl, whom our hostess called "Celindy."
There was some secret of Williams af
fecting him, but how could this girl be
connected with it Cogitating thus,