Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-22

/ uTt Ho NOT rs uFt.
She stayed with her through tho
night, and early the next morning the
captain unmoorcd his boat and started
of down the river for the nearest doc
tor.
Anxious days followed, while the
stranger tossed in the dclirium OF fever,
and Mrs. Marlow cared for her as ten
derly as II she had been her own.
Poor child,n she said, tears coming
into her eyes as she spoke, "it makes
my heart ache to think she Is away
from all she loves"
There was no clue to the girls former
life, no one on tho island know any
thing about her, and all inquiries other
wise brought no knowledge. Mrs. Mar
low searched the girls clothing, but
only one word was found, and one day
she slipped a ring of from the wasted
hand and looked for some inscription;
there was only the word she had found
before, the name Kathleen. The suf-
ferer spoke often, but though Mrs.
Marlow strovc to catch any words that
might lead Co discovery of who she
was, there was but little that was intel
| ligible. Sometimes she seemed TO be
| W NUtlt MOOue anu
said that the pine needles made soft
carpet; at others she fancied herself on
the water, and would say she was tired
rowing against the stream. Once or
twice she spoke the name of Everett,
but that was all
"Poor childr' signed the good wom-
an, ''when she gets we'll she will tell
us, and we will take her home"
But there were days when II seemed
that there was little reason TO expect
her recovery, yet the crisis passed and
she still lived. Very white and weak
she was, her brown eyes looking un-
naturally large, then n faint color
came into the face that grew rounder
every day. Mrs. Marlow forbore ask
| ing any questions as yet. though she
wondered a little that Kathleen asked
her none, but she was growing strong
er; she would speak by and by. Yes,
she was growing stronger, still the
| doctor looked grave and continued
his visits after she was able TO walk
about.
"Do you think there's any danger
of rclapse?" Mrs. Marlow asked one
day.
He was silent moment. then he re-
| turned; mo, 1t is not that fear. Mrs
NARROW, have you noticed any thing
strange about herP Docs she ever speak
Of herselfP"
"No, " the woman answered. "Ihave
tried to bring her to ii without asking
too much, but she says nothing about
it."
IL have questioned her some" DIR.
Harris said, slowly, "but. Mrs NARROW,
think her past life is as much blank
10 her a. IL is TO you or me"
"Oh, doctorl" the woman exclaimed.
with panied look. Don't you think
she will ever remember itP"
The doctor shook his head. 1--WE
cant tell; W. can only wait" he said.
But as time went on there was no
change. She answered to the name of
Kathleen. and called Captain and Mrs.
NARROW, father and mother, as she
heard them call each other. She
seemed quite happy roaming about
the island, only when anv mention
was made Of going on the water
troubled look came into her face.
NO" she always said. 81 would
rather not, so they did not urge her.
She was hardly twenty, Mrs. Marlow
thought of slight 1.-the figure, and
as carelessly graceful as child. Her
complexion was Of a creamy, almost
transparent whitcness, the crimson
showing only in her cheeks and lips.
One day Mrs. NARROW brought out the
white dress she had worn when she
came TO them. "When did YOU wear
this last?' she asked.
There was for moment startled
look in the brown eyes, then the girl
said, slowly; "I--can't remember"
''Didn't it rain?" the woman went
on.
Kathleen passed her hand over her
foreh:ha before she returned. hesitat-
ingly: "Yes, think it rained, butt
can't remember."
Mrs. NARROW put the dress away with
q sigh; il was Of no use.
The fall, winter and early spring
passed uneventfully away, then there
came a time when the old house was
in an unusual state of commotion and
expectancy. Captain MarlOw's son
Robert was coming home. He would
be here soon now; he had been in
South America, and it was more than
a year ago that he had gone away.
Mrs. NARROW speculated as to how his
coming would affect Kathleen who
seemed as joyfully eager to prepare
for him as did she hersell. But when
he came the broad-shouldered captain
of the Highflyer was far more affected
than was Kathleen.
1--WE are so glad TO have you home"
she said, looking up frankly into his
facei then, turning TO Mrs. Maflow,
she added: ''there will be some merry
times now Robert has come"
The young man gave his mother a
questioning look. Who was this
stranger who spoke to him with the
quiet familiarity Of a lifelong acquaint-
ance? After Kathleen left the room
his mother told him all they knew of
her.
Ii was Robert who first induced her
TO step into a boat She seemed
ashamed of her fears. but her face was
very pale as they took the first sail
down the river together As the time
went on she grew accustomed to the
water and came 10 enjoy IT, Many
were the sails the two took during the
long summer afternoons On one of
these, as they rowed slowly along
toward a cove bordering the farther
side Of the island. Robert said. looking
of to the wooded island beyond, with
their green branches reflected in the
Shepscots clear waters: "How still IL
isl we might fancy ourselves the only
people anywhere about"
lie let the oars rest, and the boat
drifted slowly; the tapping Of the
waves was the only sound.
Yes" Kathleen returned, II was
foolish not to like tho water"
'You like It now?"
when am with you" The words
came quietly, and she did not look up,
but sat as before, with one hanI over