St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-08
CHAPTER /.

"DoeS the white man see the slender
fine of pale blue smoke that curlS laz
lily Ger yonder clump of trees?" ant
stretching forth her pretty hand the
Indian maiden pointed westward to {
spot some little distance from the open
ing in which she stood. She was
slender, graceful and fair to the eye:
of the stranger who stood before
her. He, stalwart, bronzet
and handsome youth, looked il
the direction indicated and nodded af
firmatively, though his eyes instantly
returned to the girl. He had appeared
but moment before and accidentally
met her face to face. Somewhat con
fused, he had asked for the place tC
which he wished to go, though he knew
it perfectly well.
MAY l ask if you are resident of
yonder lodge you seem SO familiar
with?" he inquired rather cautiously,
with an admiring glance, whilst in
wardly he wondered at the whiteness
of her skin and the fiuency with which
she spoke the English language, fact
that was somewhat unusual with a
maiden of the dark-hued Chippewa
tribe.
'.Why do YOU ask?" she quickly re-
piled. with a Slight touch of dignity,
and, turning her piercing eyes upon
him with, as it seemed to him, an air of
suspicion.
"For no especial reason. only Won
dercd-l mean | thought it rather queer
or rather | didn't expect to see so fair
woman in the midst of such desc
late surroundings" he cOnfusedly re-
Sponded.
A flush mounted her forehead and she
frowned slightly, yet seemed pleased.
"Doy you think me pretty?' she frankly
asked.
Ave, that | do, more than pretty"
said the honest stranger boldly, but
with respect.
II am glad" she replied. and, with
smiling face, pointed once more to the
distant clump of trees and turned to 60.
Removing his hat, the stranger thanked
her, then also turned to go his way.
Strange" he muttered as he picked
his way through the labyrinth of vines
and brush, 'strange that | have never
she was. And her skin, so white.
'Twas surely not that of an Indian girl.
Perhaps she was stolen from the whites
when child, and the suns rays tinted
that skin such a dainty brown"
then he turned once again to
gaze after her retreating form. A sud-
den turn i'll the path would hide her
from view, and as she reached it she
turned her head, kissed her hand to
him. and was gone. A thrill shot
through him, for he had suddenly
taken a deep interest in this
child of the forest, and started
Goll II CDR a1yIx
calling to mind something mysterious
in her manner, shook his head, then
once again turned his face towards his
destination. For half a mile he slowly
wandered on, then suddenly emerged
into an Indian camp ere he was aware
of it, for his thoughts were centered on
the strange meeting of few minutes
before.
Fourteen birch bark tepees composed
the camp. Located in picturesque
spot on the shore of Lake Superior it
seemed veritable fairy resort. A few
young lads were sporting near the
water with dozen bowling. Indian
dogs, but the moment the white man
appeared sports were forgotten and he
was surrounded by yelping ours and
greasy boys. A chunk of wood deftly
thrown im their midst scattered boys
and dogs alike, and the stranger ap-
preached the half-doZen old men
grouped about the fire that burned
before the largest tepee. That he had
been there before was evident from the
actions of the old men. Each one greeted
him with short nod and grunt. and
the one nearest him Scraped away few
chunks of wood, which the stranger un-
derStood as an invitation to Sit down.
He took the hint.
ThpV cmOlypu awaU in silence some
time, and the stranger was discreet
enough not to be the first one to speak.
Finally, one of the circle, evidently the
chief, removed his pipe from his mouth
and said bluntly:
"White man have heap luck!"
mo, chief" the stranger replied, 1.-THE
traps yielded me nothing to-day"
A grunt was the only comment.
white man bad trapper," said the
chief.
I'm afraid you're right about that.
old man."
Best go back to his lodge in the
SOuth.''
Il had about decided to do that, but /
have changed my mind.'
"Why has white man changed his
mind?" said the Indian, looking up
quickly.
Merely because 1 would be as poor
as when left. | must stay until l have
something to show for my work.
A grunt from all rather startled the
stranger and he closely scanned each
face, but saw nothing but vacant looks.
He knew not whether the grunt meant
diSapproval or something else, and felt
somewhat troubled. Again his thoughts
flew back to the early afternoon and
fair face and willowy form appeared
within his mind. A sudden thought
struck him and abruptly he said:
"By the way, chief, while on my way
to the camp this afternoon l met a maid
of wondrous beauty. Her skin >" and
he stopped.
Did he observe the Indian start as
though struck, or was it only fancy?
He satisfied himself that it was merely
imagination and continued: "Her skin
was fairer than that of the Chippewa
people and | fancied that, perhaps, she
was white. Can you tell me anything
about her?''
Deep silence. The old chief finally
broke the silence and the stranger in
Stantly detected a change in his tone.
1t seemed more stern and a close inspec-
ton revealed the fact that change had
come over every one there.
Did white man converse with the
girl?" asked the chief.
well. no, or yes. l mean. / asked
her if, or meant to say, asked her
where the lodge WASP" said the stranger,
and realized at once that he had spoken
indiscreetly.
Ibid not white man know where the
lodge WASP" sternly asked the chief.
''ro he sure L did, but only wanted a
chance to talk to her. l rather admired
her. you see, and was"
1--WE bid white brother good night"
interrupted the Indian.
The six reds arose and moved to their
tepees.
The stranger was alone.