The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-12-21


much better, for primitive people are
quicker in the play Of their passions,
and she had come to love him before he
had begun to notice her at all.
Presently he ate his heart out with
modification. To be yoked forever to-a
savage It was horriblel Their children?
It was strange he had not thought of
that before. Children? He shrugged his
shoulders. There might possibly be a
child, but children - neverl But he
doubted even regarding child, for no
word had come to him concerning that
possibility. He was even most puzzled
at the tone and substance of their let
tiers. From the beginning there had
been no reproaches, no excitement, no
railing, but studied kindness and con-
ventional statements, through which
Mrs. Armour's solicitous affection
scarcely ever peeped. He had shot his
bolt and Reconsideration, almost inn
perturbability. They appeared to treat
the matter as though he were wild
youth who would yet mend his ways.
He read over their infrequent letters to
him; his to them had been still more
infrequent. In one there was the state
ment that "she was progressing favor
ably with her English" in another
that "she was riding good DEAL"
again that "she appeared anxious to
adapt herself to her new life.''
At all these he whistled a little to
himself and smiled bitterly. Then, all
at once, he got up and straightway
burned them all. He again tried to put
the matter behind him for the present,
knowing that he must face it one day.
and staving off its reality as long as
possible He did his utmost to be philo-
sophical and say his quid refert, but it
was easier tried than done, for Jacques
Pontiao's words kept ranking in his
mind, and he found himself carrying
round a vague load which made him
distracted occasionally and often lit
tie reckless in action and speech. In
hunting bear and moose he had proved
himself more daring than the Oldest
hunter and proportionately successful.
He paid his servants we'll, but was
sharp with them. He made long, hard
expeditions, defying the weather as the
hardest of prairie and mountain men
mostly hesitate to defy it. He bought
up much land, then, dissatisfied, sold
it again at loss, but subsequently
made final arrangements for establish
ing very large farm.
When he once became actually inter
ested in this, he shook off something Of
his moodiness and settled himself to de-
velop the thing. He had good talent for
initiative and administration and at
last, in the time when his wife was a
feature Of the London season, he found
his scheme in working order, and the
necessity Of going to England was forced
upon him.
Actually he wished that the absolute
necessity had presented itself before
There was always the moral necessity,
of course-but then! Here now was q
business need, and he must 60. Yet he
did not fix a day or make definite ar
rangements. He could hardly have be-
Geved himself such q coward. With
liberal emphasis he called himself a
sneak, and one day at Fort Charles sat
down to write to his solicitor in Mont
real to say that he would come on at
once. Still he hesitated. AS he sat there
thinking Eye-of- the Moon, his father
in-law, opened the door quietly and en-
tered. He had avoided the chief ever
since he had come back to Fort Charles
and practically had not spoken to him
for year. Armour flushed slightly
with annoyance. But presently, with
touch Of his old humor, he rose, held
out his hand and said ironically: well,
father-in-law, it's about time we had a
big talk, isn't it? We are not very in
innate for such close relatives.
The old Indian did not fully under
stand the meaning or the tone of Ar
mour's speech, but he said, "Howv"
and reaching out his hand for the pipe
offered him lighted it and sat down,
smoking in silence. Armour waited;
but seeing that the other was not yet
moved to talk. he turned to his letter
again. After a time Eye-of.the- Moon
said gravely, getting to his feet,
''Brotherl'
Armour looked up; then rose also
The Indian bowed to him courteously;
then sat down again. Armour threw a
leg over the cnrner # the table and
waited.
Brother" said the Indian present
y, ''you are of thu great race that con-
quers us. You come and take our land
and our game, and we have to beg Of
you for food and shelter. Then you take
our daughters, and we know not where
they go. They are gone, like the down
from the thistle, We see them not, but
You remain. And men say evil things,
There are bad words abroad Brother,
what have you done with my daugh.
ter?''
Had the Indian come and stormed,
begged money Of him, sponged on him
or abused him he had taken it very
calmly. He, in fact, had been superior.
But there was dignity in the chiefs
mannerj there was solemnity in his
speechi his voice conveyed resoluteness
and earnestness, which the stole calm
of his face might not have suggested,
and Armour felt that he had no advan-
tage at all Beside, Armour had a con-
science, though he had played some rare
tricks with it Of late. and it needed
more hardiheod than he possessed to
face this old man down. And why face
him down. Lali was his daughter,
blood Of his blood, the chieftainess OF
one branch of his people, honored at
least among these poor savages, and the
old man had right to ask, as asked