St. Paul daily globe., 1894-07-15
t was not fancy. I knew you needed

aOWs tiiNb was ldCC. ouu
| fancied was about to be scalped, but
1t proved TO be nothing worse than an
adm'rer."
Then we sat down together on the
school house porch, and | told him all
the story. How Scream of the Eagle
had heard that was pretty, and had
come secretly to look at me and see If 1t
was true, and of how he had appeared
at the school house with his Interpreter
to ask for me, and all that Mrs. March
had said.
ut Is like story out of the Arabian
Nights entertainments. l said. "The
caliph, the vizier and the fair lady, ex-
cept that no caliph was ever SO hideous
as old Scream. Oh! never, never"
laughed. but Arthur did not. He
was very grave, and his eyes sparkled
like steel.
my darling" he said at last, "you
arc too beautiful to be left among these
savage men,"
At these words 1 could not help
laughing. Here 1t was again. ''too
beautiful" TOO beautiful for cul-
tured society; "too beautituP to live
where savages could see me.
ut is the most ludicrous thing / ever
heard" cried. 'that just because / am
about the world like this"
But Arthur did not smile. He took
my hand in his and pressed 1t, and all
the pleasant curves departed from his
face, and straight, stern lines replaced
them. That was how my soldier looked
upon the ba tletield. l felt quite sure.
After awhile he lifted my hand gently
to his lips, and asked me this stranf
question: ''Can you use pistol?"
Yes" said. "My uncle taught me
that. He taught Cousin Adelaide on
pistol hurt her hand and the noise
stunned her. For my part, took to it
as if were a boy. and he gave me a
pistol of my own. He said lady ought
to be ablc and ready to defend herself
in case OF absolute necessity as we'll as
a gentleman"
Your uncle was a man of sense"
said Arthur. ''My dear, when you are
my wife will take you to Malcolm's
Rest and make the acquaintance of
that uncle of yours. I've no doubt we
will be excellent friends"
"Oh, should like that" I said.
''my uncle is my own blood relation.
my mothers brother. and | think he
would have loved me but for my aunt"
"How could any one help loving
you?" Arthur said.
81 was very ugly child,"I said, "ugly
in the proper sense. and ugly as some
people use the word. meaning bad
tempered and resentful. And yet my
heart was so full of longing for tender
ness, for love. Arthur, | never knew
what real happiness was until l met
YOU"
seldom made tender speeches to
him. | have always thought that was
mans duty. and that it was a woman's
to listen to them and say very little of
her own deep feelings. But just now |
could not keep silence. had what the
Friends would have spoken of as "a call
10 speak" And such happy light
car into his eyes as he listened.
''JoJ or my heart, my love can never
make you as happy as to know that l
may love you makes me-" he said.
arthur" l sighed. 81 believed that
no human thing that lives is as utterly
happy as am at this moment"
AS spoke tall Indian, wrapped in a
blanket, stalked by. looking neither to
the right nor TO the left. His shadow
fell upon us as he passed.
ut is Scream of the Eagle" l whis-
pered.
II should like to put bullet through
his red hide" muttered Arthur furious
ly. | did not like the speech, and l
uttered gentle reproOf.
II seem bloodthirsty, do / not?" he
said, "out if saw a tiger crouching be-
hind those rocks no one would blame
me for shooting it, and Scream needs
shooting badly. He is the worst Indian
alive. Moreover, any Indian is danger
Gus when he wraps himself up like that
| in pleasant weather-and that reminds
me-" He put his hand into his bosom
and drew forth little case. IL have
brought you pretty little pistol to
| wear at you belt, and in the case is all
| that i necessary to make it useful. 1t
| is arranged to wear upon lady's belt.
| and several of the officers wives have
| similar ones. | intended to leave it
| with you, but you can wear 1t Just as
we'll elsewhere. Here you shall not
stay another night"
"Arthur," l cried. He pinched my
| cheek.
II shall not ask you whether you wish
| to 90 or not" he said.
'After what you have told me, and
| after what | have seen, should be mad
| to leave you free. You, and Mrs. March
also, must return to the fort with us.
| Scream will carry you off if you remain
here, and your little pistol would be of
| nouse, unless, indeed -" He turned
pale and shuddered.
"Why do you stop?' l asked.
''It is too horrible" he said. al was
about to say, unless you came to such a
| pass that you used it to end your own
| dear life, as women have done ere now
| when in the power of such vile wretches
| as that thing watching US yOnder."
"Watching u.s." said |.
Yes" saidiArthur, "he is behind that
tree" He took his own pistol from his
belt and looked steadily toward a large
| pine. In moment more, Scream, with
| hooded face and folded arms, walked up
the road. One would have fancied him
wrapped in deep reverie, bewalling the
woes Of his race, going directly 10 the
| graves Of his ancestors to mourn beside
| them.
"Wouldn't you like to have my scalp,
| you dear, amiable old gentleman?' said
| voice at our elbow. Mrs. March had
come out and seated herself beside us.
'I've been watching Scream" she
said. ''l fancy he recognizes you as a
rival. AS the white warrior who has
already satisfied my greed by giving me
large price for my daughter there.
What do you think she is worth. cap
tain? | may grow mercenary and insI
on red fianuels and blue beads, coffee,
sugar and lead pencils galore before l
resign her.
"She is so precious that if offered all
that possess it should he utterly con-
demned," said my soldier. Mrs. Mar"b,
have heard the story and had a private
view of the Indian, and have come to
the decision that you must go to the fort
with us. You may take my word for 1t
that you are in serious danger, and if
you will pack your trunks directly we
will set out upon our return without
loss of time"
.Is it necessary for me to go. cap
tain?' ask Mrs. March. 'Of course
you Will take your Anna, but L do not
think Scream will trouble me. have
not found favor in his eyes. ! am not
too utterly beautiful to stay here.
MADAM" said Captain Atherton, II
mean to take you away with me by
fair means, if L can. but should you re-
fuse to 20. then, by force of arms.
This is no dwelling place for ladies. 1t
| is not fit for you to be here"