The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-02


dressed 10 lose none of his natural advan-
fages. But what really gave him his air of
distinct ton was not his clothes nor his man
ner of wearing them; it was the long blonde
nustache that he constantly twisted and
UNFINISHED at the ends. 1t was a mustache
so imposing ana ornamental in its waving
color that the Indians, quick to seize sal
lent points of personality for christening
named him yellow Feather the day he
arrived on the reserve. Still Clayson was
more tnan a man with mustache. His
handsome head held good brain that
could reach a logical conc iusion-and could
reach it quickly. OF course, however, he
was not always thinking logically; that in
itself would be ilogical for, as yet, the
world was young to him. and he was young
in the world, and life was not a serious
effort
He certainly was not straining his facul-
ties as ne sauntered from evening stables
TO the officers club room in the trader
store on bright day in May not many
years ago. To tell the truth, there was
nothing especial on his mind until he turned
the corner of the building. Then he sud
denly reused to mental activity, although
the cause might seem trivial to Others-it
was only squaw, and squaws are COM
mon, very common, in that vicinity. He,
however, Immediately saw with surprise,
wherein this particular squaw differed from
the others. From the silver ornaments
all was neatness and grace She I'M
tying pony from the horse rack in front
of the store, and he got closer he saw
that the hands slipping the turns of the
lariat from the string piece We're remark
ably small and shapely, without brass rings
the fingers. A few more PAGES and he
saw that the profile of her face was deli
cate in features. that the complexion was a
clear olive, and that there was no paint on
the cheek. Then she turned her head,
and he saw such eyes he never before
had seen in a human head. They looked
straight into his brain-and stayed there.
He did not speak to ner-that was not
etiquette, especially before the bucks squat
ted near the doorStepS-nor did he halt; he
walked slowly by and entered the store
carrying with him the ia scination of those
soulful eyes. lie walked over to the corner
rallied off as the postotfice and looked
steadily in his mail box for a minute, al
though he knew there was mail and
that there would be none for two days.
Then he passed behind the store counter
and took the shortest way 10 reach the
club room. But he stayed in there only long
enough to join meaninglessly in the laugh
when Hobbs was stuck" and to decline
an invitation to take a hand in the new
game. Then he went outside again
The squaw was on her pony, slowly rid
ing away. He then noticed for the first
time that her hair hung loose down her
II.
she reached the end of the corral wall and
just before she made the turn. she glanced
back. and that glance found him-the light
in those Turing eyes said: Follow me-"
HIS impulse was to call to a passing man
and order his horse; but fortunately the
logic in his mind asserted itself and told
him that he could not trail after a squaw
in broad daylight. He thought of some
thing else. and re-entered the store to act
hot
tobacco and several bundles of cigarette
papers, and with his purchase sought San
chez, the interpreter in his camp below
the post.
He missed retreat and lost his dinner
at the mess. before tinesse and tobacco had
drawn from Sanchez that Tinta was a
Mexican captive. captured a babe and
Bfterward reared the only child of Be-
Dito, head soldier of the Chricahuas. She
had recently married Ramona, a young
sub-chief; but. within moon from the
wedding feast, they had quarreled. and
strange to all the tribe, she had asserted
her rights. Apache women have rights
that is property rights. She gathered her
ponies and drove them to her ia Tiers herd.
Now she dwelt in Bonitos lodge and it
was an open question how many ponies
Ramo1e must pay before he got back his
bride, the number depended upon her sweet
will as expressed through the arbitra tor
Bonita. Ramona had begun to bid And
Sanchez flung away the end of the fifteenth
cigarette, with the admonition: Tina is
heap mucho dangerous game"
With the rising of the next sun Clayson
was three miles up the North Fork inspect
ing the troop gardens; he wished to see the
dew on the cabbage sparkle in the early
light; besides. the main camp of the Chiri-
cahuas was in the bottom land on the op-
poste side, and Bonto's lodge. stood by
itself close to the river bank
1T may have been the sound of an iron
shoe striking the rocks. or it nay have
been Neutrality-suspicious.. Tinta came from
the lodge while Claysons horse was drink
ing, knee deep in the stream. He refined
up the horses head and urged him through
the water straight for those eyes She
smiled welcome: and there, in the hiding
shadows of the tall cottonwoods he kissed
her.
soon passed from squaw to sauaw in the
village that yellow Feather rode to Ro-
nito's lodge; and. like the flame of n lean
ing prairie fire. the word swept on till II
reached Ramone In the mountains. And as
luck would have it at that time the INNER
camp was drinking 'tizwin' and dancing
for war. SO Ramona drank .'tizwin', with
increased vigor and danced with the other
wild spirits. while his inborn general hate
Tor the whites concentrated to one fierce
burning hate for one white.
Tie big moon came, and with If the Ia ST
tender were sent down to the main Camp
on the river, while the strong and active
full of "tizwin and hell. dashed into the
night to make merry killing in their line
of flight. All the young bucks were on the
ride save one-Ramone was too drunk to
mount or move Three hours later, bv the
light of the same big moon. two troops of
cavalry had found and We're on the trail of
the ''bronchos' at the upper camp The
next morning the agent, visiting the main
camp to count somewhat scattered flock
and separate the sheep from the goats as
they had already separated themselves
found Ramona, tag. number, and ALL pres
ent to be counted as one of the remnant
of sheep. He really was meek as lamb
sleeping most of the day in the brush near
his mothers lodge. but occasionally waking
TO hear the frightened talk of women and
horse and the gray horse soldiers were on
the trail, and he knew that yellow Fea tn
Err rode with the grays.
He ate his supper in sulen silence for
the tribe was not unit the outbreak
then, when the twilight merged into night
he saddled the war pony and left the camp.
One buck more or less, in out, made no
difference, except to the buck himself: and
Ramona chose to trail after the trailers
and the trailed. In such a game the man
behind often more than the man in
front He could easily find the trailed By
signs and signals. and the first rendezvous
range, where the ''bronchos" would hold