Morris tribune., 1895-10-09

n a. 5T&yss, s~i0..a2At4's
glass fronted cupboard, with some won
derful old china in it, in one corner ol
the room That china had belonged tx
the girls mother and grandmother All
was sacred thing. There were pair ol
brass mounted, hintlock pistols, crossed
over quaint, narrow and high mirror,
and beautiful stone Indian tomahawks
and pipes, whose helves and stems were
rich mosaic of colored beads and from
which dangled eagles feathers. Crossed
over this doorway was pair of snow
shoes, and over that one, in the center,
was magnificent elk g head whose ant
lers touched the ceiling. And there were
two tiny models of birch bark canoes,
and Indian rowers in them with pad
| dies poised in the air. On a small table
/ at the far end of the room there was q
|. unique grasslike woven cloth that was
made beautiful and striking by having
a fantastic pattern wrought ON it in col
ored silks and beads, and heavily
fringed The yellow and red coIors
which the Crees affect predominated in
it,. Strange it is I'd think and few
there arc perhaps who know. it--that
the Crees got these colors from the Mex
leans, when. the former were a bold and
warlilxe race when their terri tory lay
far to the south, and ere they were driv-
en- gradually backward by younger and
stronger races, Though there was a Ger
tain air of barbaric splendor about that
cloth, still the effect of the whole room
was in keeping with and characteristic
of those romantic and picturesque ele-
ments of a past now vanishing before
more prosaic nineteenth century utlli-
tarianism. There was indeed really
good taste displayed in the arrangement
Of every detail in that room. Not even
the conventional cooking and box stove
and lengths of piping could detract from
the quaintness Of that. old world interi-
or, for they were blackened and polished
till they reflected ones image like a
mirror.
Then the girl put an iron on the
stove and looked at little heap of col
lars and cuffs which lay upon the dress
OF. ready to be operated upon.
Sit down, Jeanette, y she said,
land tell me story while I iron these
things-something about the old French
voyagers, or about the early days of Fort
Garry before Riel came to make the
metis dissatisfied.
just at this moment g great wiry
haired dog, something between a Scotch
staghound and a sheep dog, lifted its
head and growled ominously. 1t had
been lying half asleep in front of the
stove. The girl started significantly and
placed one finger against her lower lip.
The, half breed woman put her head on
one side anu listened intently. Then
they heard the dull, uneven thud of /
horses feet, and dark shadows, as it
were, passed and momentarily darkened
the front windows. In another minute
there was loud, irregular knocking at
the door. Then it was thrown open, and
a great fur clad figure stumbled into
che room, powdered with snow.
a"What devil of a day!'' it ex-
claimed.
1t is perhaps unnecessary to say this |
was the gentleman already referred to |
who had the honor Of bearing her maj |
esty's commission.
In another second another figure en-
tered, but it came no farther than the
door, and closed it SO as to shut out the
drifting snow. This figure was the SER
geant, who did not speak, but indeed
seemed somewhat embarrassed.
The girl stood as if transfxed with
at this sudden entry, Or
as if these unlimited guests hailed from
another world instead of being only
matter of fact mounted policemen. But
surely it was something more than mere
that paled her cheek AND
FOR second made her lean against the
dresser as il for support Who can tell
what thoughts passed through that poor
girls mind just then? 1t was not diff
cult to speculate upon one all powerful
vision that rose before her, and that was
aer father. Into her expressive, wide
open eyes there came look of startled
and then the consci BUSINESS
IF some dreaded presence, which was
oitiful to look upon in one SO young.
But the gallant leader of the party
,alled back the color into, her cheeks.
The inspector was married man,
out he possessed a way with him which
1e considered was all potent with the
'air sex. Perhaps it had been potent to
! certain extent--in that sphere which
10 adorned.
"Now then, Mary Ann, 2. he said,
you don't look as if you were glad to
zee me, as know you are. Just get %
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q p [eeT