The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-08
Stories of an Inland State.

| morning air.
Louis asked Will ''why do all the
| Indians smile al you in that way?''
| The agent laughed
why do you always laugh?" the other
asked with a tinge of irritation
well. principally because your questions
are unusual and partly because they can
| Dot be answered"
How is that?"
You ask me why they leer that way az
| me. 1 don't know Maybe it is because
they wish me TO be friendly. You know 1
am practically their king. And again that
may not be the reason at all"
why do you say that?"
Because an Indian is unfathomabIe An
Indian is an Indian. That said and alPs
said. You can not explain them by obser.
vation and they viii not explain themselves
if they could. You viii appreciate this moro
after your meeting with the beautiful Misty
Dawn
But she is not an Indian"
"Oh. yes she is
But she is as white as you and l."
"Yes. but she's Indian. There she is now
Here. Misty Dawn"
The 1.-THE Indian maiden glided timorous-
ly UP to them.
Agent smiled at her in an amused way.
The young woman cast her eyes down and
answered: Yes" with a peculiar accent
on the little English word
The young man glanced over the pretty
figure and the noble face of the woman.
AS he stood there with his legs apart, his
hands ramrne6 into his pockets, his shoul-
ders broa adened on that account, and a
tiny rose in his coat lapel, his manner to-
ward the young girl was partly that Of
patronage and partly of pity.
'Do you remember your white manners,
Misty DAWN asked the smiling Agent.
Eyes" size answered still looking down.
"Well, now Misty Dawn. If l should
make you acquainted with a nice young
man, would you know how to act?'
She did not answer.
"Well, I'll try you Misty Dawn" said
the Agent. ALLOW me Miss Misty Dawn,
to make you acquainted with Mr.. William
Nynants esquire"
So saying the Agent took his friend by
the arm and the Indian girl, with mechani-
cal precision, placed a foot behind her and
bowed low.
THAT isn't right at ALL" enthusiastical-
" cried Will. Its dreadfully old-fashioned
Misty Dawn. The touch of the hand is the
me?'
The woman raised her eyes and looked
at the youth. Such a look. so dumb, unemo-
tional and dead, without pleasure or curl
osity, that the young man flushed.
Look here, Billy" said the Agent snlil-
ing IF say so she'll have to shake hands
with you But she won't otherwise. What
do you say?''
mo If she doesn't wish
"Rats, boy! Indian women have no
wishes. Look herei I've little work to
do and I'll leave you with Misty Dawn.
Come up to the house when you get
through" So saying, the Indian Agent
turned his back and walked away, con-
vulsed with laughter.
The young man and his new acquaintance
stood under an oak. He was an exceeding
ly handsome young gentleman and she was
an exceedingly beautiful girl. Conscious
of both facts, Will raised his hand to her
and said:
misty Dawn. do you not think the spring
is beautiful?''
This was a gallant opening, but the girl
apparently did not hear il for she still
stood, as before. with downcast eyes.
do you not love the beautiful fiowers?"
he asked with some tenderness.
She renamed as De1Ore.
"And the pretty birds, do you not love
them?"
No answer
In the eyes of the young man the silent
girl dwindled suddenly to an infant. ana
the equality he had at first felt disappear
ed
He reached forward and took her hand.
That she permitted It he argued favorably
70. e1f lnO -;Do tat CHI
fear of offending his powerful friend, the
Agent.
what beautiful little handr' he ex-
claimed.
Still she kept her eyes down.
misty Dawn" said the young man rapid
ly. why do you not answer me? You can
speak English, for you answered the
Agent"
There was no change in her attitude.
Gene" he said pressing her hand.
But as she gave no token that she heard
him. he dropped her hand and said:
Goodbye, Misty Dawn. 1 will see you
again someday. Goodbye"
Indian fashion, she turned abruptly and
walked away, without a word
Young wynants walked back to the
Agents silently, sullenly.
The Agent met him with a laugh.
Laughing again." growled the young
man. Now what?"
Il fancy you got on famously. What did
she say:"
Nothing"
That's Indian"
But she can speak English and she is
not deaf. She said absolutely nothing"
That's Indian"
"But I said nothing TO offend her
-,
That's Indian"
did she think me forward, or was she
just too bashful?'
Neither
Then what?"
That's Indian"
Out that" said the young man" There
Is no sense in that's Indian
Say Billy, old boy" exclaimed the Agent
stop or you'll Kill me. That girl wouldn't
talk TO you. She wouldn't talk to any
stranger and she will hardly speak English
TO me whom she sees every day. ! can't
tell YOU why. It's just Indian. She has
TO thought whatever about you. She for
got you as she turned away. She doesn't
know whether your eyes are blue or purple
or blood red. She didn't know you were
handsome or ugly. If you complimented
her she didn't care though she may have
known what you meant. But IL gave her
no pleasure as you thought ii would. It's
just simply Indian and that's the only ex-
PLANTATION for il. I've been here year and
you know az much about IT as do
The young man looked al the agent and
the cunning twinkle IN MS eyes.
There was tin,id rapp;ng az the door.
The Agent arose and young Wynants fol-
lowed him
A little Indian girl stood in the doorway
and holding up a little bunch a. wild foW-
ers said. parTot-like:
''Flowers-Misty Dawn sends 10 VIII