The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-09
Stories of an inland State.

ed coyneSs IN her manner and this pleas
ed him.
The day after that he met her and wa.
oyerjoyed when her face came UP and she
locked him shyly in the face with her grear
luminous eyes.
| Ard after a weeks acquaintance, the
yCurs man came to know the young IN
dian woman well. so that, in meeting ner
she would take his hand in greeting
1T is strange" ne said to the Agent one
night. But 1 can't believe that Mist,
Pawn is Indian. There is some mistake
somewhere
misty Dawn, Misty Dawn, Misty
Dawn" exclaimed the Agent. You talk
of no one else but Misty Dawn. do be-
| l.eve you are in love with her.
What if ! am said the young mar
with a stoutness which made the Agent
| start.
| What if you are, Well, Wen see about
that. Look here. Some time I'll tell you
| her story
| Wynants pressed for it, but the Agent
stood him off.
| II was the day following that the young
man met Misty Dawn and took her by the
| hand and they went down by the little
stream and sat together on its messy bank
| The waters al one point chartered across
| Shoai or peDDleS.
Misty Dawn" whispered the young man
| do the waters talk to you?'
Waters the voice of the Great Spirit,
she said.
He looked upon her lovingly and said:
Misty Dawn. you bathe here some
| times?"
"Yes."
''You must not any more"
| 10 le
voice was law but she did not know where
| in she had offended.
You are too old now,'' he said gently.
She did not understand, but she would
battle publicly no more.
DO you know, Misty Dawn" ne said
placing his arm about her supple waist,
that you are very beautiful?"
AS she felt his arm about her, the color
mounted to her neck and to her cheeks, to
| the roots of her hair and she dropped her
eyes
1t was the first blush of her life
But you are, Misty Dawn" ae continued
drawing her TO MIN. And do not believe
that you are Indian"
His gentle tone more than his words sank
deep in her heart and she did not reply.
You are not afraid Misty DAWN he
said pressing her head TO his shoulder
She was not afraid anG he lcl her lie there
with her eyes closed, her breath coming g
shorter and blowing warm against his neck
He bent his head and kissed her cheek
What are you thinking of, Misty Dawn?'
he asked after little.
She did not move, but answered: misty
Dawn heap glad
He raised her up and put his arms about
her neck.
Misty Dawn must not say heap" he
said.
She would never say heap" again. He
had forbidden it.
Much gla!d?" she asked concerned.
.'No, very glad, or nothing at all. Say it
with your great black eyes, Misty Dawn.
That is best. Do you know you can speak
with your eyes?"
Eyes. The eyes are angry"
True, and Misty I'awl, they can love,
Look at me-
He placed his hands upon her cheeks, and
drawing her face to him kissed her full
lips
Misty Dawn" he said impulsively 'I
love you. Remember you are not Indian
Remember that there is a world outside of
this reservation. 1t is much greater than
this village. Remember to be always good
and pure. Remember to help the weak,
give them your hand and to be kind to the
sick and needy"
He had grown to know that The absence
of a nod or murmur did not mean that
assent was net there. The Indian assents
in silence.
II may go away soon,'' he continued
But remember me. Some day Will come
beck. Read the white mans books Read
all the time and learn to speak good Eng
lish."
They arose and walked back to the viii
lage.
AS ne parted with Misty Dawn the Agent
stood OF his front porch and watched them
and when ne saw his guest stoop and kiss
the Indian girl, he swore AID cath anslily.
That night the Agent was troubled.
Billy he said somewhat sternly. Misty
Dawn has spoiled this visit. 1, as host,
should be silent, but 1 can't. I'm going to
take you away in the morning. The thing
is ridiculous and has gone too far. You've
got TO go home. I'll go with you. / have
reckone6 that you will be angry with me
and 1 will take the consequences"
Il am not angry with you," said Will.
I'm glad of that old man. said the
Agent taking his hand. Now we'll talk
of Misty Dawn. Don't dispute that you
are in love with her. / can't understand IT, |
but you are. Now there are good reasons
why you shouldn't be. / Will relate them |
They will not appeal to you. In addition TO
these reasons 1 viii fire you off the reser-
Vat;on. l am king here and 1 can dc IL |
without warrant or law. Once out of the |
girls sight and your senses VIII return and |
my reasons will be sufficient. Now for |
those reasons: There is in your town the |
widow Befel and two children
Yes, Grace and Jack, 1 know them |
Well"
Their father was Jake Beffel He was |
a trader He was gone from home for |
years. Just before he died he made his Will /
and then his family knew for the lirsr time |
that he had an Indian wife and three In
dian children. He provided a small annui-
ty in his will for them. Misty Dawn is one |
Of his children by the Indian Wife
Il have never heard that of the Bef1els /
before. Then Misty Dawn and Grace are |
half sisters"
Yes. Do you now see why your affec-
ton IS impossible?''
mo"
Just as I thought. When you get home
hink OF this. You can not afford to marry
an illegitimate child OF old Jake BefeTs
and more than that you can not afford to
marry an Indiana savage. Great ScOtti
Billy, Joggle your brain and try to see 1t,
That girl is a savage. She would be a saw
lge no matter what you did With her. It's
he Indian nature. suppose you bend her
% civilization-suppoSe Agsty Dawn's In
Han nature is an iron piece or straight dog
wood and you made a bow OF It and the |
is your patience. May be for a !
-ear that bow-s;ring viii hold that bow
1ent. But some day your patience viii !
,reak from the long strain, snap viii =. |
he old dog-wood out straight again. This