The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-03-31


we're together on the front piazza, he
smoking, that he asked me about it.
We always we're companionable, and
just made clean breast of it; told
him / wanted to 60 away, that it seemed
to me l could not turn around but
that Henrietta Grantland was coming
face to face with me, welding power
over me a little short OF torture.
"Father pitched his fresbly-lighted
cignr into the flower yard and sprang
from his chair.
"'Does she try to attract you-does
she try?' ho asked excitedly.
az told him no, that she treated me
like the sand under her feet-never
noticed me at all. Father walked up
aud down the porch as if driven by the
wind, but halting su ldenly in front of
me he said
"'You would better go away. How
would you like trip to the gold mines
among the Rockies? The mountains
might put you straight. Suppose now
you 60. 1 am sure your mother could
get your things together by Thurs
day
"The idea pleased me, pleased me
no little, and when Thursday came l
was on my way to the Rocky Noun
tains. l pretty soon fell in with a
party of young bloods like myself, and
for q while l did not bother much
about my attractive enemy-not much.
All the time. though, l was travelling
just as directly as l could toward an
event that would bring her wildly be-
fore my mind, and would show me in
white light a truth was then look
ing ut through q very foggy atmosphere
very foggy.
"Perhaps it was two months after l
left home became separated from my
party during hunt and was lost. 1t
was an unhappy experience, young
man. / hallooed until was hoarse,
climbed tree and tied handkerchief
to its highest limb, and did oil the
other things that lost people do, you
know. At last, striking aimlessly down
ravine, found myself at sunset
emerging into an almost circular de-
preston among mountain peaks. And
right at me was wigwnm. 1t startled
me so that jumped behind tree.
The next moment some one called to
me, told me to come on; that would
meet friends. An Indian boy advanced
toward me, and in the wigwam I found
sick Indian. Both spoke English,
and / was glad of the good supper the
lad gave me. None OF us cared to talk
much, and was soon fast asleep, worn
out.
81 suppose it was long toward mid
night when l awoke, feeling some.
thing punch me in the ribs. 1t was
the sick Indians bony hand. Enough
light from the fire without came
through the crevices to make the in
terror OF tho wigwam dimly discerni-
BILE.
"'What is itf" 1 asked. Shall l
call the boyY"
"'No, 1 beg ho answered. Give
me water. believe am dying
81 gave him the water promptly
enough, meaning to call the boy just
as promptly-iust as promptly. But
while was putting down the tin cup
he uttered words that were paralyzing
in their effect on me. l sank down
on my blanket and clasped my hands
around my knees, and gazed as best
could at the poor fellow.
"I am not an Indian; Gm white,
he said. 'My name is Garland Grant.
land, and because killed by acci-
dent tho man l loved best in all
the world, / was forced from home to
live an outlaws life. Under my head
is a tin box; 1 trust It's contents to
you.
"He began gasping painfully then,
and tried to raise him, though l wa:
trembling violently.
"'Promise to help the Indian bury
mo. and to bury me deep, he said.
promised him that he should bt
buried as nearly as possible like the
people back at home were buried, and
that the box should be my care
There were few struggles, poor fel
low, and he died while trying to thanl
me. Then l sat there and thought
about him until my heart throbbe(
itself tender. 1t seemed to me l had
travelled all those miles from home
Just for tins. Life is strange mix
ture, young man, strange mixture
1 don't know what your faith is, but
mine is au over-Iuling Providence
My meditations during that night de
stroyed my enmity toward the Grant
lands.
81 buried Garland two days later, a
sundown. And / buried him in
coffin. Yes, it was rude affair; tht
boy and l made it from the seasoned
trunks of trees long since fallen. Tn
wood was not difficult to split with tn
tools they had concealed among tn
rocks. The lad was greatly impresse,
by my caro- of the body of half
breed, as he thought his one.time frien
was, and it won his devotion-won hi
devotion.
"He finally guided me to a camp o
miners, and he would have followe'
me home had l allowed it. was 81
fortunate at the camp as to hear of In
party who were searching for me, an
to communicate with them, letting
them know my Intention to returl
home. First, though, I had a secre
commission to fulfil,
SIN the dead mans tin box ! ha
found letter addressed to his mother
and a note addressed, 'Fo the frien
who receives this box Both had evl
IDENTIFY been written during his illness
and the contents of my note made M
young. hot blood tingle in my veins
1t contained minute directions as I
how to reach certain place, and I