The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-01

| ers OF the world, the circumspect guardian.
ship OF the white man has made of then
the greatest stay-at-homes on the contin
ent. Only the most urgent necessity vii
force an Indian from his reservation. He
| has no curiosity TO see the world outside
but on the other hand, has dread Of it. Of
just what color or depth no one has evel
succeeded In determining.
AS Misty Dawn sat in the rolling day
coach Of the train she became victim OF
many strange forebodings, vague, indef-
mite. shadowy, not to be clutched and over.
come and consequently the r,ore dreadful
! She felt dimly that her friend Mrs. Swee-
| ney was ignoring her and would abandon
/ her. She was alone. She studied the fac<
| of each passenger with that eye-wearyine
| scrutiny that country boy feels on walk
| ing a city street and passing thousands
and thousands Of faces without recogniz-
| ing one.
This was. then, civilization. The men and
women talked and laughed. The hum OF
ton, the ring of laughter, the
shouts OF the brakeman set her delicate
! nerves on end. The Indian is silent. His
home Is silent, his life is silent. Here was
perpetual noise, chatter, disturbance.
| Anxiously she scanned the faces one by
| one. This was civilization and he, VIII
! Wynants, was not here. None of the books
she had read had told her OF the great
| world out of books; of the world of people;
who lacking romance live and die in their
! several Industries without record, or who
having romance In their lives hold It too
| commonplace for recital or too incriminat-
| ing 10 record This then was the world
outside of the reservation. Where could
| he, her white god be, II not here?
| The loneliness of a stranger crept into
her breast and the fears that accompany It.
Here was community IN this car which
| was Joined irrefragably together but of
which was she, alone, was not a part.
She felt her danger and dropped her hand
down into her pocket in the folds of her
| skirt.
How cold and smooth and delicate 1t was
How cold and smooth and comforting the
little knife.
She was dressed ridiculously. Her Sui.
was OF a cheap red cloth, ill-fftting and
ciinging loosely about her limbs and bust
Her hair reached down in two frightfully
tight braids over her shoulders. Her hat
was of black straw with two most dilapi-
dated artificial flowers upon It
Still she was beautiful. Many had told
her SO and she instinctively knew it. And
she felt that her beauty was her danger,
savage though she was. She felt that the
new race into which she had come con-
cealed enemies who would pounce upon her
She hoped s:ngly.
Again she ran her delicate, slender fin
gers over the cold bit of steel.
A bit of steel. She had always carried
ed by man in the hum-drum of industry
for profit. inanimate, clone powerless, now
her protector. always f1el comforter. Lack
ing friends or information. wanting in
strength or purpose, this al,ne was her
succor. Woe worth the man or woman
who attacked her Alone and friendless, OF
different blood. of a different language,
ignorant Of every custom, the sharp still
letto ordained a fearful equality.
She fingered Its shining surface. What
a part 1t was to play in her life this cold
bit of steel. mite of merchandise pur-
chased at a traders store. but willed by
fate to go home savagely some day, with
her white, bloodless fingers grasped around
its thong-wYapped hilt-
The noise In the car seemed to increase
right, trying to scrutin.ze the change IN
every face, trying to hear every word that
was spoken until her brain reeled in con-
fusion, and her eyes became dim from the
strain and the mingled conversation of the
passengers came TO her in a sullen roar
Her muscles twttched and jumped at every
sound and-as in speel she sat there know
ing nothing, but the cold pressure of the
hard, sharp steel upon her finger tips
Where was she going? To Will There
her faint purpose began and ended Could
she find him? She did not question IT,
Would she be welcome? She did not even
entertain a doubt.
Was there not a question of rac ial differ
ence? That had fled from her mind curl
ously and she no longer entertained 1t.
Was she not equal to all those around her?
IF her blood was tainted with that of the
negro could these laughing. noisy people
about her object? Was she not as white as
they? Was she not accorded similar and
equal privileges? These people did not
turn against her. They did not drive her
forth as the Indians drove forth the negro
from the reserva ton. She was here among
them, unnotieed, unmarked and unframed.
She would go to him. She could not do
more. She could rot DO less. In ell
the WOriO ne alone was ner IrienO. IL WAS
for the love of him that she had read, had
taught the Indians. had helped the weak
and stood for the oppressed.
OF possible cold reception: OF posi-
BILE change of his nature in so many years;
of his possible death or removal, she did
rot think.
AL these years he had remembered her
had come. but the first alone was sacred.
When the heart is young. it does not ques-
ton time, tide or custom. Youth had died
within him. Men grow old quickly in the
west. The boy in the third reader is grad
uated az nine and PUSHES into business. is
proud Of the sifted -four on his shoulder as
Il badge of his participation IN the actual
business of the world. even though he be
merely grocery clerks assistant.
So VIII Wynants mad grown old. While
the years OF his life were still few. he re-
veled in the frivolous formalities of town
life. the evening call the dancing party.
the country picnic; the boa ting party; Tx
ing of all the girls. one best but liking her
with the affection that is tempered with
convent:onality. which sometimes mistakes
for necessity.
But when- the spring was young and the
air was laden with the breath OF peach
blossoms and the leaves uncurled 20 the |
kissing sun, his heart throbbed under the |
OF his first love. the love OF a |
savage Indian girl. wonderful 20 behold. |
but savage stin. When his heart was young |
and laughed at conven;ionality. and all ina. |
his heart did not desire was branded pre-
JUDGE, how he had loved her!
Should he return TO her and take herr |
Thousands OF times he had resolved that |
But the worlds conventions hold a man |
NTH q -ip-- rein He MAY s~1~ a. .-s-n