The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-24
Stories of an inland State.

! Misty Dawn prepared supper, the boy II
his queer sailor suit lending helping
hand. When the meal was finished. Mrs
! Sweeney went to work ''redding" up the
| table and holding long council in hel
| own mind upon a very important sub
5ect.
Here was a refugee from an Indian tribt
| in her home, and she was not sure but
there was some dreadful penalty for har-
boring Indians. because she knew there
was one for harboring outlaws. But here
! Misty Dawn had pumped down on her an6
! so far as she could see. here Misty Dawn
intended to remain forever. That was not
all. A guest who had not been even in
vited, took il upon herself TO invite an
other. Mrs. Sweeney meant to make shori
work with the boy. He must go back
home. punishment or no punishment she
| wasn't running an orphanage.
As she went on with the dishes. she
glanced over her shoulder and beheld
Misty Dawn holding the youngster in her
! Jap and talking to him earnestly.
What are they mumbling about?'
| thought Mrs. Sweeney. They are a pair
sure, An Indian run away from her tribe
and boy five thousand miles inland edu-
J Gated for the sea- Than she began to
sing hymn and went on with her dishes.
''Oh, / would like 10 see the sea-" criec
! The boy. looking up into Misty Dawn.
| face. IT would like TO see the great waves
lash up against the shore and hear the
rumble of the breakers and see the great
ships, bigger'n both these houses, skim
along before the breeze with her lines taut
and straining. and the flags flutter:ng fare
we'll 20 the poor people left behind
An hor-
The captain has told me all about It.
Have you never seen the sea?''
Il never have" SAID Misty Dawn, with
smile.
Then you should let Captain Snoogles
tell you about it. Oh, he was a great mari
irer, that means sailor-and he sailed all
ever the world in the Clara Belle, and ne
fought many times and killed many men.
He stole beautiful women, too. And he
was in many storms Oh, / would like TO
see the sea in a storm with the vessels
lunging into the green and the wet sails
triced UP in the rigging. Would you not
like to see :he storm at sea?"
Il would be afraid. fear" said Misty
Dawn.
Not If you was a sailor. Then you would
enjoy 1t. It's the people ashore that's in
danger, from cyclones and fire and earth
quakes. But the sailor is always safe, and
never afraid"
'Can you swim?" asked Misty Dawn.
The face of the boy clouded and he said
solemnly:
No {
IF the ship should sink, then?''
All. would know what to do. We'd
let the boat down from the quarter da-
no 4
co.
But If the boat upset."
Il would learn to swim. Oh, wish I
could see the sea-
TT must be very beautiful
'It is very beautiful Then I would not
fear to be punished when he ordered me
up the main top gallant masthead. for
If it were the sea 1 could sit on the cross
trees all day long looking at the pretty
blue water reaching TO the sky. But here
the cross trees isn't high and there's moth
ing but just prairie to look at and the
Clara Belle doesn't move at all
Misty Dawn patted him on the cheek
as she listened to his prattle, which she
only vaguely understood.
Then the boy nestled close to her and
said
81 wish you would take me to the sea-"
She did not answer.
Mrs. Sweeney said the boy under his
breath. doesn't want me here. But wish
l could stay with you"
Misty Dawn was pazzlei Perhaps she
was intruding and perhaps the boy was.
She believed she had reached civilization
and she was timid in proposing anything
So, while she wished to keep the boy, she
said nothing.
Mrs. Sweeney, having finished her work,
now turned and said:
Look here, my young sailor boy, it's
getting late. Don't you think you better
be going homer"
The boy arose. saluted. looked long al
Misty Dawn and went out.
Gosh said Mrs. Sweeney, ''but he'll
whack that kid
Shouldn't we have protected him."
We've got to protect ourselves. But
forgot you don't know. This is the white
mans country and you amt a ward
There amt any annuities nor no Agent TO
complain to. It's just everybody for him
self or herself. and the devil takes the
bind-most."
There was a rap al the door and Mrs.
Sweeney opened it.
Afraid TO go back?'' she asked, seeing
the boy.
No, mann. I've been on board and
Captain Snoogles sends his compliments"
Better send back that sugar
And as a friend warns Mrs. Sweeney
Of her danger from"
"DangerI You go back and tell that
cid blockhead TO fire away. 1 amt afraid
OF his rock Throwing machines and what's |
more I'd rather he'd be hitting this old |
house than forever bothering me with his |
But interrupted the lad.
well"
He isn't going TO use the catapult |
again. It's about your husband
''Petep'
YES. He wants to warn you OF your |
danger.'
My danger, the old scallawag"'
Yes. mann. He says that the deputies |
have taken your husband for selling liquor |
10 the Indians and that they took him a long !
way for the fees and then when they have |
lin in jail they will travel all the way
back again for you. for being his-wei. |
like partnsr-and they viii take |
you to the jail. and that they VIII make |
this second trip for you because il makes !
more fees for them
Mrs. Sweeney turned pale and did not |
answer.
The boy stood silently before her.
I'm" sad Mrs. Sweeney. with a meas
urei tone unusual with her. IT know his |
tricks He wants me 20 run away. does /
be, and leave this claim all 20 him and !
then he'll claim abandonment or some 1
ting like thats Well. he's sly Old fox. |.
out there's a slyer one in this ne,ghbor-
c0od- You tel him that en5 DON, you /
-rrys- - r-assui nv commitments