The Van Buren press., 1898-10-22

| is surely one angei-that little one.
| Oh, how | would like 10 speak to her. >
| No sooner was Pominlz's wish made
known than the manager called an
usher, and in very few minutes the lit
| tie girl and her mother entered the
box. The little girl had, of course.
changed her attire, and Pemiuk hardly
recognized her at first, but when he
did so his JOY knew 10 bounds. He
promptly threw his arms round her
neck, and not only rubbed noses. Es-
kimo fashion, but gave her cheek re-
sounding smack, which might have
been heard al over the house had not
the orchestra been playing.
The little girl took ii good-natured-
", and then began for both of them
a half hour or so Of such novel pleas
ure and amusement as neither had ever
enjoyed before. In a very few min
utes they managed to dispense with
the services of an interpreter; and
presently they retired TO the back of
the box, where the little girl danced
few measures for MIN, and then pre-
vailed upon him to dance for her. 1t
took her but moment to master his
odd steps, and when she joined in them
she won the last fraction of Pomiuk's
heart. if she hadn't it all before that.
At last the mother said they must go,
as it was long past the little girls bed
time; and their parting brings me to
my story.
The little girl took a ring from her
finger and fitted it to one of Pomiuk's.
Keep that" she said, so l will know
you when l see you again; perhaps it
will be in Heaven"
Pomiuk looked at the little token,
and his eyes suddenly filled with tears,
Alas! he had nothing to give in re-
turn.
"Never mind" said the little girl, put
ting her arm round him: II shall never
forget you. l shall not need a re-
minder"
All through the hot, weary months
at Chicago Pomiuk treasured the lit
tie keepsake and thought about the
donor, and wondered when he would
meet her again, and longed for her with
such longing as only the heart of a
child can hold.
When the great fair was over, and
Pomiuk with his people-Kangega
his uncle, and Tuklavina, the latter's
wife, and Kamialuit and Sikeepa, his
eousins-returned to their home in the
frozen north. which, from the needs of
their nomadie life, is from Nachvoek
to Ungava, Pomiuk gave his uncle his
hoard of quarters, nickels and dimes.
| These, with his uncle's savings, were
promptly converted into fishing nets,
guns, ammunition, clothing, a cook
stove and cooking utensils, tobacco,
| -four and molasses, and last, but not
least in their estimation, the clock and
a maltese kitten. But with one thing
Pomiuk would not part for aught this
side of Heaven-the little gold band
that he had already outgrown, with its
tiny opal setting.
Kangegatsuk fell among thieves by
the way, and when, after many vicis-
situdes, they managed to reach their
northern home, there were but few of
their purchases left, save the stove, the
clock and the kitten.
Nor had things gone well in Labrador
during their 80 months of absence.
The. fishing had been failure, the seals
had been scarce, and had it not been
for the deer, that principal source of
supply in winter, probably none of
Kangegatsuk' band would have been
left to welcome them.
1t was a sad home coming. Two of
the 10 who had gone to the fair had
been buried by the wayside. Range
gatsuk's father was dead, and his aged
return. Then. ere the snow was solid
enough to build their winter igioos, a
sickness fell among them. Range
gatsuk's father had been the medicine
man; there was no other TO take his
place, and nearly half the tribe sue
cumbed 10 this dread visitation. Those
whose lives were spared were of little
use that winter, and with but two or
three well souls to hunt and trap and
fish and serve the needs of n score of
ill ones, it proved terrible season.
Toward the latter end of February,
when the cold was at las greatest, the
powder and meat gave out at once. 1t
was not a great way to the company's
post, but they had no fur to trade there.
Fur TO trade must be properly dressed.
What little the half-tended traps had
caught had been hulriedly skinned and
frozen up. There had been no well
hands to dress it.
But you still have your ring" said
Kangegatsuk. Take that, ii has much
value, and bring us powder and meat
from the post. Don't hang your head.
| would take it from you and go myself
were | able /"
But waiti" interrupted Pomiult.
"Why should they not give us powder
and meat? They do so to others fur
ther south, and even to those at the
westward. We can pay them in furs in
the spring. They have often offered
to trust us
And be like the mission Eskimo
like the poor slaves we know and have
seen 10 the south? Not H." said Range
gatsuk. Never yet have l been in debt.
It is the first rule Of our tribe. Would
you have me, the chief. the first to
break it? No. DO as hid you, and go
at once. l speak as your chief, not
your uncle"
Refusal was out of the question.
Pomiuk bit his lip till it bed; but he
limped out of the igloo, called the team
of dogs together, and painfully har-
naseeg tharn ~ fba eledrre