The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-11-26
CHAPTER XII.

mu h over so years of age, but he or
dinarily looked to be 60, and now that
he was suffering from very unneces-
sary loss of blood, added to great men,
tai anxiety, he might have passed for
20 a. least.
His sickness called out great inter-
est, and the people OF the town and the
officers of the Sea Hawk would have
paid him every attention had he per-
mitted it
Dinah's visit was soon noised abroad,
and created no little comment; but, as
many of the humber people, and some
OF the well-to-do also. he'd great faith
in her curative skill, 1t was generally
believed that Colonel Graham had sum-
moned her to examine his case.
Unlike the majority of his race,
Othello was reticent, and though he
was pretty well subjected to the pump
ing process, he kept his own and his
masters secrets; the latter had sud-
denly become very heavy, but, being
naturally shrewd, he bore tho burden
with dim notion that 1t would turn out
sooner or later to his advantage.
His relationship to Dinah was not
known outside themselves. The old
woman called every man, white, black
or red, son, and she was usually called
granny"
Col. Graham could not afford to re-
main pent up in his room. 1t was es-
sential that he should be off, yet evil
dent to the doctor and even himself
that he would not be able to make the
journey overland to New York, for at
least two weeks.
Il am very anxions," he said to DR..
Hedges, the day after Dinah visit, to
40 har NV laarD}n %
something of the aborigines. l have
seen. here In your streets, Uncas, the
Montauk chief, and his rarely be; utiful
sister, Untilla; II they be fair speci-
mems Of the natives, they are people
to be envied."
They are hardly fair specimens,
said the doctor, who was an authority
on Indian matters. They belong to the
royal race, and are descended from the
great Wyandauch, with whom our first
settlers-my father was one OF them
made treaty for the lands now held
by the whites. A trip into the land Of
the Montauks would do you good; and
If you desire to make 1t, will see that
they give you due care and a proper es-
cort."
"They are hospitable, them"
yes, sir; as all brave people are, no
matter where you find them"
Il thank you for your offer. and will
start at once" said Graham.
He was emphatically man OF action,
and so well did he exert himself, that
by the early afternoon Of that day, he
was sitting on horse, while his SER
want, mounted on another, led an ami
NAL laden with their luggage.
The young chief, Uncas, being In town
10 INV nnofnr Ha1noo
to take charge of the colonel and his
servant, and he did SO with readiness
and grace that would have done credit
to an accomplished courtler.
Uncas on foot, and with his long rife
thrown over his shoulder, strobe ahead,
and he would have kept on, without
halt, had not Colonel Graham stopped
in front of Squire Condits house.
The Colonel was not anxious to meet
the Squire again, but on this occasion
he could not avoid it, for that gentleman
was standing in the road in front Of his
own house, and looked as II he wanted
to be addressed.
Approaching the Colonel, and laying
his hand on the horses name, the Squire
said:
when you spoke to me last. you said
there was something you wanted to get
Ralph Denham to do, when you would
answer a question asked.
Il am aware of that" said the
Colonel, haughtily.
We'll, am ready.
But Is Capt. Denham here?'
you know he Is not.
Then 1t Is impossible for you to full
fill your part of the condition, so with
your permission we shall wait till he
raturnc fron, Nav York
But you may not be here then."
How do you know"
Il know but little about your past or
present. unfortunately, and that little,
/ guess, is not in your favor. You do
not wish to speak now. Go on, We shall
meet again before you leave, depend on
that.
SQUIRE Condit, with flushed face,
turned toward his house, and the
Colonel, followed by Othello, and pre-
ceded by the Montauk chief, rode on.
why, Goodwill" said Mrs. Condit,
who, with her daughter Ellen, Lea
Hedges, Valentine Dayton and the old
Lieutenant, was looking over the
flower garden, now in q most charming
bloom, you LOOK to be excited. Has
anything wrong been done to your
Mrs. Condit had never seen Colonel
Graham until his recent visit, and her
husband, not caring to II ouble her. or 1t
may be with the belief that one can
keep secret better than two, had never
told her his suspicious and dislike OF
this man, nor limited that he had ever
received money from him for Ralph's
care.
Squire Condit had a religious and also
q manly hatred OF falsehood. but being
something OF lawyer he was inclined
to caution and diplomacy, and had the
skill to parry direct question without
throwing much light on it.
nave no sympathy with people
whose curiosity takes them in among
peaceful enough people if they are let
alone Some day one OF these rich En-
glishmen will see the land OF the Mon
tauks--as did tn , spies OF Joshua IN the
oldpn time-and they will conclude that
it would make fine estate and game
preserve, and then they will send agents
over here, and under some trumped up
treaty they will get the lands away
from our red neighbors,' said the
Squire.
Wasn't that the way grandfather
dido" asked Ellen, laughingly.
No, it wasn't. The treaty with the
great Wyandauch was fair, and has not