Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-10

mosphere, were the SUBMITS of a range
of abrupt hills, the borders of valley
or raviae which he wished to explore
Gradually, as he rode, his shadow
heightened before him. 1t was his only
companion; and yet he felt no sense of
loneliness. Miriam was in his heart,
and kept it fresh and bold. Even hun
ger and thirst he scarcely felt. Who
can estimate the therapeutic and n.y.
gienic effe is of love?
The mustang could not share his
riders source of content, but he may
have been conscious, through animal
instincts whereof we know nothing, of
an uplifting and encouraging spirit.
At all events, he kept up his steady
1ope without faltering or apparent
effort, and seemed to require nothing
more than the occasional wetting which
the desert may have swept over hi1ss of
he may have persisted in the hills
"The purposes of the gods cannot be-
altered, Sernitzin," replied the old In
dian, who, perhaps would not have
much regretted such calamity as she
suggested; it would be simple solu-
ton Of difficulties which might other
wise prove embarrassing. at is my
prayer, at all events, that the entrance
to the treasure may not be closed"
81 care nothing for the treasure,
unless may share it with him." she
returned "Since we spoke together
beside the fountain, 1 have seen him.
He looked upon me doubtfully, being,
perhaps, perplexed because of these
features of the child Miriam, which ]
am compelled to wear"
Truly, Princess, what is he, that
| you should think of him?" muttered
Kamaiakan.
''IIe satisfies my heart" was the re-
ply. "And am resolved never again
| to give up this mortal ha bitation to her
you call it's rightful owner. l will
never again leave this world, which I
enjoy, for the unknown darkness out
of which you called me-
princess, the gods do not permit
such dealings. They may, indeed, suf-
fer you to live again; but you must re-
turn as an infant, in flesh and bones of
your own"
THE gods have permitted me to re-
turn as have returned; and you well
know, Kamaiakan, that, except you
use your art to Danish me and restore
Miriam, there is nothing else nat n
work a change"
Murder is not lawful, Semitzin; and
to do as you desire would be an act not
different from murder
ION my head be it, them exclaimed
the Princess. would it be less muir
der to send me back to nothingness
than to let her remain there? Mine is
the stronger spirit, and has therefore
the better right to live. 1 ask of you
only to do nothing. None need ever
know that Miriam has vanished and
that Semitzin lives in her place. / wear
her body and her features, and l am
content to wear her name also, if 1t
must be sou
Kamaiakan was silent. He may well
be pardoned for feeling troubled in the
presence of a situation which had never
before confronted human being. Two
women, both tenants of the same body,
both in love with the same man, and
therefore rivals of each other, and each
claiming a right to existence: it was a
difficult problem. The old Indian
heartily wished that separate tene-
ment might be provided for each OF
these two souls, that they might fight
out their quarrel in the ordinary way.
But his magic arts did not extend to the
creation of flesh and blood. At the
same time, he could not but feel tc
blame for having brought this strenu-
Gus spirit of Semitzin once more into
the world, and he was fain to admit
that her claim was not without justif.
cation. His motives had been excel
lent, but he had not foreseen the conse-
quences in which the act was to land
him. Yet he more shrank from wrong.
ing Miriam than from disappointing
Semitzin.
But the latter was not % be put of
by silence.
''There has been IA change 81 bee you
and 1 last spoke together" s. be said
81 am aware of it, though 1 know not
how; but, in some manner, the things
which Miriam has done are pereeptible
to me. When was here before, she
did not lean toward this youth; now
she has given herself to him. She
means to be united to him; and, if
again should vanish, should never
again find my way back. But it shall
not be SO; and there is way, Kamai-
akan, by which l can surely prevent it,
even though you refuse to aid me-"
Indeed, Princess, / think you mis-.
take regarding the love of Miriam fo1
this young man; they have seen little
of each other; and it may be. as you
yourself said, that he has persisted in
the Wilderness
81 believe he lives she answered
81 should know it, were it otherwise
But if cannot have him. neither shall
she. have told you already that, un
less you swear to me not to put forth
your power upon me to dismiss me.
will not lead you to the treasure. But
that is not enough for men deceive, anC
you are a man. But if at any
time hereafter feel within me those
pangs that tell me You are about t.
separate me from this world, at thai
moment, Kamaiakan. viii drive thi.
knife through the the heart of Miriam
If l cannot keep her body, at least i
shall be but a corpse when l leave it
You know Semitzin; and you know
that she will keep her word!''
She refined in her horse, as she spoke
and sat gazing upon her companion
with flashing eyes. The Indian, aftcl
pause, made gesture of gloomy res
ignation. ''It shall be as you say
then, Semitzin; and upon your head b,
it! Henceforth, Miriam is no more
But do you beware of the vengeance O
the gods, whose laws you have defied.
, ''Let the gods deal with me as they
will" replied the Aztecan. "a day o
happiness with the man love is worth
an age of punishment
Kamaiakan made no answer, and tn,
two rode forward in silence.
II was midnight. and bright star
nearly in the zenith, seemed to han,
precisely aboee the summit of the grea
white pyramid at the mouth of tn,
gorge.