Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-06-22

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The early morn shed gray light
softly DER the face OF Wabasis, melt
ing the stern lines around the mouth
into an expression of sorrow, as, all
arrangements for the journey com
plete, he looked across the village as
it lay wrapped in silence. Did he for.
get for the moment the anger and
hatred that had sprung up in the
hearts of those sleeping there; and,
remembering only the JOY of past com
panionship in the hunt, the dance, and
smoking of pipes, yearn for "a kindly
spoken word of farewell?
The Iouch of Nuha's hand reused
him. He gazed upon her face as he
pointed to the wigwam OF her kindred,
questioning il her heart did not cling
To her people, and shrink at leaving
them, to face the dreariness of exile.
She read all the action implied, and
clasping the outstretched hand, turned
with him from the sleeping village to-
ward the wood, through which lay
their way to the lake ard hunting
ground allotted to their use. In the
distance the water cleaned a culver
ing bed OF molten silver, while near
the shore its mirror-like surface re-
tlected the boats lying there, as ii had
the birch. bark canoe of Wabasis in
days gone by.
The burden OF exile must have
weighed heavily on the heart of Nuha
hunts brought keen sense Of the des-
olation that would enter her life when
he was called by his people; realizing
that the time must be drawing near, as
the days grew into weeks, the weeks
into months, and they in turn rolled
by.
colony had entered for settlement that
the dread summons came. With
stealthy step the messenger drew near
the doorway Of that isolated wigwam,
round which the silence of night was
unbroken save when, from the topmost
branches of the hickories a nut burst
forth from its sheltering burr and fell
lightly to the earth. No spoken word
disturbed the sleeping inmates, no
written message was thrust between
the drawn curtains, but shoe from
the foot OF "a white man., set within
told full plainly, when the morning
light disclosed its presence to Wabasis,
that the white man had Invaded the
ground OF his people, and the time was
ri pc for his return in fulfillment of his
vow. There was no need for prepara-
tion on the journey he was To take
alone. The little ones were not awak
ened from their sleep. Silently Nuha
walked at his side down to the shore.
The agony of parting made her lips
dumb until the strip of water began to
widen between her and her beloved
chief that had been faithful to her for
many many moons.
Wabasis sped the canoe swiftly DER
the water until almost within the out
let, when, inyoluntarily, he laid aside
the paddle as his eyes sought the fast
fading outlines of his wigwam. AS
though held back by an unseen power
that fain would shield the brave Waba-
sis from the cruel fate awaiting him,
the canoe wavered hesitatingly, paused
a second ere the current Of the stream
caught and drew it within the confines
Of its thickly wooded banks that shut
from the sight of Wabasis the familiar
landscape which had given him of its
beauty ana shelter as freely as though
he had not been an outcast, despised
by all, except the loving Nuha and his
little ones.
No need had he to hasten on this
journey OF death, for the terms of his
exile granted him three days in which
to return after he received the mes
sage. SO the paddle was left lying in
idleness while, lost in thought, he sat
with arms folded across his bosom, let
ting the canoe drift at will. The sight
of deer standing with her young fawn
at her side, knee deep in the shallow
water where the banks recede widely,
had not the power to rouse the hunter
spirit in his breast, but called instead
a sad smile TO his lips as he saw the
timid creatures, startled at his APP
proach, bound quickly up the bank, +,
then turn and gaze at him as though
instinct told them they need not fear
the lone boatman; that the trusty bow,
from which he would one time have
winged an arrow, was hanging, with
It's well filled culver, on the wall Of
his distant wigwam.
The day wore on, the birds ceased to
fit to and fro and hushed their merry
twitter when the sunshine gave place
to twilight, which soon darkened into
night. The silver rim OF the new
moon failed to tighten the dense gloom
where the spreading branches OF the
elm reached DER the water. Steadily