Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-11-22

early thai morning. nor that Florence
should say ;l,.t she wanted the Indian
youth, So!on, To accompany them.
III was a part of Solon's duty to act rs
an escort to his Young mistress. and it
can be said that he was never 81 happy
rs when h. was rilil,s TO the rear, with
his dark eyes fixed OF her graceful form.
They rode to the summit of the Sugar
i.oai. and reaching there. Florence leap
ed from her horse and helped her cousin
10 di>mount. Scion came forward 10
take the brides, hut Florence said to
il.nu.
Tic the horses. Scion. and come here
The graceful Youth bowed and obcycd
her.
"&o!on." said Florence. without looking
ut him. did you moi tell nc not long
since that your people. your tribe, was
not happy because the white warriors
canac into this land and built forts to
overawc thcm:'
II did, Miss Florence" said SCION,
hashfally.
"Itid You tell mo the tru;h:'
Il did"
And the Skasits are still disSatistied:'
They are"
WV aFii " ts'N tAiSs
AT one time the Skagit warriors were
many rs the trees on the sides Of the
C:lscadcs-'
But how many have they now!'
"Mcbbe four hundred he replied. not
knowing what to make of her question.
And they are brave:"
Their foes think So
"Do Your warriors know meg"
They know YOU aud worship you.' re-
piled Scion. dolling his cap.
You do not say that to please mc%"
II would die to please you, but | would
not 'ie-unlcss You desired it,"
II do not desire it. Did not the Ska
gifts. when I was II very little child,
adopt me into their tribe, MS Il colnpli-
ment To my fathcr?'
mot as IL compliment TO Your father,
but because they loved the golden-haired
| white girl
''Then i am II Skagit.' She laid her
hand on her white forehead and looked
ut him. .
you are
"And my tribe still loves me-"
YES"
And they would fight to save me from
haEny'
''They would die TO keep you from the
shadow of harm." said Scion, quickly.
Florence claspcd her hands and looked
up at the sky for some time in silence.
then she turned quickly and asked:
"Solon, 1 can trust yon:'
.IIavc | ever deceived YOU. that you
should ask that question: he said, in
an injured tone.
"You have not: but should my father
OF the soldiers Mt the Fort know what
I want the Skagits to do, before it is
done, it might cost me my life
"They cannot know it from me-"
81 am sure OF that, Scion; you are as
faithful as the old Greek after whom
we named You was rcputed to De wise.
Here is my hand"
He took her little white hand, and
knceling down. laid it on the top of his
bowed head-thc tribal sign Of fcalty and
fidelity.
"Now. Scion. / will tell you all.' she
said. fully assured that the youth was
i'll accord with her.
She came directly to the point.
The young soldier who had rescued
her from the wreck of the Arrow was
now Il prisoner at Fort Clark and con-
demned to death. In two moons they
would take him out and shoot him. He
was charged with killing an officer, but
this was false. He was as innocent as Il
child, and pure as the snow glistening OH
the crests of the Cascades.
THE officers mt Fort Clark said So
Ion. ''must he bad men,"
Some OF them are very bad, and 9th.
crs arc very good. If the Skagits aid me
Fort Clark can be overcome and not q
gun need be fired, nor a life lost
els that possible:'
Take my horse. tomorrow morning
and ride till you find Long Lance, CHIEF
OF the Skagits. He once told me that
lie would die TO serve me. Ask him il
he remembers that pledge. Tell him thai
1 want To speak with him. and that he
must keep his tongue SILENT
Shortly after dark. the eve of the sec
ond day after Scion left. he came back
and sought out his mistress.
You have ridden hard" she said.
"Lons Lance came back with me; hi
is waiting in the hills"
"And he will see me tomorrow
Yes; on the summit of the Sugar
Loaf"
The next morning Florence mud Jennie
ordered their horses again, and, with So
Ion mt a respectful distance behind, they
started for the summit of Sugar Loaf
mountain.
CHAPTER NIX.
You sent for me?' said Capt. Phelps
standing before Maj. Gcrmon in III,
quarters.
The major, who was writing mt hi,
desk, wheeled around and said:
".ih. YES. Captain. Would yon 81
down: You may be aware that the con.
handing officer of this post has been i'll
structed to make an examination of thu
Cascades for n pass, reported to be favor
able for n railroad route"
81 got the order, but it left the tint
optional" said the captain.
yes; and now is the time to look al