The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-07-19

through the paths Of the grey, lonely
sage brush, over the fiat and the ridges
to the foothills far across the valley.
Late in the darkness shone at length
the dim red eye OF the dark and smoky
wigwam; and there at last, on the
chilling earth, sat Susie in the night,
and watching tho greying OF the glow
to the death, her chin Oh her breast.
her fingers idly toying with rounded
bit of pebble.
There in the morning Wanda. the
mother, whined with her wrinkled
mouth and babe the silent Susie stand
and go to Chloride Hill, to beg at the
rear of the cabins. Together they
went, while her father wrapped his
blanket about him and strobe away,
with his dog, in search Of others in the
mining camp, whose worldly posses
sions he hoped to win at the subtle
ties of Pass the stick"
Winding through the stunted brush
the women came to the outlying
houses. A door at the back Of one OF
these was standing awide. A man
within was Gathering dishes, cups of
tin and iron knives and forks, to a
clumsy pyramid on the table.
Here" said he. when he found the
mahala gazing in, "squaw, heap wash
'um dishes, sabee? Two-bits, plenty
grub give; mahala wash table, dishes,
floor-hey?"
At the mention of 25 cents the wom-
an was oddly alive. With many q
grunt and with plenty of hybrid whis-
tle-and-mutter, she impressed the girl
to the service. The man made ready
for departing to the mine that was on
the hill.
Come every day." he presently
added, after glancing keenly at Susie,
as he piled some food on a stool near
by and brought up the money from
pocket. II pay every week for wash
'um floor and dishes"
The girl, when he went, proceeded
deftly to cleaning the table and plac-
ing utensils and dishes in order-the
order they taught at the school. 1t
gave her a pleasure, but Of this and
of other emotions there was never a
sign.
Day after day she returned, not
alone. Her mother went begging at
other of the cabins. With hands ca
ressful-and rounded hands Of dim
pied bronze they were-she touched
these kitchen possessions fondly and
with grateful dreams of the school
across the valley.
"See here" said the man one morn
ing, as he watched her at the labor
"you needn't scrub the floor, guess.
l hate to see woman doing that"
81 thank YOU" she quietly replied,
'but like to do it. like to see it
clean"
He looked at her astonished. "Where
in the world did you learn your Eng
lish?" he rudely inquired.
She blushed beneath the softened
bronze of her rounded cheeks, and the
lashes drew her eyelids timidly down
to curtain the wide-open orbs Of dark
and lustrous onyx.
cat the Institute" she family an
swered
ooh! Well. the dishes I like to have
you fix. of course, but not the floor,
please"
She Redeemed again, and shot him a
glance that resembled the questioning
gaze of doe, not trained to fear, yet
always shy.
"If you-care for-books-or any
thing here-you're welcome he STAN
mered, and walked away. He beat
himself a blow on the breast, yet he
knew not why, and shook himself in
the breeze that blew
The mine on the hill was hundred
rods from the trail to CROSSWORD
Canon, but the forking path was well
defined where his boots had SCARED
the near-lying rocks, and ground the
sand persistently.
ITO be continued.)