The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-09
CHATTER II

Chlprtde Hill, the mining camp. vAs
nothing to Hsalsy. nokhing to anSe.
But out Of IT. streets thsfe cane 60
day tall, stalwart Indian. who stooa
aioft In the Kitchen door and gazed In
pleasure on the Indian girl.
'Aingo!" she cried In alarm.
"Yes. MinSo." he replied slowiy aud
clearly, srinnins like = wolf. "Ningo,
big hunter"
She had backed away and stood there
trembling. What do you want?" she
finally gasped. In the musical speech OF
the Washoes. Why do you GOMEZ"
"Mingo. the hunter. comes for you,"
said he. "Mingo wants his mahala,
his wife"
what do you mean." she cried
aghast. 5.,.S
"Aingo's mahala 10 afraid like the
chfpmunk." he joyously announced.
"Mingo will make her like the pool Of
the water. Mingo viii take his wife;
he has given her father his rife and
pony. She will 20 to the lodge Of MIN
go."
"Mingo is locoed" tcrased). she an
sweredA Here IL my lord. am
his mahala. This il Susie's wikiup."
NO" said he. growing dark with
frowning. you my wife-my squaw.
Your father, he say 80. He say you 20
with Minso. go to Mingos wigwam. !"
But ! can't 30 to your wigwam. l
don't love you-don't you nabbee? l
don't love you"
"Mingo, he loves you. That is plen-
ty. tell you come"
"Oh. you sneaking coyote! II my
husband were here you would run like
the coward. You would never come
to the white mans wikiup."
He is not your husband, mahala.
Do you say to Mingo, the white chief
here is your husband?"
She faltered. staggered and CROPPED a
little backward.
You say it not" he quickly con-
tnued. 1T is lying. No, the mahala
Is not the wife at his side. She has
broken the Indians law; she has bro
ken the law Of the white man. Mahala,
you belong to Mingo. tell you come. /"
He moved toward her; she recoiled
in dread. Her searching hand came
down on the table, fell on the handle
Of knife, and she grasped it sudden
ly.
Stand far away" she cried, display
ing the blade. you snealfing coyote!
You come when women are alone-you,
the great hunter! Keep away! Go!
Let in the light! Take your bad coy
ote face to the sage brush, you cow
ard!"
The savage blood OF her nature was
aname. The Washoe finched not at
all, neither did he come. He was cum
ming. more than brave. The dull,
banked nres were aglow in his eyes,
his body was bent In menacing atti-
tude. his head thrown Indignantly for
ward. Muttering threats of vengeance
he glided backward. and she slammed
and bolted the door. Then down on
the floor she sank, to lie there breath
Ing like wounded animal.
On the hill, in the sunshine, Henley
was gazing at the deep blue sky, that
showed In patch through a window
In the shed above the mine. Along
the path, down below, at his back, the
squat little barrel-shaped miner la
bored wheezingly upward.
Letter for Henley" he called at the
door, and threw In the missive and
trudged along the hill.
N0f an anaworIu~ - ,o,,rA Stl
make. IA letter." he mused, not start
ing at all from his resting position.
Comes trife late. reckon. Life
preserver to q corpse-so far a. the
world beyond 10 at all concerned" He
sazad another hour at the sky, while
the light moved slowly athwart tho
earthen door and lay at length. . bril-
liant finger. across the face Of the up-
turned envelope.
Turning. he saw the white and placid
invitation. His eyes began dissecting
its features. Presently the writing,
round and straight. made him move BY
stages involuntarily toward the Hight.
Hers" he whispered.
His Jaw grew square and firmly set;
his eyes grew hard and glinted like
Mint Yet he took up the letter and
broke It open sullenly.
and my illness increased to
such an extent that the doctor said
would have to 60 to the warm Ber-
mudas. Every one about was quite
alarmed-they neglected you. my dear
est heart-and for many a week lay