The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-11
ARRIVING.
ChanfAr TX.

Cnapter TX.
MY God What had she seen In me- to
love? sat up and held the book against
my bosom. Its cry out Of her past filled
the world from horizon to horizon. The
OK that she had wreathed In roses would
have heard 1t through her silence But
the brutal. slow Bourbon had gone his
way. turning his stupid head from side
to side. leaving her to perish
Punctuated by years. bursting from
eternties Of suppression. 1t brought an &C
cumulated force that swept the soul out
Of my body.
All that had not been written in the
book was as easily read as what was set
down. I saw the monotony OF her life,
and her gliding Of its rudenesS, the pas
times she thought out for children; l
saw her nursing the helpessness which
leaned upon her. and turning aside the
contempt OF pioneer women who passion
ately admired strong men. I saw her
eyes waiting on the distant laggard who
stipid!y pursued his own affairs until 1t
was too plate to protect her. I read the
entries over and over. When day broke
1t seemed to ME the morning after my
own DEATH such knowing and experience
ing had passed through me. I could not
see her again until I had command of
myself.
SO I dressed and went silently down
stairs. The Pawnees were stirring In the
kitchen. got some bread and meat from
them, and also some grain for the horse;
then mounted and rode to the river.
The ferryman lived near the old stock
ade Some time always passed after he
saw the signals before the deliberate
Frenchman responded. I led my horse
upon the unwieldy craft propelled by two
huge oars, which the ferryman managed,
running from one to another according to
the swing Of the current. 1t was broad
day when we reached the other shore; one
of those days, gray overhead, when mo1s-
ture breaks upward through the ground,
instead of descending. Many light clouds
fitted under the grayness. The grass
showed with kind Of green blush through
its old brown fleece.
saw the first sailing vessel Of spring
coming to anchor, from the straits Of the
great lakes. Once ! would have nailed
that vessel as possible bearer of news.
Now 1t could bring me nothing Of any i'm
portance.
The trail along the Fox river led over
rolling land. dipping into coves and ris-
Ing over hills The Fox. steel blue In the
shade, becomes tawny as its namesake
when its fur of rough waves Is combed to
redness In the sunlight. Under grayness,
with a soft wind blowing. the Fox showed
his blue coat.
The prospect was so large, with a ridge
running along in the distance, and open
country spreading away on the other side,
that I often turned in my saddle and
looked back over the half-wooded trail
thought saw a figure walking long way
behind me. and being alone, tried to dis
Germ what it was. But under that gray
sky nothing was sharply defined. I rode
on thinking of the book In the breast Of
my coat.
It was certain I was not to marry. And
being without breakfast and unstimulated
by the sky, began to think also what I'M
stable material had taken in hand when
undertook to work with Indians. In
Btinctively I knew then what a young
southern statesman named Jefferson Davis
whom I first met as commandant of the
fort at Green Bal-afterwards told me in
Washington: mo commonwealth in a re-
public will stand with interests apart from
the federated whole" White men, who
have exclaimed from the beginning against
the injustice done the red man, and who
keep on plying and exterminating him
made a federated whole with interests
apart from his.
Again when looked back saw the fig
ure. but it was afoot, and soon lost II
in cove.
My house had been left undisturbed b!
hunters and Indians through the winter.
tied the horse to a gallery post and I'm.
fastened the door. A pile of refuse tim
bers offered wood for a fire, and l car.
ried In several loads of it and lighted the
virgin chimney. Then I brought water
from the spring and ate breakfast, sit
ting before the fire and thinking little
YEARLY and bitterly of my prospect in life
Having fed my horse, I covered the fire
leaving a good store of fuel by the hearth
and rode away toward the Menominee an(
Winnebago lands.
The day was a hard one. and when
came back towards nightfall I was glaG
to stop with the officers Of the stockade
and share their mess.
you looked tagged" said ono Of them
1.-THE horse paths are heavy" I an
swered. land have been as far as the
Indian lands"
had been as far as that remote time
when Eagle was not Cloud-Mother. Tt
cross the river and see her smiling ir
meaningless happiness seemed more tina,
I could do.
Yet she might notice my absence. W,
had been housed together ever since sh
had discovered me. Our walks and rides
our fireside talks and evening diversion
were never separate. At Pierre Orig
mons the family flocked in companies
When the padlocked book sent me out o
the house I forgot that she was used t.
my presence and might be disturbed b.
an absence no one could explain.
1.-THE first sailing vessel is in from tn
straits" said the lieutenant.
Yes, saw her come to anchor as
rode out this morning"
"She brought a passenger"
Anybody Of Importance"
"At first blush no. At second blush
yes
'Why mo- at first blush?"
Because he is only a priest"
"Only q priest. naughty officerl Ar
civilians and churchmen dirt under arm
feet?"
The lieutenant grinned.
when you see a missionary prizes
landing to confess a lot Of Canadians
ne doesn't seem quite SO important. as
prelate from Client. for instance"
lis this passenger a prelate fror
Ghent?"
'"That is where the second blush come
In. He is"
How do you known"
II saw him and talked with him."
''What is he doing in Green Bay?"
Looking at the country. He was in
nuiring for YOU"
For mel"
Eyes" -
''what could prelate from Client wan
with me?''
Says he wants to make inquiries abor
the native tribes" go
"Oh! Did you recommend me as an e.
pert in native tribes?" .,
Naturally. But not until he asked
you were here"
He mentioned my manner?
Eyes, He wanted to see you. You