The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-31
XIV.
INTO TIE SHADOW OF THE
HILLS

I1lAl4O.
The first thing Michail Lafond did
in pursuance of his new determination
was to visit the Spotted Tail reserva-
ton in order to reclaim the girl hence
forth to be known as Molly Lafond.
No one knows why he had followed
out his first impulse to preserve her
life and bring her up. After a time,
however, she came to symbolic, in his
half-mystical perception of such things,
the first cause of all that had happen
ed. Personally he liked her because
she was such a free, independent, fiery
little creature. He liked to talk to
her and beN ordered about by her. He
liked also to watch the graceful, de-
cisive movements of her 1.-THE young
body and the sparkle of her hair She
looked a good deal like her mother.
He even listened with WI at would
appear to be close sympathy to her
complaints of the agents wife and the
life to be led at a reservation. She
and the agents wife never did get on
well. The latter was a stern, common
place, fat woman without sympathy.
And the life! There were no men,
nothing but Indians. All you could do
was to read all day and all the even
ing. or ride straight out in any given
direction that led nowhere. Michail
Lafond, in his semi-annual visits. was
lilCllIcu " agree WIFI uSI dAAO CNCh W
pity her a little. His personal likings
We're on the surface, and had nothing
whatever to do with the deeps of his
nature.
Just as the surest way of satisfying
his thirst for revenge upon Billy Knapp
was to deprive the man of his reputa-
ton and his property, 80 he had deter
mined to make of Molly a dance hall
girl, like Colorado Jenny. 1t would de-
T1f~iUa of Writ and eyn0d
the things woman holds most dear. He
also felt keenly, in his instructive dra-
matte sense, the fitness of throwing this
fine-fbred daughter of nobler race
to the hungry passions, of watching
her reversion little by little to the brute
type; but a formulation of it never
came to the surface of his mind. And
yet, 1 must repeat, there was in one.
sense nothing personal in this. La
fond felt no aversion to the girl her
self. He took no pleasure in the
thought of cursing her or beating her,
as might a man seeking a hotter re-
venge. 1t was just cold, malignant,
calculating hate of something in OPP
position to him, which she symbolized.
This intellectual form of hatred is a
peculiar characteristic of half-breeds.
When Lafond suggested to Molly that
she should leave the agency, and take
up her residence with him in Copper
Creek. she assented very gladly. for she
felt her present life insupportable. The
day before, she and Mrs. Sweeney, the
agents wife, had come into violent
collision.
Where was you yesterday after
noon?" Mrs. Sweeney had asked, as
Molly came into the kitchen.
1t was before breakfast, so Molly
shrugged an impatient shoulder.
Riding" she replied briefly.
"P,dlng where?" insisted Mrs. SNee-
ney. with heavy persistency.
over west
"See anybody?" p
Sure?"
Yes"
The old lady wound her hands in her
apron and fixed her charge severely
with her eye.
Strange how blind some folks u.s."
she went on after moment. Now, 1
was indoors washin', an 1 see that
young sergeant over there scoutin'
round"
The words were simple; the tone was
not.
What do you mean?" cried Molly,
sharply. do you mean to say 1 was
riding with him."
Mrs. Sweeney wagged her head with
aggravating sagacity.
NOBODY neeQn put on no ShOe that
don't fit EN-" she said, and sighed with
the air of martyr who has discov-
cred all and is disappointed.
Molly knew that her question had
been justified by the woman's insinua-
ton, that she had put on no shoe. and
that if there were a martyr in the
room it was not the agents wife.
Thereupon she said things excitedly.
The agents wife assumed an injured
placidity than which there is nothing
more aggravating. Finally Molly
fiounced out of the room.
The agents wife, being utterly in
the wrong. sulked after the manner of
women for the rest of the day, and
had to be sued for forgiveness.
And yet next day. when Molly and
the half-breed drove away, Mrs. swee-
ney remembered that the girl had been
with them nearly fifteen years. and
wept: and the agent booted a trespass
ing Indian from his office with unwont-
ed energy.
Molly, on the other hand. was as
Happy as lark. Every man knows
the thrill OF anticipation when ne
slows the gun case under the seat and
induces the pointer 10 curl up in the
straw just as every woman knows the
delight Of an entrance 20 a room which
her presence brightens more than any
others. Molly experienced the same
thrill. the same delight She had the
instincts of the coquetfe, fha conhd,nce
Of ineNperience. the false IDEALS of 4
knowledge drawn from hooks ana speo.
4IINfNFHe and nar HanvH