The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-04-02
Si=Aw=Eeta
Copyright, 1908, by Daily story Pub. Go.
BY c. NJ. HYSKELL.

as 1t had begun, with a heavy mist en-
veloping the little cove and the base
of the fir-clad mountains that rose
nearly straight up from the ocean and
left only a narrow beach above tide
line where the cluster of rude frame
buildings and huts found foothold. To
ward the sea a chain of high rocks
nearly shut the entrance to the little
harbor, and kept back the swell of
the Pacific. 1t was one of the innumer-
able but ever varying and beautiful in
lets that break into the mountainous
coast stretching thousand miles from
Skagway to Seattle, and in this minia-
ture harbor the "A. T." company had
established the salmon and halibut
fishery that furnished employment for
the Indians and Cinnamon who formed
the settlement
Si-aw-eeta, who sat in her fathers
hut making trinket boxes of hair seal
with beaded covers, wondered where
all the people lived who could eat so
many salmon as the company's ships
carried away to the southwark. The
land that lay beyond the islands to-
ward the ocean was to her a destina
ton full of mystery, for her only jour
ney had been to Juneau, whittier one
spring she steered the canoe for her
father, Chekan, who went to sell his
winters catch of furs. The Thlingit
chief was above common labor at the
cannery, and, despite the innovations
of paper money, rubber boots, wooden
jackets and the like, so popular among
the younger of the tribe, he chung to
the primitive customs and pursuits of
his fathers. He was man of pride
and cunning, a prodigous hunter, and
was accordingly looked up to by his
people, excepting the younger bucks,
who ridiculed his ancient habits and
regarded CONTEMPORARY his avarice
for Chekan had one master passion,
the desire for money. He never was
known to spend a penny with the
evening idlers at the company store.
Four bells sounded from the big
steamer that lay at the company's
dock, where the last of the seasons
salmon catch was being loaded into
the hold. At the sound of the supper
call Si-aw-eeta dropped the fur seal and
the beads, and closed the door of the
hut, for she knew that Chow Fang,
who was the sub-boss at the cannery,
would presently be coming, and that
he would stop at the door if he found
it open. And perhaps he would open
it if he found it shut. He was growing
bold with his love-making. The girl
knew that in the four years Fang had
worked for the "a t. company he had
laid by much money. With~the intui-
ton of the deer on the mountain side
as it follows the snow line, she knew
that Fang had offered to Chekan
larger sum than any Indian lover
could pay for her. Melancholy settled
upon her face at the thought. What
would become of her should she be
compelled to turn away from Joe
Bear, who was so handsome and brave,
who despised the fishers, even if he
failed to get so much money for his
pelts as Fang earned at the cannery
every year? All, how she loved Joe
Bear. And the Chinaman was so ugly;
he couldn't shoot a carriboo-he
couldn't kill anything except fish.
What could her father carve in the big
totem pole that would add glory to the
family name after she married Fang?
Joe Bears canoe, of graceful model,
sharp at prov and stern, a single piece
cut from red cedar log, glided upon
the beach at the side of the hut, and
Joe stepped ashore, knocked lightly at
the door and entered. He tossed a
white mountain goat skin at her feet,
and peered earnestly through the
smoke-hole of the hut. Even his stern
face chased the sadness from hers.
"Chinee, he give you red salmon. I
bring you dis-the day before l brung
you brown bear, Who love you most,
alYays?"
He stood erect. folded his arms and
gazed at her with pride and affection.
The girl put her arms up around the
brawny Indians neck, and laid her face
against his broad chest.
"Chekan, he coming down the noun
tain-I must go away. Chekan, mad at
me. Him swear at me. Remember,
who loves you most. Me, Joe Bear"
And, returning the girls embrace, he
was gone.
She had barely time to replenish the
fire when the door of the hut opened
again, and Fang's almond eyes peered
in, then his burly form entered, and
he deposited on the floor bucket con-
tanning two magnificent king salmon,
the pik of the days catch at the can
merry.
"Sli-o-weeta, she my nice girl-velly
pletty girl. l mally you now-no?
Velly well; then we mally pletty soon"
"No-no-no," exclaimed the girl.
You not lika me-yes. Sli-o-weeta
mucha lika Fang. no Siwash. Joe,
he no good" continued the Chinaman
GROSSLY, your ladder not let him
mally you. l mally you tomorrow
no? Then velly pletty soon" He
grinned and concluded: "Your fadder
say yes" and backed out of the hut.
The girl sank upon the goat skin and
eobbed.
That night Fang and Chekan closed
the bargain, the Chinaman paying the
chief $240, three times the price of an
ordinary Indian wife. The chiefs