Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-12-18

stir up hornets nest unless you're
hunting trouble, .he answered evasive-
~.
This was in early summer, when the
prairie grass was green and the wild
Strawberries white with bloom. The
sequel to the story came when the sky
was rose and turquoise above the har-
vest field, and the corn Haunting its
tassels in the breeze.
An illness had broken out among the
Indians at White Whale Lake, a dead
" Illness First a chill seemed to
strike to the heart of the victim, then
a fever to burn and burn-then tbs
end. 1t was enough to alright the
Ponoka reserve when the word went
abroad that Young Bear had been
stricken The Indian is almost invari-
ably a coward of disease. There was
a fitting. Young Bear laid him down
on his bed of boughs one soft August
day when the sun was hot and the
trees smelling of pitch and balsam. He
woke after what seemed to him a long
sleep He was lying fiat on the warm
earth, and about him reigned great
stiffness. He looked around languidly.
Where were the tepees? Where were
his people? The corn, green when he
had seen it last, was golden. The grass
was sere and withered.
"Watona," he called weakly; "Wa-
tona, the tall and f1eet-footed!"
The old medicine man sitting beside
him smiled grimly. "Sleep, my son,
he said; ''the f1eet-footed does not
hear"
He slept The gray and purple Of the
autumn night was on the world when
he awoke. He was hungry, he was
thirsty ''Watona!" he called again.
Some one came to him in the dusk.
| lifted him easily-as easily as Lala
used to lift the little one-carried him
to the lodge. laid him on his bed OF
boughs, gave him to eat and drink.
'"Thou art too good to him." he heard
the old medicine man say modify.
Twelve nights you have watched be-
side him, IL days you have carried
him forth that the hot earth might
steal his fever, thought only of him,
the unfaithful. Go to your rest"
"He is my man" Patient was Lala's
face with the bitterness all faded, pa
tent her voice, but stubborn.
"My man, my place is here"
Then the sick man spoke. Lala's
place is here. But why Is it so still?
Where are the othe-s?"
cat the word fever they fed" 1t
was the medicine man that answered.
| ''All save Lala, Watona and myself.
| This was at sunset, at daybreak Wa
| iona followed in hot haste
''Send what was hers after her, -
commanded Young Bear; "she comes
| not here again..
| Never fear, she has taken all that
was her own, and most of what was
thine" The medicine man had no no.
| ton of sparing Young Bear. Was not
Lala the medicine mans own cousin?
"'She has robbed Lala of all, all"
"Net ALL" The sick man was FUN
bling about his neck in search of some
thing. He drew forth string on which
| with red stones.
SIT is yours, Lala," he said. 81 put
| it not cn her finger. [ thought to, but
could not
The big, patient face softened into
positive beauty. She huddled close to
| him.
There IS another thing she bore not
away" and she drew from her bosom
the scarlet and blue bit of silk. 81
took it from her by force ere she left
want it, proudly yet bashfully, ste
wrap about the little one that will
sleep in our cradle ere the snow flies
thy child and mine, beloved"
cit was well done, good Lala," said
Young Bear, and smiled, well content
| Canadian Magazine.