The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-03-24

Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co
by C. NJ. HYSKELL.


The short October day was ending
as it had begun, with heavy mist en-
Weloping the little cove and the base
of the fr-clad mountains that rose
nearly straight up from the ocean and
left only a narrow beach above tide
A5ne 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
harbCr, and kept back the swell of
Sthe Pacific. 1t was one of the innumer-
Sable but ever varying and beautiful in
1ets that break into the mountainous
scoast stretching a thousand miles from
$Skagway to Seattle, and in this minia-
Yture harbor the "a. T." company had
established the salmon and halibut
7fishery that furnished employment for
%he Indians and Cinnamon who formed
the settlement
Si-aw-eeta, who sat in her fathers
{ making trinket boxes of hair seal
TIL beaded covers, wondered where
the people lived who could eat so
my salmon as the company's ships
cried away to the southwark. The
land that lay beyond the islands to-
ward the ocean was to her destina-
S4iur full of mystery, for her only jour
yney had been to Juneau, whittier one
Sspring she steered the canoe fer her
Father. Chekan, who went to sell his
winters catch of furs. The Thlingit
Schief was above common labor at the
Scannery, and, despite the innovations
Snf 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
mis- fathers. He was a 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
nut, for she knew that Chow Fang
who was the sub-boss at the cannery,
~would presently be coming, and that
The would stop at the door if he found
ut open. And perhaps he would open
at If he found it shut. He was growing
tbold with his love-making. The girl
KNEW that in the four years Fang had
worked for the ga. T." company he had
Laid by much money. With the intui-
-stion of the deer on the mountain side
as it follows the snow line, she knew
that Fang had offered to Chekan a
4arger sum than any Indian lover
could pay for her. Melancholy settled
upon her face at the thought. What
.Uould become of her should she be
Scompelled to turn eway from Joe
Bear, who was so kaAdSome and brave,
~who despised the fishers, even if he
J2ailed to get so much money for his
Tpelts as Fang earned at the cannery
esevery 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,
Whit 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,
esharp at PROV and stern, a single piece
ecut from a red cedar log, glided upon
s,fhe 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,
land peered earnestly through the
ssmoke-hole of the hut. Even his stern
face chased the sadness from hers
~'Chinee, he give you red salmon.
bring you dis-the day before brung
you brown bear. Who love you most,
,ialways?"
tHe stood erect, folded his arms and
egazed 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
&ain-I must go away. Chekan, mad at
me. Him swear at me. Remember,
~vho loves you most. Me, Joe Bear"
And, returning the girls embrace, he
~vas 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 a bucket con-
&aining two magnificent king salmon,
abe pick of the days catch at the can
merry.
''Sh-o-weeta, she my nice girl-velly
pletty girl l mally you now-no?
Welly well; then we mally pletty soon"
"No-no-no, exclaimed the girl.
'You not lika me-yes. Sli-o-weeta
znucha lika Fang. l no Siwash. Joe,
he no good" continued the Chinaman
Grossly, your ladder not let him
mally you. 1 mally you tomorrow
no? Then velly pletty soon" He
svrinned and concluded: "Your ladder