The Irish standard., 1904-02-13
my foot's tired" said Peggy, drying


Antywine, full OF ndisnation. They
will fall and hurt you,"
20, no. they won't. He is nice boy.
and has such red cheeks"
Me, if l have those red cheeks
strip the skin Off my facet" said Anty-
wine, disguised. You like those red
cheeks, eh?"
well, l think they are about as
pretty as Viane Rutledgc.'
'Viane Rutledge,' spoke Antywine.
sincerely, she not have that charm
like you, and those Manners
DO you think am learning man
ners?'
you have improve every day."
"Antywne. I've got the best apple
in my pocket! Don't you want bite
of it?'
Did those Cameron boy give you
that applc?"
NO
You have it, then, from that Grove
Teller, who is behaved so bad the
master whip him."
No. Mahala gave it to me-"
Then | will take some bite"
Peggy drew forth the apple and they
ate it together, feeling that their differ
ences were reconcied. 1t was their
parting meal, for food eaten at Sally's
board had no such taste as this.
Shickshack said nothing about Anty-
wines first serious undertaking of
civilized work. The boy until that
time had been nothing but hunter.
Perhaps the Indian pondered on the
white mans influence. He set himself
to bring in plenty of venison to dry
for winter. and an abundance of buck
skin to tan. His cabin was as good as
any in New Salem.
Shickshack held land in his reserva-
ton, as all his tribe held it, without
cultivating or improving an acre except
patches of maize and pumpkins. Ha
could not understand the white mans
greed for real estate when the prairies
were SO free TO all. The product of his
labor consisted of peltries. These he
exchanged for the necessaries of simple
living.
Shickshack was not unmindful OF
the change in his adopted child. He
used to watch her silently. When she
brought him the first pair of stockings
made by her hand he sat and smoothed
them across his buckskin knee. They
were useless to him as covering, for
he could not enjoy the freedom of his
ankles in anything but hunters neips.
Before the weather grew cold he gave
Peggy roll of heavy dark red linsey
cloth instead Of the usual tanned deer
Skins Ann Rutledge helped her cut
and make the dress. He had the satis-
faction of seeing her warmly clad, in
short-waisted gown with bag sleeves
and a thick cape and hood lined with
dull yellow flannel which Ann had
saved among her stores.
AS autumn days drew close to the
margin of winter. the big boys, relieved
of labor that they owed to their parents
every working season until they were
q years old, came to Minter Grayham's
school. Though willing to make them
, selves useful carrying in logs for the
fireplace. they were full Of frolic as
colts. They stirred up the school until
| Minter Grayham in despair made
new law and announced that he would
listen to no more complaints of wad-
throwing, tistcuffing, and fighting, I'M
less the complainant could show that
blood had been drawn. Then the boys
were gloriously happy. The sallow
young schoolmaster, writing copies at
his DESK would suddenly hear through
/. the drone of study:
Master, Viane Rutledge looked at
me and drew blood!"
Master, Nancy Green's eyes are
drawing blood on me this minute!"
! In November there was haze over
the landscape like bloom on grapes.
=, Indian summer fingered. Settlers had
not then learned the Mississippi val
leys sudden and bitter changes of eli
mate.
Lincoln and Antywine were still alb
sent early in December, when Shicl-
shack waited one evening behind
Minter Grayhams schoolhouse for
Peggy to come out. A jet of boys and
girls seemed to spout forth, racing
down to Rock Creek. They could
almost smell their supper johnny cakes
| dCAOoo tA0 AoSAAC. C66y was uO4pAA6
briskly in the joyful midst of her
schoolmates, when she saw her foster
father reckoning her at the foot
of the bluff. She followed him.
Shickshack led her where there was
no path through ascending woods,
parting naked bushes for her, and help
ing her over fallen logs which had be-
come almost a powder of flakes covered
with moss.
Where are we going?" she inquired
more than once.
But Shickshack made no reply until
he had put loop of deerskin around
him over his blanket, and lifted Peggy
on his back in this portable hammock.
She was learning to use her lame leg
with a stoical determination which the
New Salem doctor encouraged. Though
never without her crutch, she oftene1
carried than leaned on it. Shickshack
was evidently undertaking q journey
and she looked anxiously through the
woods as some fakes Of snow melted
on her face, and up at the void peopled
as by winged white insects.
Father" said Peggy in the Sac
language, where are you taking me?'
ITO the young chief Yates" h.
answered in English, trudging acros:
the ridge, sure-footed and muscular
But he lives far away and l won
i, go! What will Antywine and .lr. Lin