The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-22
CHAPTER
THE MASTER.

THE MASTER.
It was hate n sclear moonlight
night in the spring OF IT, when the
three silent figures emerged from the
wood land darkness and struck across
the wide extent OF rank grass which
yet separated us from the bay. Tuska-
homa led the way, a3tall grim Choctaw
ch1eftafn, my companion on many a
hunt, his streaming plumes fluttering
behind him as he strobe. / followed.
runner Of h Choctaws. We were re-
turning to Biloxi fromsa reconnois-
sance in the Chickasaw country.
Each straight behind the other, dumb
and soundless shadows, I'VE passed
along the way, hardly bruising a leaf
or brushing the rustling reeds aside.
See. there Is the light" grunted
~Tuskahorna, pointing to a glimmer
through the trees. Yes, the White
Prophet never sleeps" assented LIE
Corbeau Rouge.
The light which marked our almost
ended journey came from a window in
one Of those low, square log houses,
fortress dwellings, so common in the
provinces.
Here, however, the strong pine pal.
1sades We're broker down in many
places; the iron-studded gate hung un-
hinged and open, the accumulated sand
at its base showed it had not been
closed in many years
But the decay and neglect every
where manifest in its defenses ex-
tended no further, for inside the en-
closure was a garden carefully tended;
a trailing vine chung lovingly to a cor
ner OF the wide gallery. and even a few
or the bright roses OF France lent their
sweetness to a place 1t seemed iInpos-
| sEjh1a IN oCCnpinta # Ei+I, - ~ ~, 81 rs
barbaric warfare.
/ loved this humble home. for in such
a one my mother and I spent those last
years of sweet good ~cor1radeship be-
fore her death--the roses, the rude
house, all reminded me of her, OF peace,
of gentler things.
Thecharacterofits lone occupant pro-
tected this Iowly abode far better than
The armies of France, the chiyairy OF
Spain. or III Choctaw's ceaseless vigil
ance could possibly have done. He
came there it was said, some fifteen
years before, a Huguenot exile, SEEM
ingly a man of education and birth. lie
built his castle of refuge on a knoll
overlooking the sheltered bay. hoping
there to find the liberation denied him
IN his native land. The edict sof
Nantes had been revoked by King
Louis, and thousands of exiled French
men of high and low degree sought
ACV III ullGS III !lEWSI tdIluS. a.t 70
Many had reached America, and
strove with energetic swords and ra-
p2clous wallets to wrest blood and gold
and fame from whatever source they
might.
This man alone OF all those first ex-
plorers had shown no disposition to
search out hidden treasures of the will
derness, to prey upon the natives. He
became their friend and not their plum
derer.
His quiet life, his Kindness, his char
1ty, his knowledge of the simple arts of
healing, so enleared him to every war
ring faction b q at his house the
Choctaw n the chiekasaw. the Span
lard, F'renchIllan and the Engnshnlan
met alike in peace. So the needless
Notifications fell into u%nsepaired de-
cay.
Many an afternoon had padded
across the bay and spent a quiet hour
with him, as far from the jars and dis
cord Of Bilox as il we were in some
other world.
AS, this night, We drew near the
house we saw no signs Of life save the
chtnks OF light creeping beneath the
door. l raped, and his voice babe me
enter.
The master sat at his table in the
We're a number Of surgical and scien-
title instruments, all objects of mis-
trust TO NV Indian friends
These curious weanons Of des+,,,c-
ton or Of witchcraft. for 81 #ti,e IN
dams regarded them contributed +o
make him an object Of, fea,. yx,,ich
doubtless did much To strenathen h;s
influence AMONG the tribes
He was at this time sf,nea.he ! moro
than 60. slender and rather abov,a IA
medium height. With his ,Isr,,l erazr,s
courtesy he welcomed rs and rsadiiv
loaned the snnan niror,fa ,saossssru : =
carry our party across the nav
The Indians were restless aud tbe
governor waited. so only thanEad orr
host and turned to 20
He rose, and lnving his hand mon
nv arm detained me WAT ioIanida.
I am glad Won returnea His way for
I have long wished to sneak wiz, Won
especially do Wish it%nn tl,;s ni,sht@
on This night SIT dawn >,
Mechanicau + ohavea for + co,,a
see there was soreTbing Of r,ora t G ),
usual fmport on He mind TIC Indians
mad withdrawn ana +ba ,,astan
pacing uncerfainly aha1t Tic nnnn,
paused and regarded me- intent1v &c +
he almost reerettad his ;nvitafion ~
stay. After severaj afgoTts he a h,.,lntiy
heean.
~Sc~sN