Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-11-19
CONLON'S ATONEMFNT.
A Study of Life in the Indian Territory.
icy JOHN N. CSKIsoN.

Joha Conlon was a clear-eyed, low
spoken, understood Irishman, with man
ner surprisingly reserved for a working
man. He came down into the Indian
Territory from, well, people didn't know
precisely where he did come from, except
that it was from the north, where he had
found an Indian wife The silent Indian
wife and the three close mouthed half
breed girls let it be known briefly that
they were of the Fox tribe, ard that Con-
lon had come to marry the woman on the
Sac and Fox reservation in Iowa. Also
the girls we're proud of the fact that
their shiftless father had been gentler
bred than these who stood by and
Knocked when the drink grippcd him.
A rickety wagon and two thin ponies
made up Conlon's visible capital when he
reached the Cherokee country. Here his
wagon wheel broke, and he rented ten
acres Of bottom land and n log shanty
from Mile Lannigan. He lived on the
tickle borCer between starvation and a
full belly for a season. and then came Il
short period of atiluence He expanded
like mummied wheat grain, and the
tale of his life unfolded in the rich liquor
that he loved.
1t had begun, twenty years before,
with a quarrel between the boy just out
of Harvard and old DR.. Conlon, his
father. The old man ordered Jim to a
medical school. The boy refused, because
he wanted to study music. No compro-
mise was possible between them, and
Jim, starting west in frenzy of rebel
lion, found himself at the Sac and Fox
agency, where an acquaintance had
charge of the distribution of food and
clothing. The agent liked Jim, and kept
him, on one pretext and another, long
past the time when the California mines
were to receive him. The agent was
lonely, and lie liked to talk.
See that old fellow, out there?" he
quor;ed one lay as the two sat in the
agency porch. Jim nodded. That's old
Bear Claw" the agent continued. "onee
chief of the Foxes, the richest Indian in
the country. lie owned the site of
government fort out in Wyoming, had
clear title, got lawyers and all, and final.
ly got 100000 out of the government"
"How's that?" Colon asked quickly,
waking from futile dream.
''Oh, be got every cent Of it," the agent
affirmed; 100000 in cold cash. He put
it into bonds, and pay over the interest
every quarter. He draws his regular
blankets and rations. though, He's got
daughter, jim, that you might marry g.,
If you're hunting a fortune. Better than
gold mining, should think"
why don't You marry her yourselff"
Conlon asked.
'Mc?' laughed the agent. ooh! Pm
tied to girl in Indiana. Here's her pic
ture." The agent opened the back of his
watch, and showed Jim the picture of a
blue eyed, blond haired maid, forever
smiling stilfiy in awkward new clothes.
Conlon stared after the figure of the
ancient chief with new interest. Sixty
thousand dollars That was a fine sum,
a princely fortune; and in bonds! He
could make n showing with that; he
could soften the glitter of contempt in
old man COnlon's eyes with sum like
that; and he could go on studying music
until the world Numbered its applause of
his clear tenor notes.
1t was plain pillage that CoaIon SET
out to accomplish when he sought out
Bear Claws daughter, and made light
love to her while the old Indian snored
But the boy was desperately alone, anC
his fathers repulse had cut his pride
But this much credit he saved out of tn,
affair, he fell in love with the girl-lovet
her to the end, too-and would hay.
married her without Il cent or a blanket
to keep out the wind. The old full bloc,
was near the end of his life when Conlol
asked for the girl Il love her. he said
as sure rs there is star in the sky
I'll care for her as long as the bloc,
flows through my veins" He spoke ex
traNagantly, iloridly, but it was the quail
lty of speech the old man understood.
But you are white" Bear Claw pro
tested weakly "and | am not sure tbat
it IL Il marriage that ought to be made
And how do | know that you do moi
marry for the money she will have wber
] gof' The keen OH eyes fixed the suito,
Iuestioningly
Then bury the money with We" sal,
the boy shortly, the brogue cf his fatbe,
coming back TO his tongue with the OK
eitement. Its the girl | want" h,
added.
Conlon married the girl and took ba,
to Chicago, where his father lived r.,
had dreams on the way-of the recon
citation: Of the old man growing to low,
his brown beauty; OF his own career a.
student and singer; of the education -,
that soft-eyed wild thing: of living hi,
span OF Years in the glamour of tbat
beautiful romance. Deep down. Jim wa.
a wam-hcarted boy, and love was ridin,
down resentment and rebellion.
1t was a thmid. wild hewildered Inn,
unconsliously digniGed girl that Jim L.,
up the steps of his fathers BIG house
Her slender figure the unframed
straight backed dignity. the cirl;sb nm
peal OF her, should have softened tho ii,
mans heart; but when he came to IN.
door IN answer to his bows rinr h,
pointed to the hesitating girl and aske,
What do We call that. sir that -,
bring TO my door," At that jim, ,,o,,
yale shjyered a moment. then the word
sprang white-hot to his lips. w. y
She IS my wife. sir. and no ma, o,,
speak Then he checked b;n. ,,,i
knowing that his father could not LIS -, ~.