The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-10-28
CHAPTER V.
RiDgwold and Sankala.

was more rude than ever. My father,
l am kind to Hazel. | do not antago-
nize her Intentionally, and yet she
seems to dispise me. She flaunts the
fact in my face that her father owns
many ishtraps and has cannery and
that they are rich, while my father is
a common fisherman, is old and poor
and lives in a cabin, and they live in
big house with glass windows, and have
a piano.
"Father, don't care for this. ]
am happy with you. 1 don't envy
Hazel, and why should she dispise me
above all others2"
"My child, there is an intuition
sometimes that tells us more than we
know. There is often guilty con-
science that is handed down to posterity
and while the posterity knows not
what it is, it feels it keenly. In the
case between you and Hazel her intu-
ition tells her that something is wrong
that your existence is dangerous to her
welfare and yet she does not know
why. If you knew the facts, child,
you would understand, you would un-
derstandl"
"Tell me, father. Why does Hazel
feel this way toward me"
81 will not tell you all now, but /
can tell you much. 1 have a long
time contemplated telling you about
yourself, but you are yet young-too
young to grasp the meaning of the
things OF a wicked world.
''But you are old enough now to
know who you are, who l am and what
the future may be to you"
"Why, father, know who l am.
am Sankala, you are Father Ring
void and my future shall be devoted
TO my dear father. You know you are
getting too old to pull the boat, father,
and they say it does not look so we'll
for girls to mingle with the fishermen,
but shall help you at the oars and
nets until have completed my educa-
tion and then l will teach school OF
Keep books or do something that girls
should be respected for doing and take
care of my dear old father"
There was long pause. The griz.
zled old man sat in one corner of the
cabin gazing into an open fireplace fed
by pieces of dritfwood CT various sizes
and length. These had been gathered
from the beach by the girl upon hel
arrival from school.
AS the child busted herself with the
dishes and light housekeeping the ole
man sat deeply absorbed. He wal
thinking of the past. An inky dark
ness prevailed outside. A stiff winC
hurled sheets of mist upon the roo
vxrhfoh faIl from tho in hnou,
drops.
As the wind arose and whistle'
around the corners of the cabin tn
old man startled as if awakene,
from terrible experiences of the past
1t was a small structure nesting il
she tall timbers near he beach, scant
lily furnished. A few cooking utensil
ON the open fireplace were used for pre-
pairing the meals. A large bed and
small couch furnished the sleepin
quarters in the same room. Thougl
the place was much crowded, every
thing was kept as neat as pin.
The man was nearing his four score
and ten. The, girl was a few day
past fifteen. She bore a refined air il
spite of her surroundings. Her cloth
ing was of the chea pest kind. yet
was clean. Her garments we're nc
made in the latest style, still they wer
neat. Her hands and feet were sma
though the former showed the mark
of toll. Her eyes were older tina
those of most girls of fifteen, but the
were no less beautiful. They locke
deep into things with an intelligenc
and innocenca that commanded IA
spect.
eyes, Sankala, told you l woul
tell you some but not all. The Seadoe
do not like US. They do not kno
why, but there is an intuition tn;
tells them we are dangerous to the
welfare. Those letters you hay
brought me from the postofice a
these years are bringing to a consun
nation the plans which have so lor
occupied my time. 1t has been
long and tedious duty but it shall
performed ere the last spark shall lea'
me.
"Sankala, you have been told Il
story of the shipwreck by the o
women time and again. have seldo
spoken of it. 1t is a link in the stol
Of your life that is of the greatest il
portance to you.
81 am the only person living tn
knows you. 1 am the only pers,
living that knows the facts which shs
some day make you tree from povert
Which shall enable you to live the Ii
that you deserve-will enable you
complete your education and to OF