Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-12-23

He did go quick and arrived Just In
time to close the door Of the storeroom,
and turn the key In its lock.
There was a pause. then a pounding
on the door. Hastily pushing a heavy
table against IL, Mr.. Yarrow returned
to his room; dressed, and calling two
other male members Of the household,
they all marched to the storeroom well
armed, and without much trouble. soon
overpowered the thief, who proved to
be an Indian, and who mumbled some
thing that sounded like broken English.
They carried him out to the smoke
house, which was built Of stone. and
had a heavy iron door, The three men
watched nearby the rest Of the night.
At breakfast on this Christmas morn
ing, Father Yarrow told the story Of the
previous night, and Mamie had her full
share Of caresses and praise from aunt
les, uncles and cousins alike.
Then there was a clamor from the
youngsters to "see the prisoner" so after
breakfast they all went forth TO the tenn
porary jail, Dame Yarrow among the
others.
The great doors were pushed back.
and lying on the floor was the Indian,
asleep. But was It an Indian? Instead
OF the straight black hair, his was brown
and curly.
Dame Yarrow gave one look. then
turned to her husband. with extended
hands, and the cry, "Oh, John, it is he"
fell fainting into his arms.
The lad was awakened and taken to
the house. He spoke English brokenly
but could give no account of his former
life, before he became one Of a tribe Of
half-friendly Indians.
He explained his being in the store
room by telling his hearers that his
tribe OF Indians that was encamped sew
eral miles above, on the river bank. had
been living on what they could steal from
the whites.
lie had ben sent out on this night.
and seeing window open In the back
OF the farrow homestead he determined
to crawl In and view the premises.
Mrs 1arrow knelt before him and
gazing searchingly into his eyes, which
were blue, asked over and over, Don't
you know me, Harry, darling? / am
your mother" But he could not be
made to understand. he begged leave
to return to the tribe, saying he would
come back again with information.
This the men were inclined to believe
a trick to get away, but when Mrs. Var
row pleaded for him they let him go.
All idea of church-going was abap-
doned, for the first time on Christmas
Day In the life Of any member in that
household and dinner awaited at the
bidding Of madame until the return OF
the youth. He was seen coming up the
walk at o'clock In the afternoon, and
with him was an old Indian.
The following tale they all listened
to with great interest:
'In the great Indian fight of twelve
years before, the little captured boy was
taken to the Indian encampment. ant
given to the care of a young squaw. tht
favorite wife of the chief of the tribe.
zone day she overheard the chief.
talking about the white mans child
They said he had brought msfortun,
to the Indians, as they had lost severa
battles since he had been with them, $,
they had decided that the innocent chill,
should die.
THE sQuaw had learned to love thu
little one. That night she arose, an,
taking him In her strong arms she car
ried him away to another tribe of In
| uldust WHO were pllleT enenlleS Oh ne
own, and, In order to save the boy
life. she told the chief of a deep-lai
scheme that her tribe had planned 70
attacking them.
"She asked them 10 take the child an
keep him, till perhaps. some day Ii
would be restored to his white tribe.
The old Indian was well rewarde
with load of wheat and corn to carr
home on hand sled.
Then the long-lost Harry Yarrow wa
made to understand that this was hi
home, and that he was to remain ther,
The Christmas dinner did not suffe
that night for want of attention, bu
before they partook of it, Farmer Yai
row. with his arm about his son, thank
ed God for this greatest of all His bless
ings.-Home Monthly.