Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-28


fixed with fear at the figure before him,
but for the moment only, when, with q
sort OF grunt, the man moved toward
the pantry door.
Mamie, beneath her breath. whispered,
Its q Indian, an he's como for my
turnovers. Cousin Rod said he might"
She was frightened and stood very still
while tho other fumbled with the lock,
which soon yielded, and when Mamie
saw the man was really inside the pan
try, she turned and almost flow back to
her fathers room, where, standing on
tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, Faith
er! Father! A Indian Is down in the
storeroom, stealin' my turnovers Como
quick, father!
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 pause, then q pounding
on the door, Hastily pushing a heavy
table against 1t, Mr.. Yarrow returned
to his room; dressed, and calling two
other male members Of tho household,
they all marched to the storeroom we'll
armed, and without much trouble, soon
overpowered the thief, who proved to
be an Indian, and who mumbed some
thing that sounded like broken English.
They carried him out to the smoke
house, which was built Of stone, and
had 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 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 1t 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.
He had ben sent out on this night,
and seeing window open in tho back
Of the Yarrow homestead he determined
to crawl In and view the premises.
Mrs. Yarrow knelt before him and
gazing searchingly into his eyes, which
were blue, asked over and over, Don't
you know me, Harry. darling? I 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 whom Mrs. Var
row plea ded for him they let him CO.
All idea of church-going was aban-
doned, for tho first time on Christmas
Day In the life Of any member In that
household, and dinner awaited at tho
bidding Of madame until tho 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, and
given to the care Of young squaw, the
favorte wife of the chief Of the tribe.
"One day she overheard the chiefs
talking about tho white mans child.
They said he had brought misfortune
to tho Indians, as they had lost several
battles since he had bssn with them, so
they had dssided that the innocent child
should die.
The squaw had learned to love the
little one. That night she arose, and
taking him In her strong arms she car
ried him away to another tribe Of In
dians, who were bitter enemies Of her
own, and, in order to save the boys
life she told the chief Of 4 deap-lai
scheme that her tribe bad pie AIMED for
attacking them.
"She asked them TO take tho child and
keep him, till perhaps, some day he
would be restored to his white tribe.
The old Indian was well rewarded
with a load Of wheat and corn to carry
home on a hand sled.
Then tho long lost Harry Yarrow was
made to understand that this was his
home, and that he was to remain there.
The Christmas dinner did not suffer
that night for want Of attention, but
before they partook Of 1t, Farmer Var
row, with his arm about his son, thank
ed God for this greatest of all His bless
ings-Home Monthly.