The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-10-11
Lavender
|CreightOn'Sl |
Lovers |
By OLIVIA ID. STROHM
Copyright, 1905, by olivia D. slrohm,.
CHAPTER VII

Winslow explai cd to the command
er that there was double reason for
Naste--in their unwiilingness to further
trespass on his hospitality, no less
than in the impatience of the ladies to
join their relatives Reasons which,
though with all hospitable Intent, the
colonel supplemented by The ptag.ical
suggestion that they take advantage Of
the present. frosty condition of the
trail A littlo later, when the spring
thaw had set in, the swamp lands
would be well nigh impossible.
There being no available guides at
the fort. IL was decided that the sol
diers accompany them to the nearest
Indian viNage, a half days march
away, where they could obtain ponies
and guide for the journey north.
The little party arrived et nightfall
within the Indian settlement, and the
soldiers returned to tfe fort, having
made arrangements with the chief OF
the village for their safe conduct.
Left to themselves in the gloomy
wigwam, the travellers had much ado
to be cheerful. The place was Ill
smelling and close, and the flickering
freight but rerved to bring into bold
er relief the grotesque shadows that
fiouted them from every corner.
The loose-fitting skins of which the
walls were made, creaked and tapped
dismally. ine brush of fox and the
head OF n deer hung over the door
way; stray feathers blew over the
floor as the wind stole in. Mrs
Creighton gave a shiver of disgust.
How grewsome this place is.
Trophies of dead things everywhere!
feel as though we were entertaining
ghosts"
Lavender laughed low - uneasily,
Hush. and she lifted warning
finger. Somebody is outside"
Winslow lifted the heavy flap that
cartained the threshold rush of
air made the torch burn low. and in
the darkness they could dimly discern
the figure OF a man--tall with wav-
Ing eagle plume above a beaded head
dress.
"Come In, friend" said Winslow,
but the stranger made no move TO
enter rs the white maiden here?'
His speech was cultural, but not harsh.
Where is the maid who is not
afraid OF an Usage arrow? Owatoga
would speak with her"
Owatoga! TEen he had followed
them. Was it as friend or foe? Law
ender rose and went to the opening.
II am here, Owatoga."
There was nervous Quiver in her
voice, and she grasped Winslow's arm,
but the gigantic figure outside made no
move nearer.
You will need a guide-Owatoga
knows the forest" he said.
Winslow dropped the curtain, and
stood outside in the darkness, keeping
close to Lavender as he addressed tho
Indian.
You aro friend to this white
maid?"
For answer. the other said. with ir-
releyance; THE arrow was taken out
quick; owatoga was not left to die"
Then you are better? am so glad f"
Lavender said, and the Indian respond
ed, gravely: "Owatoga is WE'LL he will
be the guide for the white people to-
morrow"
Without waiti 9 for thanks, without
further explanation. he disappeared,
and Lavender whispered triumphant
ly, as they reentered the wigwam; Il
knew We could trust HIM"
Next day they left the village. led
only by their self-appointed guide. The
ponies and other equipment had been
bought OF the Indians Part of their
route was to be that known as the
Clar., trail. The town of New Madrid
was their first destination - there
they would await the earliest boat
north.
On ctout Indian ponies they rode j;
sometimes over damp and slippery paths,
but oftener where the hoofs beat
rhythmic measure on the frozen way.
Occasionally they crossed wandering
bands of Indians, meeting with solid in
difference or friendly grunts, but never
hostile show. BY night camp fires
kept OFF the cold, and sterner foes.
whose hungry bowling was mock
ing lullaby
owatoga rode ahead, rigid-silent as a
slain chieftain on his horse awaiting
burial-the quick and the dead to-
gether.
Winslow's spirits rose with the oc-
casion. and he beguiled with cheerful
talk and unwearied attentions the
'outing," as he laughingly called IT,
Mrs. Creighton. too. rallied all her
physical forces. and bore withou,
fiinching the discomforts OF the hard
travel.
America, alone. was miserable--the
picture of comic distress.
Lavender was her buoyant self. and
for the first time appealed TO Charles
in a purely personal way. Heretofore
he had regarded her merely as beau
tiful. but unessential factor N the sit.
uation-graduaIly she had come to be
the sum OF IL.
Bent upon ambitious hopes. his fu-