Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-11-14

replied, with a grunt of hidden mean
ing: THE other is for him." Then
giving her no time for question, he
pointed again to the boat he. had first
dragged forth "Sit" A cushion In
the stern looked most inviting; the
boat was apparently secure on the
beach. Into it she sprang, seating her
self with sigh of comfort. There!
the view is charming; the seat is soft.
to-altogether, l am quite-why, Owa-
toga, what are you doing?" for the
latter had given the light skiff a vigor-
GUS push. 1t grated moment on the
sand, then off on the rivers turbid
crest, with the Indian at the oars.
The girl gave one glance at the ever
increasing passage of water between
| her and the shore, then sprang to her
feet in a panic. But the dangerous
rocking of the boat recalled her, and
| she sank to the cushion, calm-but
with a face blanched to the Whiteness
of the foam that curled in their wake.
What does this mean? Is it a
| trjck-a jest?"
1--WE are going to the old mans; he
is Owatoga's friend. He will take the
white maid; he will not let her be the
squaw Of the yellow man."
Owatoga's friend? But no, it could
not be; he would not call Winslow an
''old man." His mysterious manner,
his strange words, and. above ALL his
rapid rowing away from shore, tend
ed to unnerve her, but she made great
effort to hide her fear. Leaning for
ward, she placed one hand playfully
on the oar-loclh, and said: LET us go
back now. Senior Gonzaga will be
waiting"
He will have long to watt" was the
disheartening reply. A shiver passed
over her; the hot wind was breath
of ice; clammy hand on her brow.
Then she mastered the horror, and
only two helpless tears betrayed the
struggle.
"You brighten me, Owatoga, yet I
know you would do me no harm. Ex-
plain, then, why we are going-why
you are taking me away" There was
command and pleading in the voice;
he responded by less rapid rowing,
and fathomless smile. "You are safe
with Owatoga; more safe than with
that other" The dilated nostrils and
contemptuous curve of the wide mouth
conveyed plainly the speakers opinion
of his masters rival.
Lavender was beginning to UNDER
stand. "Then you wish to take me
away from Senior Gonzaga?" Eyes;
this is the only way" and he seemed
to gather fresh vigor with his words,
and tugged stronger at the oars.
When they came in sight Of the scat
tered cabins of st. Charles, new hope
sprang in her heart. "You are taking
me to the village?" For answer the
Indian rowed harder toward mid
stream.
Soon all human habitation was left
far behind; the two were alone on the
wide river.
AS calmly as possible, Lavender ex-
planned that her worst alarm was for
her mother; of the anxiety she would
feel. And the other said-less gruff-
ly than he had yet spoken: "Owatoga
has thought of that; he has told all
to the woman at the inn; she will tell
them that the maid is safe with Owa-
toga." Again: 1T is the only way;
trust Owatoga," he repeated, with mo-
notonous insistence.
And she did trust him. She could
not lose faith in the man who had
been their friend for so long. And
they had ever found him faithful. If,
then, as he said, her mothers anxiety
would be relieved, the chief load was
lifted from her heart. Whatever was
his reason for taking her away-freak,
whim, or savage fancy, she felt sure it
would not be for long, and, above all,
she need have no personal fear. This
security was much; it helped her to
bear the suspense and fatigue. Dumb
and fearless, she watched the shores
blur of bluffs, tree-topped. The canoe
now Rugged the northern side so close
it seemed she could almost wade ashore
They were rowing westward; and once
Owatoga said: "We follow the sun; he,
too, will rest soon."
She gave start. 'You must turn
back before sunset" but the savage
rowed on unheeding.
The afternoon wore away, and still
he piled tireless oar.
At length Lavender nerved herself to
ask: Does your friend-the man you
call 'master'-does he know you have
taken me away?" The man shook his
head. my master knows nothing"
After pause, he added: HE only said:
The yellow man must not have her.
He did not say more. What could OWa-
toga do? There was no other way"
Then he knows nothing Of this?"
The Indian shook his head. HE can
trust Owatoga." And this was the bur-
den of his speech, and it vaguely cheered
her.
Later she ventured. the question:
"Shall we not land soon?" AT the
swamp where grow the tamaracks."
She shivered at the gloomy prospect
which was not relieved when he add
ed: 1--WE are going to the old man of
the woods
But though she met with only frown-
ing silence when she asked definite
questions, he was considerable of her
physical comfort. He had brought an
extra cushion and a heavy blanket, and,
arranging them in the bottom of the
boat, babe her lie down. But she de-
clined, sitting bolt upright, with a.