The San Francisco call., 1906-09-16

a ELL had never known any other
M home than the little log cabin
VI in the settlement at the foot Of
the Rocky Mountains NelIs
mother died when she was a babt
and her father. in his bitter grief,
took his baby girl and his faithful ser
want. John. and went away far UP the
pass. The Ute Indians were friendly
with the white people. and although
they looked with distrust upon the two
men they did not harm them
Nell grew up with only these two
men TO care for her, and she was very
happy. But she was often left alone.
when her father and John went down
to the settlement twenty miles away.
One bright morning when she was
hardly big enough to walk, she
crawied a little way from the cabin
and found a pretty spot. where she
was pulling up the flowers, and laugh
ing and Growing with slse. An old
around the woods chanced upon the
pretty baby with her golden curls and
sunny blue eyes. At first he was as
tonished; he had never seen such
pretty thing before. Then he came a
little closer and stared and stared
Baby Nell looked up and saw the big.
tall man looking ct her. She tottsred
hands and laughed.
The Indian picked her up very care
fully and held her in his strong arms
Nell was perfectly happy She pulled
his thick black hair and poked her
ngcrs into his eyes and pinched him
and cooed with glee. He was delighted
and carried her up with him through
the woods.
That night, when NelIs father and
John came home and could not And
their little girl. they we're nearly wild
with grief and looked for her far and
wide.
In the morning when they were re-
turning to the cabin they met the big
Ute Indian carrying little Nell fast
asleep.
Me no hurties Sun Eyes" he said
in his deep cultural voice as he laid
the baby in her fathers arms. He dis
appeared as silently as lie came
Nell was nearly IL years old now.
Many times since the big Indian car
-ried her on had she been to their set
Elements. One night as she lay in her
bed she felt lonely. and strange dread
seemed TO oppress her. Her father and
John had gone down 20 the settlement
so she could not go to them for COM
fort. Even Red Feather-Red Feather
who had been her friend ever since that
had not come near her lately.
She remembered the day when Red
Feather had brought her q beautiful
little Indian pony and had taught her
TO ride she liked all the Indians and
wss great friends with them. while
the Indians adored their little sun
Eyes" but now IL seemed as II they had
tried TO avoid her If she met them BY
chance.
She had been so happy in their
friendship. Why. had she not spent
whole days with Red Feather in the
woods. while he taught her how to
follow trail and showed her the diff
ferent signs? And then had he not
told her wonderful stories of the Great
Spirit. and had she not herself seen
the strange medicine men? But every
thing was so different now
The air was sultry. as IL Is before a
Thunderstorm. and Nell was restless
and could not stay in bed any longer.
She took up a blanket and wrapped II
around her and went 10 the door Of
the cabin and gazed at the mountains
As she looked up she saw long
tongue OF fame shoot up from one OF
the high peaks that could be seen for
miles around.
Nell dill not look second time; Ehs
knew only too well what that signal