The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-09-14
Lavender
CreightOn's
Lovers
By OLIVIA B. STROHM
Copyright, 1905, by Olivia B. strohm).

er that there was double reason for
haste-in their unwiilingness to further
trespass on his hospitality, no less
than in the Impotence of the ladies to
join their relatives. Reasons which,
though with all hospitable intent, the
colonel supplemented by the practical
suggestion that they take advantage of
the present frosty condition of the
trail A little later, when the spring
thaw had set in, the swamp lands
would be well nigh impossible.
There being no available guides at
the fort. it was decided that the sol
diers accompany them to the nearest
Indian village, a half days march
away, where they could obtain ponies
and a guide for the journey north.
The little party arrived at nightfall
within the Indian settlement, and the
soldiers returned to the 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 Pickering
freight but served 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. Inc brush of fox and the
head of a deer hung over the door
way; stray feathers blew over the
floor as the wind stole in. Mrs.
Creighton gave SILVER of disgust.
How grewsome this place is.
Trophies of dead things everywhere!
l 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
curtained the threshold. A rush of
air made the torch burn low. and in
the darkness they could dimly discern
the figure of 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. as 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! Then he had followed
them. Was it as friend or foe? Law
ender rose and went to the opening.
UI ON bora OwotOoo
There was a nervous culver 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 are a friend to this white
maid?"
For answer, the other said, with ir-
relevance: "The arrow was taken out
quick; Owatoga was not left to die"
"Then you are better? am so glad"
Lavender said, and the Indian respond
ed, gravely: "Owatoga is well; he will
be the guide for the white people to-
morrow"
Without waltz. g for thanks, without
further explanation, he disappeared,
and Lavender whispered, triumphant
ly, as they reentered the wigwam: 81
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
CLARK trail. The town of New Madrid
was their first destination = there
they would await the earliest boat
north.
On stout Indian ponies tEey rode;
sometimes .overdamp 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
a hostile show. By night camp fires
kept off the cold, and sterner foes.
whose hungry bowling was a mock
ing lullaby.
Owatoga rode ahead, rigid-silent as
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 without
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-gradually she had come to be
the sum Of It
Bent upon ambitious hopes. his fu-