Evening star., 1907-08-11

She doesn't understand. She CARLISLE
can't he almost moaned, as he turned
away. while his ClnCEed hands and the
sufen!ns of his body showed the strain
that was proving almost too Reat for him.
This is hard business, Mr.. Petrie," and
Petrie could feel the vibrant emotion of
step away, Nat-u-ritch, still holding the
boy, started forward and caught his arm
rs though to hold him back. Her mind was
In a daze-she could utter no word; but
Jim understood the pantomime.
she thinks I'm going too" he said, and
hastened to explain away her anxiety.
NO. Nat-u-ri;ch-Jm stay hefe always
with YOU" Something of her agony was
relieved and she loosed her hold on him
| Always with YOU" Jim repeated tenderly,
| looking into the tragic eyes as she eagerly
followed every word, only little Hal"
As Nat-u-r!tch fully grasped the mean
the one English word. NO" which rang
out on the evening air with a wild, dry
sob of protest. 1t was the anguished cry
OF universal motherhood. The Indian wom-
an sank on her knees, with her arms about
the boy, her face buried on his breast.
| The CrouChing figure betrayed the old saw
| age instinct of the female covering her
young from the ruthless hand that would
snatch II from her
| This time both men turned away. A pur-
| pie gray light fell over the yard, the last
! traces OF the suns glory disappeared and
| the air grew chilly.
| Jim was the first to speak. Kindly, but
| as a master who must have obedience he
| said: 'Nat-u-ritch, I have taken counsel.
! My heart is good. My word is wise. I
| have spoken. Go" He gently disengaged
! the boy from her grasp. Nat-u-ritch looked
| long into Jim's eyes, and as she met his
| imnlovable determination, without a strug-
gle, and with a calmness terrible TO see,
| size released the child.
! Jim lifted her to her feet. With her big,
| stricken eyes still fastened on him, she
stood silent for moment; then the bent
half-stumb.ng figure skunk past him. jim
| dared not watch Nat-u-ritch, though he
| could hear her heavy breathing and the
mapping Of her beaded robe against the
ground Us she crossed 10 the stable. Once
Per!e saw her sway, but she had steadieC
herself before he could reach her. AS she
| reached the corral she stopped, and, turn
Ing, flung out her arms in appeal to Jim
but his back was toward her, the chile
| hidden in his embrace. Then he heard The
quick patter Of her feet as she fled out into
the nght-away from these aliens back (
the hills to abandon herself 10 her grief
AS Jim rose he resolved that when tn,
boy had gone he would try to make he
understand that this sacrifice was forcet
uron them, that for the child's sake the,
= must both bear It. and in the future sht
should receive even greater care and com
, fort from him.
This IS harder on her than on me
/, Petrie" he said, as he lifted Hal up OF
g the bench and knelt beside him.
2 Where is she going?' Petrie asked n
, | he walked toward the corral behind whtc
I | she had disappeared.
"Out into the hills TO fight It out alone
9 Mr.. Petrie this is going to be hard on tn
! boy, too. He is a shy little prairie bird an
r | has been great pet"
j He was thinking that perhaps he coul
a | arrange to let Nat-u-ritch have the boy
little longer and keep Petrie with thel
l. awhile. 1T would be rough on him I