East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-11-28
CHAPTER II.
The Midnight Minisuations.

Z
nim."
It was the voices of Pio-pio-mox.
moX and DR.. Whitman repeating the
Lords prayer in the Cayuse tongue
in unison. beside the dying daughter
of the old Chieftain Of the Umatillas
| Shortly after Five Crows left the
Whitman mission to go toN his lodge
that evening a runner came from the
Umatilla river 80 miles to the south
ward, asking DR.. Whitman to hurry
to the lodge of o-pio-mox- mox,
whose only daughter was at the
point of death with the measles
which were ravaging the tribe.
Through the chilling rain. over the
dim trails, guided alone by his
knowledge of the Wild hills and ra-
vines, the devoted missionary sped.
1t was midnight when he reached
the lodge of the mourning chief.
The alders were dripping and bend
ing under the sleet The dim fire in
the center of the chiefs tepee threw
out but a flickering glare into the
enveloping darkness. The death wall
of the mother could be heard. The
old chieftain sat in silence with
bowed head.
He was a Christian. He had been
converted by Whitman and still be-
lieved. But this last blow was ter
rible to withstand. Was the teach
ing of 10 Lewis true. after all? He
revolved over and over the traitorous
words Of the half breed. Lewis had
been a missionary of evil among the
tribes ever since the Whitman mis-
sion was established.
Silently Whitman entered the te-
pee where the young maiden, in the
bloom and beauty of bouyant youth
lay dying upon the couch of. skins.
She, too, was a convert of Whitman's
teaching and attended his Sunday
school at the mission.
The first glance told the practiced
physician the sad story. The Indian
mothers intuition told her that the
end was near. And She though suf-
fering with the deadly malady, was
clasping the childs hand and moan
ing. She was too weak to sit up,
and was reclining beside the dying
child.
The missionary knelt beside the
child and prayed fervently and then
the chieftain and the missionary re-
peated with bowed heads, in the linn
pid Cayuse tongue, the simple pray
er the old chief had learned years
before and in which his savage soul
had the utmost faith, "Our Sfather
who art in heaven" It was the only
prayer he knew, but 1t sufficed for
this sad and tragic scene.
Slowly the young life ebbed away.
The mother grew too weak to raise
up to look into the child's face as
the spirit of the child passed out in
the silence and gloom of the menac-
ing night, -pio-mox-mox fell on
his face and wept aloud.
The faithful missionary laid the
body of the child aside and wrapped
it in rich robes to await the burial,
when he himself should return and
conduct the service of the church.
Turning his attention to the wife
and mother, Whitman found that
she, too, was dying. So constant had
been her care of the child that ex-
posure and anxiety had assisted the
ravages OF the disease, until she was
belond all human. succor.
Before P.o-pio-mox- ceased
mourning for his daughter the spirit
OF his vie had also passed and he was
alone in the world.
my brother" said the gentle mis-
sionary, God is good and does what
is best for us. Let us not be angry
with Him. White men have sor-
rows. My mother, my grand moth
er, and my father and grand fathers
must all die. / love them ALL but
I must lose them"
At first Pio-pio- turned
away in scorn. This double stroke
and the affliction of his people
wrought hot the anger In his heart.
Was not Lo Lewis right?. Was not
the white man numbering the In
dians by stealth. in order to take his
land? He looked long and haught-
lily at the kneeling missionary who
was pouring out his soul for the
stricken savage heart.
Pio-pio-mox-mox was the great
mediator and counsellor who kept
the hot hearts in check. Whitman
knew the peace and quietude OF the
tribe depended upon the advice Of
this man. One word from him would
turn loose Taloukaikt, 10 Lewis and
Tom Hill. Murder would be com
mitted in a hundred hideous ways.
These burning thoughts flashed
through the mind Of the missionary
while he prayed and pleaded with the
taciturn chieftain.
After a long and stubborn silence
-pio-mox-mox spoke.
''Dr. Whit'an, all l have loved on
earth have been taken away. The
two companions of my life are now
cold and still and / am left alone
an old man. Why does your God give
this burden to me, who am one OF
His children? Why does he leave
me desolate while I am His child
and your brother? Answer me right
Speak the truth. have heard Jo
Lewis speak. His speech sounds
we'll Tomorrow Taloukaikt, Five
Crows, 10 Lewis and Tom Hill come
here to ask my consent to kill the
white men. IF you speak we'll and
my heart can understand will drive
bad thoughts out OF my mind. II
you cannot speak well, my heart will
be with 10 Lewis"
my beloved brother" said Marcus