The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-30
eayzneeeeGxrnpe
eeetffsstettts
:: THE FACE IN THE
!: SHINING WATERS
is!,s!'!I',!!!::!s!..!,!!!,s! s!,!'!',! !.!,!!,s

Slri. Sne nVed long way on from
New York. Her home was in tiny,
tiny hut, called a 'shack." The
shack was one of about nineteen
that made up a "ranchery." And
the ranchery stood at the foot of
noble mountain, on narrow ledge
of land, fronting wide river.
Perhaps you think that this sounds
pretty? Well, it looked pretty, too.
But Ma-kwat-ko found it very lone
some. She had no one to play with,
for most of the children of her age
were at a mission school not far
away. There were bigger girls, who
wove Indian baskets-the funny long
baskets in which Indian women keep
their babies. No doubt you have
seen pictures of Indian mammas,
with their pappooses slung on their
backs. Ma-kwat-ko could weave, too.
But still she was lonely, for the big
girls did not talk much, and to her
never at all.
But one day Ma-kwat-ko had an
adventure. She never told any one
about it. She kept it all to herself.
But 1t was a most wonderful adven-
ture.
1t began in this way: Toosha and
Hist-ko were talking as their busy
fingers wove. Said Toosha:
Tonight l go up the mountain,
to the Shining Waters"
''Why go you?" asked Hist-ko.
Toosha laughed. "'Tis the full
of the moon" she said. "And I'll
see, maybe, face in the waters"
Then Hist-ko laughed too.
Makwat-ko quite understood. If,
in the full of the moon you went up
the steep trail and by midnight stood
by the shining waters you would see
the face of the man whose squaw you
were to be.
But suddenly there flashed into
her mind that you might see other
things She did not want to see the
face of a man. She did not want to
cook and sweep for any man, but, be-
ing a little girl, she might see the
face of her next playmate. She had
been so lonely since the last one went
to the mission school!
So that night, when the two bigger
girls, their shawls we'll round their
dark heads, crept up the trail Gather
and mother sleeping and knowing
not), Ma-kwat-ko followed them at a
safe distance. The night was fresh
and cool, as nights always are among
fh< tot -hA chi
cred a little once or twice. The stars
shone like eyes in the dark sky and
the moon was brilliant.
On they went, on and up, over the
well beaten trail. Then they left it,
striking into a little path at its side.
Here, on dry moss and fallen twigs,
they travelled, Ma-kwat-ko after
them, till they came to the wide sill
yer pool formed in the hollow of
great rock and fed by unseen streams
the pool known to the Indians as
the Shining Waters.
1t was midnight now. The two
girls flung aside their shawls and one
at time looked into it. But they
saw nothing With laugh, Hist-ko;
with grunt Of anger. Toosha turned
away. They were full of themselves
or they would have heard twig snap
under Ma-kwat-ko's little foot. But
they did not. And as they turned to
retrace their steps the child crept for
ward and, kneeling on the POOLS
brink, gazed eagerly into the Shining
Waters. They had seen nothing
What would she see? Or would she
see anything?
The surface Of the pool was very
still. Now and again a wandering
breeze just crisped its silver into the
tiniest ripples = then again they
passed away, and the water was a
sheet of silver once more.
Suddenly the stiffness broke again,
but no wind stirred the waters. They
were still, and in the centre was a
face-such face as Ma-kwat-ko had
never seen-had never dreamed of.
1t was fair as one of the lilies whose
three petals peep in the spring from
their green leaves. The hair hung
around the lovely face in beautiful
curls, instead of being straight like
all the hair Ma-kwat-ko had ever
seen before. The little Indian girl
nearly tumbled into the water she
was so surprised! Then her heart
filled with joy. Would this lovely
creature come and play with her?
Indian children do not, as a rule
scream or cry out. But Ma-kwat-kC
gave cry then. Not at what she
saw-but at what she heard! 1t was
q voice-a mans voice.
She did not dare look up! She die
not understand the words, which
were: "Now, Maisie-you've seen {
wishing we'll by moonlight" She
only knew that she was alone, an(
very far fyom home, and that it wal
night-cold, strange, terrible night.
Then she saw that a man was be
side her-a white man! She saw nj
one else, though there was anothe
person there. She scrambled to he
feet and ran into the bushes. Then
finding a cleared and hilly part o
fha trail she did not trust her flee