Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-10
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER EXII.
Nat-u-ritch, with slow impassiveness
lobeyed. She came from the house
with hardly glance at the stranger, |
She had changed but little; still
slender and childish in form, mother.
| hood and the past five years seemed
! to have left no mark upon her save
perhaps. for more marked wistful-
ness of expression. especially when
she looked at Jim and the boy. Her
! life was complete; physical depriva.
lions or disappointments mattered
little to her Taught by Jim the ways
of civilization. she tried to apply them
to her surroundings, but it seemed
to her waste of the golden hours
when she might be following her mas
ter instead across the plains or play
ing with her child 1t was almost
piteous to see how she controlled the
instincts Of her savage desire for free
for the little cabin SO as to please
Jim.
Malcolm Petrie noticed at once the
difference between Nat-u-ritch and the
other Indian women whom he had
seen during the past days, and was
impressed by it.
Hal, at sight of his mother, quick
ly responded to her out-stretched
hand.
"Nat-u-ritch. this Is my te.gllin-my
friend and Jim indicated Petrie. She
inclined her head to the solicitor and
said, "How?" AS her eyes met Pet
rie's shrewd glance an instructive ap.
lprehension caused her to tighten her
arm about the child.
"Te-guin-big chief from out yonder
over the big water Jim explained
but her unflinching gaze made 1t diff
cult for him to go on. He whispered
to Petrie: 81 don't know how to do
tt don't know how to do It," Then
he summoned all his courage and With
, forced smile, pleasantly as though
humoring child, "Nat-u-ritch, te-gun
big chief-come for little Hal"
She flung her arms about the sturdy
little fellow, and a sharp exclamation
was her only answer.
pretty soon make Hal big chief
Touge wayno-te-g uin-good friend
take Hal long way off" "A shudder
, ran through her. She began to grasp
what the strangers presence meant,
He was of her boys fathers race. and
for too lang she had forgotten, what
! in the beginning had so often troub.
! led her, that Jim would some day
, want to return to his own people.
This had been her great fear, but his
2 kindness all these years had lulled to
: rest that ache of the early days.
While these thoughts tormented
her, she could hear Jim still explain
> ing. Long trail. heap long trail
. over mountains, heap big mountains
) Washington"
5 She slipped the child to the other
!. side of her, that he night be farthe,
t away from the silent man who was
3 bringing this woe to Ter, and her
I clutch grew tighter at the word
l washington" Jim explained to Pet.
rie washington means lot to them
i Then he came closer to Nat-l-ritch as
J. he said, impressively:
, "Big Father-send for little Hal
Say make him big chief-te-guin
: cross wide water-heap big boat-Hal
see the rising sun. Pretty soon,
, some day Hal heap wickup-heap cat
!, tle-heap ponies-pretty soon heap
! big chief"
He waited the result of his words
He thought to appeal to her pride and
! ambition for the boy; but she only
. shook her head and gazed at him like
an affrighted animal whose young IL
about to be torn from her.
q Jims fortitude began to desert him
"She doesn't understand. She can't
she can't" he almost moaned. as ht
h turned away, while his clinched hands
and the stiffening of his body showed
!. the strain that was proving almost
, too great for him. This is hard
business. Mr.. Petrie," and Petrie
n could feel the vibrant emotion of These
) two victims of fate. AS Jim moved 6
step away. Nat-u-ritch, still holdins
y the boy, started forward and caugh'
l. his arm as though to hold him back
h Her NM WIS r. da7e-s!t" -i'lt
utter no word; but Jim understood
S the pantomime
mo, Nat-u-ritch-Tim stay here al
J. ways with yon" Something Of he
agony was relieved and she loosenef
her hold on him. Always with you.
Z Jim repeated tenderly. looking int
= the tragic eyes as she eagerly follow
= ed every word. "Only little Hal"
)" AS Nat-u-ritch fully grasped the
meaning of the words. there broke
q from her lips one English wore
J, mol" which rang out on the evenins
o air with wild dry sob Of protest. I
was the anguSned CIV OF uniVeTSa
l. motherhood. The Indian woman sanl
Y on her knees. with her arms abou
n the boy. her face buried on hi!
J. breast. The crouching figure BETRAYED
e the old savage instinct of the female
1t covering her young from the ruthless
hand that would snatch it from her.
n This time both men turned away
1t A purple gray light fell over the yart
le the last traces of the suns glory dis
W appeared and the air grew chilly.
g Jim was the first to speak Kindl.
e but as master who must have ODE
9 dience, he said: 'Nat-u-ritch. l hav'
8 taken counsel. My heart is good. M
q word is wise. have spoken. Go.
o He gently disengaged the boy from
'e her grasp. Nat-u-ritch looked long in
a, to Jim's eyes and as she met his i'm
u movable determination. without ,
IS struggle and with calmness terribl