The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-22
ON THE OTHER SHORE
~ c. z RYDER
CcopyFlght, " shoFtatorg PIP. col

Canadian river with very little va
riety Of scenery and none whatever
Of anything else, when you begin to
think It doubtful whether there is any
way out, and highly improbable that
you ever find 1t, when your compan-
ions voice makes you wriggle and you
hate to meet each others eyes, then
It is as good as being snatched from
the Jaws Of death TO see the smoke
Of somebody else's camp down the
next bend.
Arthur May and were in the con
dition described on the twenty-eighth
Of August, 190--, at eighty thirty in
the morning. At that moment we slid
out Of a big bullrushy meadow upon
a lake about five miles long by three
miles wide, and probably very beautl-
full If one were in condition to care
But the thing that absorbed our atten-
ton was a canoe drawn up on the 9TH
er shore about mile away, and the
CLEAN Of a duck tent through the
trees.
AS we came near the shore /
thought l distinguished through the
trees two persons sitting on The
round beside the tent, but before l
had fully made them out the bow Of
our canoe touched the shore, and
jumped out and pulled up.
Down the bank to meet US came the
most extraordinary spectacle OF a
man have ever seen in my life He
was, | should think, between 25 and
80 years old, tall and naturally OF a
powerful build, but in the most pitt
ful state Of starvation. His shirt was
open at the throat, and his bones
positively glistened white through
his brown skin But the most aston,
ishing and shocking thing about him
was the perfect poise and good breed
ing with which he greeted us, Just as
though he were putting us at our ease
at some commonplace reception in
town.
Good morning, he said. My name
Is Waite-Chandler Waite.
We conformed as best we could, re
turned his greeting and told him oul
names
Delighted 10 see you" he went or
with that awful incongruous savoil
faire, though / am afraid I cant OF
fer you very hospitable entertainment
Won't you come up and meet ms
wife?"
He turned and led the way up tn,
bank. At the tent he stopped and
bowed back to us. his strange eyes
directed toward us with the most In
deserlbahle lack OF focus, like a mar
walking in his sleep,
Margaret, let ME introduce Mr.
Kimball and Mr. May; gentlemen. m,
wife"
She was sitting against a tree anC
she did not move to acknowledge the
} introduction She was stone dead.
We looked back at Waite, expecting
some instant sign Of shock; but n,
showed no surprise.
You will pardon her not rising
she has seemed very tired for some
days. | am afraid the trip has beer
too much for her: she has always beer
somewhat delicate"
He evidently expected us 10 shakl
hands with her. and one after the 9th
er we lifted the pitiful little limp han,
and dropped It back on her lap Sh'
was very small and had been pretty
aud she had evidently died in such
quiet, patient way.
Arthur and | looked at each othe
and grit our teeth. Arthur was tn
hrst TO pull himself together.
4Mr. Waite" he said, Il don't knoy
whether you've had your breakfas
3 yet. but we haven't had ours and /
, yonll allow us to cook on your oleal
r ing wen be very much obliged pos
! sibly you'll Join us II you haven
a breakfasted.'
9 The man said. Certainly" wit
) an afr Of being glad TO confer favor
] The idea Of hunger had eyldentl
Z. passed completely out Of his mind.
: We built a FIRE. and brought coffee
bacon, and biscuit UP from the cano
only little, because much will Xii
Z man who has starved for man
days. When everything was read
1 we served IL to him in his own Gu
4 and plate. lie took them, but onl
! TO set them down before the dea
! woman.
mr. Kimball and Mr.. May have No
breakfastcd shall VIC keep them con
panyY And the astonishing thing Il
that when she did not touch the foo
he himself refused 10 eat. We urge
I, him and plead with him, but with th
n same CHASTITY courtesy he RENAME
g firm. | think he no more knew tina
!. he was hungry than he knew that sh
g was dead.
After the travesty Of breakfast Al
/ thur and I went down to the shore. o.
= tenslbly to wash the dishes really [
settle our course OF action. Here "
D were, at large In the province OF Qul
bee and more OF less lost. with nc
more than enough provisions at best
I and now. In addition to this. we wer