The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-14
G~foneS, Bones
~ find Bugs.
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expedition was made up IL was ue-
cided to unite professional work with
pleasure Some of the professors took
their wives. some their daughters, and
among the bachelors and young ladies
were one or two inciplent love affairs.
For instance, Miss Nellie Marchand,
whose father occupied the chair Of
the French language and literature,
had been attracted to young Professor
Stewart, curator of the university mu-
scum Professor Stewart was so in
tent upon stones, bones and bugs that
he had no eye for the charms OF the
young lady, who, by the bye, was very
pretty.
Having reached n far western spot
rich in geological and other specimens,
the party settled for the summer In
camp. making forays In parties, In
couples or individually. When they
left the east the Indians on not far
distant reservation were as peaceful as
a litter of kittens. Before the unlver-
sity party had been In camp a fort
night the red men had broken their linn
its and were ready TO tomahawk any
white man. woman or child they met
One morning n cowboy rode into the
camp and announced the fact to the
startled intellectuals. What added to
the terror oecasioned by the news was
that there were several small groups
at the time out looking for specimens.
Among those who were out and did
not come in was the curator. Miss
Ma ~
before any one else. Although she
was in agony at his danger, she said
nothing, but started out in the dlrec-
tion she had seen the professor go an
hour before to warn him. She walked
a mile, regardless OF her own danger
In her effort TO warn the man she
loved, when, coming to rise In the
ground, she saw sight that para
lyzed her. Barely 200 yards from her
was Professor Stewart cracking stone
with a hammer, and not hundred
yards from the professor were dozen
Indians on ponies dashlng toward him
with blood in their eyes.
The first thing Miss Marchand did
was to faint. This was blind luck, for,
falling. she was concealed from view.
Meanwhile the red men swooped
down ON the professor, who ON hear
Ing a clatter looked up to behold Inn
mediate redhot death. However, since
he was one white man against their
dozen they were not In a hurry. Tor
ture or murder might wait. What they
were first absorbed in was their cap
! tlve's possessions. They knew enough
or civilization to appreciate the value
OF his watch, hammer loose change
and penknife. They plunged their
hands In his other pockets and took
out stones. Every receptacle was filed
with them-stones, stones, nothing
but stones. But In his inside vest
pocket were some decayed bones. The
Indians looked at one another in won
der.
A tiny box lay near. Suddenly no
ticing 1t, they made rush for 1t.
Here at last must be something they
| could exchange for fire water, for pow
der, lead, blankets. Opening 1t, their
wonder was tenfold. 1t was full OF
bugs.
Suddenly an explanation came to the
leader. He tapped his forehead with
his finger. The others saw his mean
ing and assented. The professor was
an imbecile.
One Of the redeeming features of the
North American Indian has always
been kindness for the feebleminded.
Any injury to such persons they con-
slider sure to be visited upon them.
They closed the bug box and handed
It TO their captive. They picked UP
the stones they had scattered about
and placed them again In the profess
or's pockets. They restored his watch
and other useful articles. Then. their
march for a definite purpose having
been interrupted, they mounted their
ponies and rode hurrledly away. Pro
fessor Stewart turned his face straight
toward the camp and began to triangu-
late In that direction.
Miss Marehand recovered conscious
ness, crawled forward and. looking
over the crest, saw the Indians rihlng
what she supposed TO be the curator's
dead body. She tainted again. When
the professor came that way with his
stones and bones and his box OF bugs
he saw sight that astonished him
the body OF Miss Marchand. Perhaps
Il was an exuberance of feeling at his
escape; perhaps It was the girls con-
dition. At any rate, 1t struck him that
there was something in her dearer
than stones, bones and bugs. Kneellng
beside her, he pressed his warm lips
against her cold ones.
Now. It happened that after Miss
Marchand started out TO warn Profess
or Stewart not only she, but the pro-
fessor, was missed. Every one In
camp started out IN different direc-
tlon to hunt for them. Mrs. Marchand
and Professor Mackinnon happened