Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-26

Hi ike SKyrOCKet.
She cried out at him 'Go-go-goy
and finally he took up his bundle, say.
ing as he stepped out slowly:
"ALl right! But I'm coming back.
and you'll have to listen to me. don't
mind being called squaw man.
You're pretty near white, and you're
good enough for me. I'll treat you
right. Why, I'll even marry you II
you're dead set on it. Sure"
She could scarcely breathe, but
checked her first inclination to call
Poleon, knowing that it needed only a
word from her to set that nut brown
savage at Runnion's throat. Other
thoughts began to crowd her brain and
to stifie her. The fellows words had
stabbed her consciousness and done
something for her that gentler means
would not have accomplished. They
had opened her eyes to thing that
she had forgotten--a hideous thing
that had reared its fangs once before
to strike, but that her dreams Of hap
pfness had driven out Of her Eden.
All at once she saw the wrong that
had been done her and realized from
this brute's insult that those early
fears had been well grounded. It sud-
denly occurred to her that in all the
hours she had spent with her lover,
in all those unspeakably sweet and
intimate hours, there had never been
one word Of marriage. He had looked
into her eyes and vowed he could not
live without her, and yet he had never
said the words he should have said,
the words that would bind her to him.
|. His arms and his lips had comforted
her and stilled her fears; but, after all,
he had merely made love. A cold fear
crept over the girl. She recalled the
old corporars words Of few weeks
ago, and her conversation with Stark
came back to her. What If it were
true-that which Runnion implied?
What II he did not intend to ask her,
after all? What If he had only been
amusing himself? She cried out sharp.
~ at this, and when Doret staggered
In beneath a great load of skins he
found her in strange excitement.
When he had finished his accounting
with the Indian and dismissed him
she turned an agitated face to the
Frenchman.
"Poleon," she said, I'm in trouble.
oh, I'm in such awful trouble!'
cts dat Runnion! seen i'm pass
on de store vile I'm down below"
His brows knit in a black scowl, and
his voice slid off pitch In tone.
swat he say, eh?"
"No, no; it's not that. He paid me
q great compliment" She laughed
harshly. "Why, he asked me to marry
him." The man beside her cursed at
this, but she continued: "Don't blame
him for liking me. I'm the only wo-
man for 500 miles around-or I was
until this crowd came-so how could
he help himself? No; he merely
showed me what fool I've been"
II guess you better tell me all bout
dis ting" said Poleon gravely. "You
know I'm all tam ready for help you,
Necia. Wen you was little teller an
got bust your finger you run to me
queeck, an feex It,"
eyes, know, dear Poleon." she as
scented gratefully. you've been q
brother to me, and I need you now
more than ever needed you before.
can't go to father. He wouldn't un-
derstand, or else he would understand
too much and spoil it all, his temper is
SO quick. Don't think I'm unwomanly,
Poleon, for I'm not. may be foolish
and faithful and too trusting, but I'm
not-unmaidenly. You see, I've never
been like other girls, and he was so
fine, so different, he made me love
him. It's part of soldiers training,
suppose. 1t was so sweet to be near
him and to hear him tell Of himself
and all the world he knows. just Let
myself drift. I'm afraid-I'm afraid
listened too well and my ears heard
more than he said. My head is so full
of books, you know
"He should have know dat, too"
said Poleon.
Eyes," she f1ared up. "He knew
was only an Indian girl"
The only color in Dorets face lay
now in his cheeks, where the sun had
put it, but he smiled at her-his warm,
engaging smile-and laid his great
brown hand upon her shoulder softly.
GIVE look in bees eye an I'm al
ways t'ink he's good man. dom
never t'ink he'll maxi fun Of poor little
gal"
But he has. Poleon. That's just
what he has DONE" She came near to
breaking down and finished pathetical-
ly, They're telling the story on the
street, SO Runnion says"
"Dat's easy ting for feex," he said.
"Runnion she dom spread no more
story lax dat.'
II don't care what they say. I want
the truth. want to know what he
means, what his intentions are. He
swears he loves me, and yet he has
never asked me to marry him. He has
gone too far. He has made fool Of
me to amuse himself, and-and I
couldn't see it until today. He's laugh
ing at me, Poleon; he's laughing at
me now! oh. can't bear it,"
The Frenchman took up his wide hat
from the counter and placed it care
fully upon his head, but she stopped
him as he moved toward the door. for
she read the meaning Of the glare in
his eyes.