The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-01-27


very top Of our own beautiful falls.
where they have canvas shells-to
shoot the falls. and that be amuSe too.
And that is not all-non. They
Child, child" demonstrated her moth.
er, do not so on so. They mean
we'll and want to be friendly. And.
anyway. nothing we can do will
Change
''That is not ALL" repeated Suzette.
''This morning some of them come on
our own land with things to measure
around our own cabin. and l did hear
one of them say the slope would soon
be theirs and that it would he beau
ti;ful spot for a bun ga-low. Think.
mother. The land has been ours since
the time Of my great-grandfathpr, with
nobody but ourselves here. and all the
game and fish for us alone. and now
they come here and walk across the
land and make some figures. and all
they have to do is to send the figures
away and the land will be theirs for
ever and through all time! That is
what hear the man say. Bah. What
kind of civilize do you call it. this
open up? 1t is not we who have live
here. God did not make two lands for
one man."
"Hsll. Suzette!" anxiously. "They
may hear you and drive us away when
they own the land. We are nothing
but squatters. they say"
I'VE have lived here. and they have
not" flashed Suzette. 'And what are
the figures but marks that any school,
boy can make! look at them anG
know. The first paper the man they
call surveyor make he lay down. and
the wind blow it toward me. Then be
make another. And when they go
pick 1t up. have it now. and it lie
nothing but some figures and some let.
ters."
Her mother was usually calm and
submissive to fate. but now quick
light flashed to her eyes.
III we could get the paper to Que
bee first. Suzette." she almost breathed.
''maybe-maybe the land would be
ours. had an uncle who got some
land that way once. Another man
was try to get it. but my uncle reach
the land place first. and the land have
been his ever since. and now no man
can take it except they pay him mon
ey and he is willing. lift we could
get our land like that"
Suzette drew a paper from her bos-
ON. and the two women bent over it
eagerly. almost reverently. for to both
it was alike unintelligible.
did you hear the man say when he
take his paper to the land place,
Suzette?"
"Not till next week. They were stand
near the cabin. and could not help
to hear. They will fish this week and
hunt. and the next week when they
start home they will go to Quebec.
too. and steal our land"
"If they can" the submissive face
growing vet firmer with its new pur-
pose. But we try to do like my uncle
did first. only" with note of appre-
hension in her voice. "these people
know things. and they have been to
quebec. The man who try to steal my
uncle's land was only tramp seller
Of pins, with slow wits, and it was
race Of legs. This may not be SO easy.
but we will try. You hurry to the
traps and find your father, Suzette.
and tell him to come quick. He must
start with the sunset, for it will be
long, hard journey, and he will have to
60 on foot. When they 60 It will be
with fast horses. But there Is the
weeks start. Hurry, Suzette!"
But the girl only drew herself up.
shaking her head.
'.Not father" she said. He would
never get to Quebec. He would run
1t nrst, meaning to do everything. but
when he found water or sign Of
game he would stop to fish or hunt
and forget everything. No. no. not
mon pere. Now, there is way we
must not risk. will 60 myself"
"You, Suzette" incredulously. "You
cannot. child. 1t is three days jour.
ney. and you have never been day
from home"
''Only two days BY water. mother.
Continued on page q