Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-14

lence that suddenly descended upon
the ship they heard him whispering.
What is the meaning Of this? de-
manded Mr.. Wayland.
81 heard you were about to sail. so
came out to see you before
Marsh broke in hoarsely: shes
bad woman. She has come here for
blackmailw
"Blackmaill" cried Wayne Wayland
~ thought as muchp'
That's her game. She wants
money!
Cherry shrugged her shoulders and
showed her white teeth in a smile.
"Mr. Marsh anticipates slightly
You may judge If he is right"
Marsh started to speak, but Mildred
Wayland. who had been watching him
intently. was before him.
"Who sent you here. miss?"
mo one sent me. If Mr.. Marsh will
stop his chatter l can make myself
understood.
Don't listen to her."
Cherry turned upon him swiftly.
you've got to face 1t, so you may as
well keep STILL"
He fell silent.
I'VE heard that Mr. Marsh was go
ing away with you. and came to ask
him for enough money to support his
child while he Is gone"
His child" Wayne Wayland turned
upon his daughters fiance with a face
of stern surprise. willis. tell her she
Is lying"
shes lying" Marsh repeated obedi-
emily. but they saw the truth in his
face.
Cherry spoke directly to Miss Way
land now. II have supported this little
fellow and his mother for year" She
indicated the red haired youngster in
Constantine's arms. THAT is all care
to do. When you arrived Mr.. Marsh
induced Chakawana to take the baby
up river to q fishing camp and stay
there until you had gone. But Con-
stantine heard that he intended to
marry you. and. hearing also that he
intended leaving tonight. Constantine
brought his sister back in the hope
that Mr. Marsh would do what Is
right. You see, he promised to marry
Cbaka~ana long before he met YOU"
Mildred could have done murder at
tie expression she saw In Cherry's
face The woman she had scOrned had
humbled her in earnest. With flash
ing eyes she turned upon her father.
"Since you were 50 prompt in an
nouncing my engagement. perhaps you
can deny it with equal promptness."
"Good God. What a scandal If this
Is truew Wayne Wayland wiped his
forehead.
"Oh. it's true" said Cherry.
In the silence that followed the child
struggled out Of Constantine's arms
and stood beside his mother. the better
to inspect these strangers. His little
face was grimy; his clothes, cut In the
native fashion. were poor and not very
clean. Yet he was more white than
Aleut, and no one seeing him could
doubt his parentage. The seamen had
left .he!r posts and were watching
with such absorption that they failed
to see skiff with single oarsman
swing past the stern Of the Grande
Dame and make fast to the landing.
Still unobserved. the man mounted the
companionway swiftly.
For once in his life Wayne Wayland
was too confused for definite speech.
Willis Marsh stood helpless.
Don't believe herr he broke out.
"She is lying to protect her own
loverw He pointed to Chakawana.
"That girl is the child's mother. but
It's father Is Boyd Emerson!
Boyd Emerson was never in kalvik
until last December" said Cherry.
1.-The child is three years old"
ut seems am being discussed"
said voice behind them. Emerson
Glove his way through the sailors.
striding directly to Marsh. What Is
tue meaning Of this?'
Mildred Wayland laid futtering |
hand upon her breast. Il knew he
would come" she breathed.
Constantine broke his silence for the |
first time, addressing Mildred directly:
"This baby blong Mr.. Marsh. He
say he goin' marry Chakawana. but he
lie. He goin' marry you because you
are rich girl" He turned to Marsh.
"What for you lie. eh?" He leaned
forward with frightful scowl. Il tell
you long time ago Kill you II you
don marry my sister"
Now understand" exclaimed
Boyd. 1T was you who stabbed him
that night in the cannery."
"Yes. Chakawana tell him what the |
pries' say bout woman what don
marry. My sister say she go to hell
herself and don care much. but 1t
amt right for little baby to 60 to hell
too"
what do you mean by that?" asked
Mr.. Wayland.
"The Father say II white man take
Indian woman and dom marry her she
20 to hell for thousan' year-mebbe
two. three thousan' year. Anyhow.
she dom never see Jesus house. That's
bad thingw The breed shook his head
seriously. "Chakawana she's good GIRL
and she 60 to church. give money |
to the prizes, too-plenty money ev'
cry time-btt he says that's no good;
she's got to be marry or she'll burn Tor
always with little baby. And so that's
make her scare, because little baby
amt do nothing to burn that way. Mr.
Marsh he say it's all one lie. and he
don't care II little baby do go to hell
You hear that! He don care for IT.
tie baby"
Constantine's eyes were full OF tears
as he strove laboriously to voice his
religious teachings. He went on with
growing agitation:
"Chakawanu she's mighty scare OF
,I