The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-03


she understood; but she saw. too. that the
Indians were all armed and some Of them
were painted. Az Red Snake arose to ad-
dress the tribe . menAcins murmur filed the
teepee and the young chiefs whetted their
knives upon the ground.
Red Snakes harangue. uuintel1igible to
Pauline had an electrical effect upon the In
dams. Frequently as ho spoke no turned
toward her and always when he did so he
bent his head upon his breast and raised
his mighty arms in token Of submission to
a power mightier than his own.
As he finished. Pauline arose. swaying .
little from her great weakness. She shook
her head In token that she did not under
stand. Her outstretched. pleading hands
bew1ldered. but subdued the warlike assem-
bly,.
from the rear circle Of the audience shut.
fed forward the stranEest man Pauline had
ever seen. His undersised. STOPPING form
was sarbed IN . miners CASTOR red shirt,
ranchman's e1.trousers. : pair Of tattered
with q lone feather In the band Of It. It
was white Mans Hat. half-bresd intsrprs'
ter.
Az he approached. bringing and bowling.
kindly eye cleaned from under his bushy
brow scrutinizing her in flashes between his
obesances. Unlike the other Indians, he
was not afraid to look the Great White
the last words Of Red Snake:
according to the prophecy. You have
come from the heart OF the world to LEAD
Us against those who steal our land
bewilderment. Then. as the meaning OF the
words, with the meaning Of the strange
gathering, flashed upon her mind. she took .
step forward. speaking in earnest protest.
But she spoke only to the Chief, for the
Indians had broken all restraint and were
crushing their way out OF the teepee. with
cries and brandishing Of weapons. They
swept the little Interpreter with them. And
Of appeal only the pleading OF wronged
goddess for vengeance upon her enemies. 40
called the women Of his household. who
shyly led the Queen away.
Darkness had fallen as the women glided
ahead Of her to Z spot outside the main VII
lage. where q spacious teepee had been
erected apart Only a peaceful moon and 2
Armament glittering with stars lighted
terrifying yells, the rattle Of tom-toms and
occasionally a rifle shot as the braves pre-
pared their spirits for the test Of battle
Pauline found her new home laden with
tribe. There were rugs richer than those in
the Chiefs house: the walls were festooned
with strung beads. and on the large. low
couch of bear skins lay tho most splendid
of Indian rafment.
The women. with better understanding
than men of the earthly needs OF immortals.
made her lie down. while they bathed her
aching temples and wounded hands, TO
placed her torn garments with a gorgeous
blanket robe and smoothed her flying tres
ses into long comfortable brafds.
Other women came bringing food-dsh,
blackened by the open flame. but fresh and
early berries. And there was a pipe and q
pouch Of agency tobacco with which the
goddess might soothe the hours before ~
pose should she feel inclined.
-
looked on In silent approval. When she had
finished. she arose smiling and and signed
to them that she would rest. They left soft
ly, and neither the exciting recol1ections Of
braves outside could hold her for . moment
loneer from the blessedness Of sleep.
She slept far into the next morning. But
90 did the village. for the Indians had rev.
fore. Il was nearly noon before she attired
herself In = fringed and beaded dress OF
bucksk1n, with leggfngs and exquisite little
moccasans and had laughingly permitted
painted war feather In her hair. Thus clad
and with her wide braids falling from tom
pie to knee, Pauline sat regally to receive
the morning call Of Red Snake.
pleasure In the game Of being an Immortal.
Pauline's questing spirit was too happy IN
adventure not to find q thrill In being thus
translated from civilized women to savage,
from queen to angeEan in twentysour
hours. Finding herself feared. she could
quiet her own alarm.
Red Snakes call was formal and politely
brief. He brought with him the amusing In
terpreter to inquire II the Spirit had found
comfort In the hospitality Of his people. and
more particularly if the war dance Of the
preceding night had given her satisfaction.
Pauline replied. with gracious solsmnity:
had been comfoIted By the pleasant music