Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-08-15

care nothing for any man-for all
arr liars! Let me alone! Talk to me
no morel Arrange all things be-
tween yourselves! Give me peace
for a time, or / also will seek the
deep water! What care whether l
am with the windegos of hell or with
the men that make hell here? Leave
me alonew
She went out of the room with de-
fiant head held upright, her finger
nails driven into the palms of her
hands and teeth clenched, trying to
control herself, for she had a long
ing to rush to the river and seek So
lace in its dark flood.
When she reached her fathers tent
she threw herself upon the blankets,
exhausted by excess of suffering.
The wife of old Nimissuts gently
stroked Ameou's forehead without
saying a word, for even the women
of savage people have ways such as
some of their white sisters may
think belong to themselves ex-
clusively.
Her gentleness had some effect,
and by and by the younger woman
was pouring out to her the story of
the last bitter moments she had gone
through.
There be liars in all places, Anne
ou," said the elder women but
Lorimer Yellow Hair was surely one
whom all must believe. Be not too
ready to trust one against the other.
What other lie has Yellow Hair ever
told thee or any one?"
"This one that he is deemed to
have told comes to thee from the
mouth Of Curran To me it is like
the defiling of cache by the filth of
A wolverine. Is not he the man who
sells drink that takes mems speech
away or gives them foul talk? How
did Scarface get that which drove
him crazy? Has there not been talk
of the pelts he keeps to his own uses
vet pays for with the company's
goods?"
Ameou rose on her elbow. A ray
of hope had entered her heart. She
stared at the woman.
"Did Yellow Hair ever do any of
these things" continued the wife of
Nimissuts excitedly. "Oh, Ameou
What kind of a woman art thou to
believe all that man like Curran
saws because a dead man can no Ion
ger speak for himself? Have a care,
child, lest thy baby be still living
and the spirits of the Manitous may
deem thee unworthy of it and let It
perish instead of bringing it back to
theew
"But | saw the writing of the wo-
man who spoke of a child that must
have been his own" said Ameou,
sobbing.
81 know nothing of writing" an
swered the woman. GLOW canst thou
tell that lies are not also written?
But | know that the love of Yellow
Hair was thine, and that if the man
had lived thou wouldst have fought
for It. But now that he is dead that
love is a thing to take away and
bury, as we bury parts of animals
lest our dogs may find them and the
spirits of the animals be offended. Is
it thing to be cast away because
nothing is left of him but his spirit
and it has not yet found voice to
speak to thee in thy dreams ?"
Then Ameou rose from the bed
and chung to the wife of Nimissuts.
The older woman's words had
brought her the first faint spark of
comfort she had received since the
hand of fate had been uplifted
against her.
AS they spoke together the wind
had risen and begun to shake their
tent. Over the river the waves rose
and were blown to spindrift.
A bark canoe that had been laid
upon the bank was caught up by the
gale and dashed to pieces among the
short stumps o. clearing.
"Canst thou hear the voices of the
spirits now ?" asked the chiefs wife.
"Dost thou know what they are say
ing and against whom their anger
has arisen ?"
81 do not" replied the younger
woman. "Who is there that can tell ?
Perhaps it is because | have sinned
against the spirit of my husband who
is dead"
Eve can only bow down and let
the storm pass bv." said the other.
BE patient, Ameou, for there al
ways comes an end to stormes and
tears. Billiards may come and
'reeZe the marrow in mems bones,
yet are ever followed by sunlight so
bright over the SHOWS that it hurts
eyes that are uncovered"
In few hours the clouds passed
and the ~ale died down while myr-
lad of stars were shining in the
heavens.
Ameou, who could not sleep,
crawled out of the tent and sat by
the embers of the fire on which the
evening meal had been prepared.
She remained there for some time,
trying to penetrate mysteries which
minds better trained than hers have
never been able to solve.
CHAPTER XIII.