The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-08-13
III l seek you it might be-. -

a. ! 0COA yOu IL mlkul U0.
1T will require more than peaceful
travel to do that" she replied soberly.
There is going to be war"
War! The Indians of the north.
west?"
Yes; the time has come-is here.
The council at Sandusky was for nc
other purpose. Girty's message was
merely an excuse for the Wyandot.
to join the other tribes. He confessed
as much to me. 1t was because my
father realized his helplessness long.
er to restrain British influence, that he
disappeared. 1t is war. monsieur"
But not between u.s." l insisted,
shocked at the picture. "Mademoiselle,
come with me. There is nothing left
to hold you to this life among saw.
ages. With your father dead, why
should you continue to bury yourself
In these woods? You have education,
refinement, gentleness: why should
you not 60 now. before war breaks
along the border!''
And desert my people?"
But they are not your people; you
- "AASOs NV ACO. A0t 0luAl1 uIOp
Of Indian blood in your veins does not
make you Wyandot. You have moth
irg else in common with them. Why
not be yourself. choosing life among
those Of your own racer"
l thought she hesitated, and |
grasped her hand more closely, the
hot blood leaping in my veins. In the
dim 1iOhf I nn,,1H hnv 20
the eyes downcast.
mo. monsieur" she said at last,
very low. 1T is good Of you to think
thus of me. but-but cannot do that.
You must not urge. The Wyandots
need me-more now that my father is
gone than ever before. They are my
people; was born to them. and played
as child in their villages. They love
me, trust me. and help them by
teaching them the Christ. To desert
them would be to desert him. l can.
not do that, monsieur, merely to graft
fy myself"
But have no call upon your" l in.
sisted in desperation.
mo. monsieur" and she was look
ing at me now with some amusement.
IT Is scarce an hour since l believed
you a murderer. We do not know each
other. Let me trust, and believe in
you; do not speak like that"
Il meant nothing wrong, mademoi-
selle." broke in hastily. stung by her
words Of reproof. "You have come to
me out Of the woods like q new life. l
know it is strange. all strange. but
there is already something between
US that can never be severed"
is there, monsieur"
yes; race makes no difference. l
thought it did once. When you said
back there in the shadow of the stock
ade that you were Wyandot it was
as if you struck me blow in the face.
l swore then l would think Of you no
more, yet, even that night, you were in
my dreams, and ever since your face
has been in my memory"
felt her handclasp tighten on mine
although her body remained motion.
less.
"You do not believe me in earnest ?"
Il! How can l, monsieur? think
you jest, you amuse yourself. Let us
stop it all now. You go back to your
people, to mine. 'and we will both
forget. No! Do not say more! will
not listen. Come with me to the boat.
l followed her down the bank,
words burning on my lips she gave me
no chance to speak, for she moved
with quick decision. The two men
had the canoe turned over, at the very
edge of the water, and the scout was
upon his knees in the sand. He looked
up hastily at our approach.
Il reckon we stay here. miss" he
said soberly Somebody has smashed
a hole through the bottom with a
stone"
She uttered little cry of alarm,
leaning over his shoulder.
"A hole! How could that be? Sure
ly it was no accident!"
He arose to his feet, brushing off his
knees.
That's what l told the Dutchman,
though neither of us could find the
rock. l reckon the Englisher did that
job; he had it all figured out. and
meant to keep us yere."
saw her look up at the mans face,
and then about in bewilderment.
You think that-why?"
Cause it seems ter me nat'ral.
! reckon it's bout what l would done
| if l was in his fix. BE had proof
against us, if he could get some In
juns along as witnesses. Nobody
would ever believe what we said, or
even wait ter listen. All he had to dc
was catch US yere, charge us with
murder, an turn them devils loose
| Thet would let him out slick as a
whistle"
She stood erect, one hand pressed
against her temple.
"Then-then what is to be done?
she questioned blankly, "why-what-
quick, look there!" She was bending
forward and pointing out at the lake
Some dark. moving object was visible
in the water only a few yards from
shore.
Brady flung forward his rife. yet