River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-03-11

venomous eyes, she cursed him, way.
ing her hands toward a silent, full
wrapped form that still lay on the sled
which had hauled it in.
What had happened Smoke could
only guess. and as be came to Means
fire he was prepared for second ours
ing. Instead, he saw McCan himself
industriously chewing a strip of carl
bou meat.
I'm not fghtin' man." he whining
~ explained. But Shorty got away,
though they're still after him He
surely put up fight He plugged two
bucks that'n get around all right An
he croaked one square through the
chest"
just met the widow"
"Old Snass'll be wantin' to see YOU"
McCan added. ''Them's his orders.
Soon as you come in you was to go to
his ire. ! amt squealed. You don't
know nothin'. Keep that in mind.
Shorty went off on his own hook along
with me-"
At Snass' fire Smoke found Labisk-
wee. She met him with eyes that
shone with such softness and tender
ness as to frighten him.
I'm glad You didn't try to run
away" she said. "You see, T. She
hesitated, but her eyes didn't drop.
They swan with light unmistakable.
Il lighted my fire, and of course it was
for you. 1t has happened | like you
better than everybody else in the
world. Better than my father | love.
1t is very strange. | love as Francesca
loved, as Iseult loved Old -Four Eyes
spoke true. Indians do not love this
way. But my eyes are blue, and | am
white. We are white, you and L."
Smoke had never been proposed to in
his life, and he was unable to meet the
situation Worse, it was not even a
proposal His acceptance was taken
for granted. SO thoroughly was it all
arranged in Labiskwee's mind, so
warm was the light in her eyes that he
was amazed that she did not throw her
arms around him and rest her head on
his shoulder. Then be realized. despite
her candor of love, that she did not
know the pretty ways of love- Among
the primitive savages such ways did
not obtain. She had had no chance to
learn.
She prattled on, chanting the happy
burden of her love, while he Strove to
grip himself in the effort somehow to
wound her with the truth And then
Snass strobe in to the fire through the
falling snowf1akeS, and Smokes oppOr-
tunity was lost.
Good evening"" Snass buried gruff-
ly. Your partner has made mess
Of it. l am glad you had better sense"
You might tell me what's happen
ed Smoke urged.
The fash of white teeth through the
stained beard was not pleasant. Ger
tainly, I'll tell you. Your partner has
killed one of my people. That SWIVEL
ing shrimp, McCan, deserted at the
first shot. He'll never run away again.
But my hunters have got your partner
in the mountains. and they'll get him.
He'll never make the Yukon basin. AS
for you. from now on you sleep at my
fire. And therell be no more scouting
With the young men. l shall have my
eye on you"
Smokes new situation at Snass' fire
was embarrassing. He saw more of
Labiskwee than ever. In it's sweetness
and innocence the frankness of her
love was terrible. Her glances were
love glances. Every look was caress.
A score of times he nerved himself to
tell her of Joy Gastell. and a score Of
times he discovered that he was a
coward.
The damnable part of it was that La
biskwee was so delightful. She was
good to look upon. Despite the hurt to
his self esteem Of every moment spent
with her. he pleasured in every such
moment For the first time in his life
be was really learning woman, and SO
clear was Labiskwee's soul, SO appall-
ing in it's innocence and ignorance.
that he could not misread a line of it.
All the pristine goodness of her sex
was in her. uncluttered by the con-
ventiOnality Of knowledge or the de-
ceit of self protection
And Smoke learned about himself.
He remembered back to all he knew
of Joy Gastell and he knew that he
loved her. Yet he delighted in Labisk-
wee And what was this feeling of
delight but love? He could demean it
by no less name. Love it was. Love
it must be. And be was shocked to
the roots Of his soul by the discovery
of this polygamous strain in his ma
ture.
There must be many women in the
world" she said one day. And wOm
en- like men. Many women must have
liked you. Tell me-"
He did not reply.
Tell me- she insisted, lis it not SOP"
Il have never married." he evaded.
And there is no one else? No other
Iseult out there beyond the noun
tains?"
Then If was that Smoke knew him