Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-18
cHApTER 1v-fContlnuedl.

HTs 1T true that the chief Is not my
i father?'
She made no answer.
who sends money TO be spent on me
every Year,"
Still she made no answer.
IF | am not your son, whose son am
II"
In the silence turned to skenedonk.
Isn't my name Lazarre Williams,
Skenedonk?"
you are called Lazarre Williams"
"A woman told me last night that 1t
was not my name. Everyone denies me.
No one owns me and tells whose child
] am. Wasn't / born at st. Regls?"
III you were there Is no record OF your
birth on the register The chiefs other
children have their births recorded"
turned to my father. The desolation
OF being cut off and left with nothing
but the guesses OF strangers Overcame
me. / sobbed so the hoarse choke echoed
IN the cabin. Skenedonk opened his arms,
and my father and mother let me lean
on the Oneida's shoulder
have though since that they resented
with stoical pain his taking their white
son from them. They both stood severely
reserved, passively loosening the hllal
bond.
All che business OF life was suspended.
as when there is death in the lodge.
skenedonk and / sat down together on a
bunk
'Lazarre." my father spoke, do you
want to be educated?"
The things we pine for In this world
are often thrust upon us in a way TO
choke us l had tramped miles. storm
Ing for the privileges that had made
George Croghan what he was Fate in
stantly picked me up from uncomfortable
conditions to set me down where [ could
grow and l squirmed with recoil from the
shock.
felt crowded over the edge of a cliff
bows.
do you want to live in De Chaumonus
house and learn his ways?"
My father and mother had been silent
when questioned them II was my turn
to be silent
or would you rather stay as you are?"
mo. father" | answered 81 want
to 60"
The camp had never been dearer. /
walked among the Indian children when
the evening fires were lighted. and the
children looked at me curiously as at an
alien. Already my people had cut me on
from them.
What I learn / will come back and
teach YOU" l told the young men and
women Of my own age They laughed.
You are a fool, Lazarre. There Is
good home for you at st. Regis. III YOU |
fan sick In De Chaumont's house who win |
care2'
''Skenedonk Is my friend" l answered.
'Skenedonk would not stay where he |
Is tying you. When the lake freezes YOU |
will be mad for snoWshoes and sight |
Df the ST. Lawrence
Perhaps so. But we are not made /
alike. Do not forget me-"
They gave me belts and garters, and |
distributed among them all my Indian /
property. Then, as II to work a charm /
which should keep me from breaking
through the circle, they joined hands and 1
ianced around me, ! went to every cabin
nalf ashamed OF my desertion, vet un-
speakably craving a blessing. The old
people variously commented on the meas
are their wise eyes seeing the change 4
IN one who had been child rather than
Z Young man among them
II the wrench from the village was
lard the induction into the manor was
harder. skeHedOnk took me In his boat
Ikirting the long strip OF mountainous
hore which separated us from De Chau-
mont
He told me De Chaumont would permit
ny father % pay no more than mYexaet
'.po you know who sends the money!
Inquired.
The Oneida did not know. II came
hroush an agent in New York.
You are 10 years older than / am. You
must remember very well when ] was
loTn."
How can that her. answered skene-
lonk Nobody in the tribe knows when
'ou were born
Are children not like the young Of
'tnei ereatnfesf Where did / come
Ioul39
fou came 10 the tribe with a man.
md chief Williams adopted you"
llld sou see the man2H
No / was on the other side Of the
isean. IN France
Who saw him7H
"Hone of our people But Il Is very
zen known ~ you had noticed any
ming sou would have heard the story
ong ago.
What skenedonk said was true.
shea him. Why did ] never
oilce anythiasf
Foe Oneida tapped his bald head
When ea~ you nraf sou were not
Be Big fellow with speaking eyes that
ep are today You would ID from sun.
- % sunset. looking straight ahead of
aa aad never moving except Wheu food
pa % TquF hand. As sou grew
SAG aarfu dIagged YOU among
fea learned b hsh aHd