Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-01
er the more the mystery Of snass

Q66peucu.
aAnd tell me II It is true" the girl
was saying, that there was a man
and q woman whose names were Paolo
and Francesca and who greatly loved
each otherr
Smoke nodded
"Four Eyes told me all about it."
she beamed happily. "And 80 he
didn't make 1t up, after all. Then
there is Tristan and Iseult, two 1seults.
1t was very sad. But should like to
love that way. Do all the young men
and women in the world do that!
They don't here. They just get mar
Ned. They don't seem to have tme.
II am English, and l will never
marry an Indian. Would you? That
Is why I have not lighted my maiden's
fire. Some OF the young men are
bothering father to make me do it
Libash is one of them. he is great
hunter. And Mahkook comes around
singing songs. he is funny. Tonight.
II you come by my tent after dark.
you will hear him singing out in the
cold. But father says can do as
please, and so I shall not light my fire.
You see when girl makes up her
mind to get married that Is the way
she lets young men know. And bow
do you know when you are IN love
like Paolo and Francesca. meanT
Smoke was disconnected by the clear
gaze Of her blue eyes. "Why, they
say" he stammered, "those who are
In love say It, that love is dearer than
life. When one finds out that he or
she likes somebody better than every
body else in the world-why, then,
they know they are in love. You just
know It; that's all"
"Once we hit out we'll sure have
some tall runnin'," Shorty said dis
mally.
"The place Is a big trap" Smoke
agreed.
From the crest Of a bald knob they
gazed out over Snass' snowy domain.
whats eatin' me Is Danny Nc
Can" Shorty confded to Smoke. Hes
a weak brother on any trail. But be
swears he knows the way out to the
westward, and 80 we got to pull uT
with him or you'll sure get yours. Its
a-comin' to you straight down the
pike"
"What isY'
"You amt heard the news? The
bachelors told me. They just got the
word. Tonight It comes off, though it's
months ahead Of the calendar"
"I'm waiting to hear"
well, Danny's wife just told tht
bachelors. An the bachelors told me
Of course, that the maidens' fires is due
to be lighted tonight That's all. Now
how do you like it7s
II don't get your drift, Shorty"
"Don't, eh? Why. it's plain open and
shut. They's a skirt after you, an thai
skirt Is goin' to light fire, an that
skirts name Is Labiskwee. Oh. I've
been watchin' her watch you when yot
amt lookin'. She amt never Lighted
her fire. She said she wouldn't marry
q Indian. An now, when she lght'
her fire, it's a cinch it's my poor ole
friend Smoke"
"It sounds like a syllogism," Smoke
said with a sinking heart, reviewing
| Labiskwee's actions Of the past sever
al days.
"Cinch Is shorter to pronounce
Shorty returned. "An' that's Away,
the way-just as we're workin' up oul
getaway along comes skirt to com
plicate everything. Hey! Listen"
Three ancient sQuaws had haltet
midway between the bachelors camI
and the camp of McCan, and the old
est was declaiming In shrill falsetto:
sLabiskwee, the daughter Of Snass
the Rainmaker, the great chief, light
her first maidens' fire tonight. Maka
the daughter of Owits, the Wolf Run
ner"-
The recital ran through the names o.
a dozen maidens, and then the thres
hsralds tottered on their way to MAKE
announcement at the next fires.
The bachelors, who had sworr
youthful oaths to speak to no maiden
were uninterested In the approaching
ceremony, and to show their disdair
they made preparations for immediate
departure on q mission set them BY
Snass and upon which they had plan
ned to start the following morning
Not satisfied with the old hunters es
ttmates Of the caribou, Snass had de
cided that the run was split The tass
set the bachelors was to scout to thf
north and west in quest Of the second
division of the great herd.
Smoke, troubled by Labiskwee's I'm
lighting, announced that he would 40
company the bachelors. But first ht
talked with Shorty and with McCan-
"You be there on the third day
Smoke" Shorty said. "We'll have th'
outfit an the dogs"
"But remember" Smoke cautioned
II there Is any slipup In meeting mi
you keep on going and get out to thu