Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-01

trafl OF the second caribou herd
Several days later they came back to
the big camp. A squaw ceased from
wailing by a fire and darted up TO
Smoke Harsh tongued. with bitter.
venomous eyes, she cursed him, wav-
Ing her hands toward a silent, fur
wrapped form that still lay ON the sled
which had hauled 1t in.
What had happened Smoke could
only guess, and as he came to McCan's
fire be 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
ly explained. But Shorty got away,
though they're still after him. He
surely put up a fight He plugged two
bucks that'll get around all right An
he croaked one square through the
chest"
"Yes, / know" Smoke answered :"
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 fire. / amt squealed You don't
know nothin'. Keep that in mind.
Shorty went of 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.
"Tm glad you didn't try to run
away" she said. "You see, r. She
hesitated. but her eyes didn't drop.
They swan with light unmistakable.
II lighted my fire, and Of course 1t 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, rs Iseult loved. Old Four Eyes
spoke true. Indians do not love this
way. But my eyes are blue, ard 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, 1t was not even a
proposal. His acceptance was taken
for granted So thoroughly was 1t 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 he 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 strode In to the fire through the
falling snowfakes, and Smokes oppor-
tunity was lost.
Good evening"" Snass buried gruf-
ly. "Your partner has made a mess
Of It. I 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, III tell you. Your partner has
killed one Of my people. That snivel-
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 there'll be no more scouting
with the young men. l shall have my
eye on you"
Smokes new situation ut Snass' fire
was embarrassing. He saw more OF
Labiskwee than ever. In its sweetness
and innocence the frankness OF bel
love was terrible. Her glances were
love glances. Every look was caress.
A score Of times be nerved himself to
tell her Of Joy Gastell, and score OF
times he discovered that he was q
coward.
The damnable part Of 1t 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
he was really learning woman, and &c
Z nj, lob cnt,I a iii
Ing in its innocence and ignorance
that he could not misread line of It
All the pristine goodness Of her seS
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 oil he knew
Of Joy Gastell and he knew that b
loved her. Yet he delighted in Labisk
wee. And what was this feeling Of
delight but lover He could demean II
by no less name. Love 1t was. Love
It must be. And he was shocked tC
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 won
en- like men. Many women must have
liked you. Tell me-"
He did not reply.
'Tell me-" she insisted, "is It not 30 ?
.T have never married." he evaded.
"And there is no one else? No othel
Iseult out there beyond the noun
tainsT
Then It was that Smoke knew him
self a coward. He lied. Reluctantly
he did It, but he lied. He shook hi
head with a slow, indulgent smile, anc
In his face was more Of fondness thar
he dreamed as he noted Labiskwee'
swift Joy TRANSPORTATION.
He excused himself to himself. Hi
reasoning was deceitful beyond dis
pute, and yet he was not Spartan
enough to strike this child woman
quivering heart stroke.
snass, too, was a perturbing factol
In the problem, Little escaped his keeI
black eyes, and he spoke significantly.
mo man cares to see his daughter
married." he said to Smoke. AT least
no man Of Imagination. Just the sam
In the natural order Of life Margare
must marry some time.'
A pause fell. There was burst o.
chiding and silvery laughter from La