Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-11

world Better than my father I love.
It 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
bis 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 Lablskwee'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 be 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 snownakes, and Smokes oppOr.
tunity was lost.
Good evening"" Snass buried gruff.
ly. your partner has made mess
Of it. 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 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. | shall have my
eye on you"
Smokes new situation at Snass' FIRE
was embarrassing. He saw more of
Labiskwee than ever In its 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 q 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
he was really learning woman, and so
clear was Labiskwee's soul, 50 nppalI.
Ing In Its innocence and ignorance.
that he could not misread 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 Lablsk.
wee. And what was this feeling of
delight but lover He could demean It
by no less name. Love Il was. Love
1t must be, And he was shocked to
the roots Of his soul by the discovery
Of this polygamous strain in his M
ture
There must be many women in the
world" she said one day, "And WON
en- Ike men. Many women must have
liked you, Tell me-"
He did not reply.
TEL me-" she insisted. "ls II not SOP
81 have never married" he evaded
And there is no one else? No other
lseult out there beyond the noun
tainsp
Then 1t was that Smoke knew him
self coward. lie lied. Reluctantly
he did II, bur he He'd He shook his
head with slow, indnlgont smile, and
In his face was more Of fondncss than
he dreamed as he noted l.abiskwee's
swift JOY TRANSPORTATION.
He excused himself to himself. His
reasoning. was deceltful beyond dis
pute and yet he was not Spartan
enough TO strike this child woman
quiverlng heart stroke.
Snass, too, was a perturbing factor
in the problem, Little escaped his keen
black eyes, and he spoke significantly.
mo man cares to see his daughter
married. he said 10 Smoke. AT least.
no man OF imagination Just the same
In the natural order Of life Margaret
must marry some time"
A pause fell. There was burst OF
chidlng aud silvery laughter from Ia.
biskwee's tent where she played with
new caught wolf cub A spasm Of
pain twitched Snuss face
~ can stand Il" he multcrcd grimly.
Margaret must be married. and IL is
my fortune, ana hers, that you are
heie. ] had little hopes OF -Four Eyes.
McCan was no hopeless | turned him
over to a UQuaw who had lighted her
fire twenty seasons. lf II hadn't been
you It would have been an Indian. II.
bash might have become the ruthcr OF
my grandchildren"
And then Iablskwec came from her
tent to the Dire, the wolf cub In her
aims, drawn, az by magnet, to guge
upon the man In her eyes the love that
art had never taught her to hide.
CHAPTER XXuI.
~ shall help you to run away"
~ listen to me" said McCOn. "The