Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-04-07
CHAPTER XXX.
The Red Death

Tic hSQ OcdID
So they were left, these two-the
East and the West-alone upon the
mighty pyre of the jumbled peaks.
Only the forbidding spine of the Hog
Back, running like a great thin blade
high between the red surf creeping at
sts base, carried passage out of the
roaring death Siletz had planned
ahst the splendid black should make
II first.
Now she turned back to the two
Eaen she loved-the Preacher, silent
uRder the shielding ferns with his
she earth, his face in the pine nee
dies She passed him and knelt beside
che other. Her eyes were dim with
the old look of emotion. She barred
ahe white face and gazed long upon
It. The call of blood had ever held
her to this man mysteriously though
both were ignorant of the vital tie
between them, the Preacher because
OF the dreamy blank in his mind since
dhe tragedy of that far-off day, SiletZ
Because Kolawmie. wise beyond his
generation, had seen how blood takes
10 it's own, even at its cost. He had
loved her mother and had tried to
make her Indian. though she was
white, a waif of the old frontier. and
he had seen her break her heart and
die
Therefore, after silent hours by the
Great Waters he had accepted the
mandate of Destiny and had taken the
babe of the Broken Sign and given
her to the only white woman he would
trust, Ma Daily. who took her with
lew questions when she saw he would
not tell her history. So now Siletz
booked for the first and last time con-
pcfously upon her own. Presently she
Seaned over and kissed him softly, re-
placed the ferns and rose.
Beside San0Ty she stopped, stood
moment gazing around at the pine
holes that doomed like fearful ghosts
In the smoke, and sat down beside
him. tucking her feet with the age-old
motion of the blanket-wearers beneath
her skirt, SO deeply had she absorbed
The ways of the dusky people whom
xhe loved
She did not speak.
When at last the man, his face
drawn out of all semblance to itself,
raised his eyes to her she was calm
gs the hills before the fire. He looked
ut her. raising himself On his elbow.
Booked long while knowledge was
Born in him.
So this was the West, the world he
had once thought so unbearable, this
was the wild, the untaught, the crude
this slim forest creature who served
him without question because he had
Bought her with kiss, who asked
nothing. who stayed by him to die be-
feRuse she loved him! Who still be-
Hleved In him despite that others dec
Marathon that she was his promised
wife! And yonder went his world,
Shts cultured, polished East, riding
down to life and safety, her love for
gOtten In the face of danger! Yonder
went what he had thought 'the best
blood of the land!"
Nay, he had been wrong! 1t was
here beside him, its feet tucked under
% In meekness, the savagery hidden In
ais dim black eyes! The last barrier
went down in Walter Sandry, the last
nast strand of prejudice broke with
snap. He rolled near and caught the
hem of her ragged skirt
Little Sletz!" he said brokenly.
Toh. Little S1etz! What am that you
SHOULD have done this thing!"
She looked down at him and the
t1Rre smile curled up the corners of the
Ips above the sign.
you are my man." she said softly,
~the king of the whole world! You
sRTs the light on the waters, Sandry.
he mist in the valleys, the path to
She feet of God! Only l have lost my
aOoting thereon"
A tender wistfulness rang in her
voice. She fell silent, after her fash
ION when great emotions stirred her.
Sandry's eyes smarted under blind
ing tears. His chin was Quivering
with the mighty emotions that swelled
his heart to bursting and his scorched
and blackened hands chung, trembling,
TO Siletz' skirt
See. little onei | come at last to
your God above the seat Take raw
Aand that we may go together, and
pray"
But the girl raised a calm face to
the unspeakable heavens-a face in
which all struggle had been stilled.
-saere there was neither hope nor fear,
Acnly great content.
NO" she said, II cannot pray for
y have no soul / have lost 1t as the
price of love-"
The man could not speak and she
answered the look in his face.
I'VE will go together. You have had
no God. / have forsworn mine. We
will go to hell-it is the right law
ahe sure and just wage of sin" she
was falling into the stately Bible lam
,guage, taking on the simple dignity OF
,the Preachers way and manner, but
We will go together. give my soul