The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-24

butter a vicious slap. me heap
love Good Indian. No drunk"
she hesitated, knowing well the
possibilities of her foster son
"mebbyso catchum dog. Grant all
same my boy"
"Wally boy, heap bueno," Ha-
gar said; and her malicious old
face softened as she spoke of him.
Jack bueno, mebbyso Gene
bueno. mebbyso Clark, mebbyso
Donny all time bueno. Good In
jun Grant all time debbil."
There was a sudden check to
Hager's shrewish clamor. The
squaws stiffened to immobility
and listened stolidly. Off some
where a voice was singing.
That my girl" Phoebe ex-
planned.
Where ketchum yo' girl?"
Hagar forgot her petulance, and
became curious.
Me ketchum way off, where
sun come up. My mothers sis
ter's boy have one girl, way off
where sun come up. My mothers
sisters boy die, his wife all same
die, that girl mebbyso heap sad;
no got father, no got mother. Me
send one letter, tell that girl
come, be all time my girl"
Hagars lip was out-thrust
again. "Yo' ketchum one girl,
mebbyso yo' no more likum my
boy Wally. Kay bueno."
Heap like all my boys JUS
same" Phoebe fastened to assure
her.
"Huh!" Hagar chose to remain
antagonistic.
What name yo' girl?" Whey
interposed hastily.
| Name Evadna Ramsey" In
spite of herself, Phoebe felt a
trifle chilled by their lack of en-
thusiasm. She went back to her
butter making in dignified ST.
lence.
Then Lucy, she who longed al
ways for children and had been
denied by fate, stirred slightly.
'Mebbyso bueno yo' girl" she
yielded, speaking softly. "MeDby-
SO see yo' girl"
Pheobe's face cleared, and she
called, in mellow crescendo: ooh,
Va-ad-nice?" Immediately the
singing stopped.
Coming, Aunt Phoebe" an
swered the voice.
| Tbo cnuo uyz ,attIoJ thnir bra a q
upon their bosoms with true FEM
mime instinct, and waited. They
heard a faint scream when she
/ caught sight OF them sitting
there, and their faces settled into
more stolid indifference, adding a
hint of antagonism even to the
soft eyes OF Lucy.
"Vadnie, here are some neigh
bors want you to get acquainted
with" Phoebe's eyes besought
the girl to be calm. They're all
old friends of mine-and don't
look so Mortified. honey"
Those incorrlgibles, her cou-
sins, would have whooped with
| Joy at her unmistakable terror
when she held out a trembling
hand and gasped family. "H-how
do you-do "
Bring some of that cake you
baked today, honey--and do
brace up" Phoebe patted her
upon the shoulder.
Hagar forestalled the hospita-
BILE intent by getting slowly upon
her fat legs, and gruntins conf
mand to the others. with visible
reluctance Lucy and Whey rose
also hitched their blankets into
place, and vanished. soft-footed
as they had come.
"Oo-oo!" Evadna stared at the
place where they were not. wild
Indians thought the boys were
just teasing when they said So
and it's really true, Aunt
Phoebe?"
They're no wilder than you
are," Phoebe retorted inpatient
| ly.
| Out by the gate rose a clamor
which swept nearer and nearer
in a tumult Of red blankets, fly
ing black hair, the saualling of a
female voice. and the harsh
laughter of the man who carried
the disturbance, kicking and claw
ny in his arms.
!. Fighting his way to the milk
house, he dragged the squaw
along, followed by the Indians
and all the Hart boys, yelling,
jeering audience.
| Painting, laughing, he forced
her to the top of the steps. backed
recklessly down them. and came
to a stop in the corner by the
door. Evadna had taken refuge
there; and he pressed her hard
, against the rough wall without IN
the least realizing that anything
was behind him.
Now, you sing your little song
and be quick about it," he com.
! manded his captive sternly. "You
: tell Mother Hart you lied. | hear
she's been telling you I'm drunk
Mother Hart. You say you heal
, sorry you all time tellum lie
; Quick, or I'll land you headfore
{ most in that pond, you inferno
J old hag!"
, Phoebe caught him by the
; arm.
] Now, Grant. you let Hagal
i CO." she coaxed. II know yol
aren't drunk-of course, I knew
I it all the time"