The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-01-20

them had come the dimness OF
dreams, and Aforementioned years
and times and places.
They gazed wonderingly into the
dark, tear blinded ones of SiletZ bend
ing above For a long time the old
man lay, staring up with that look of
wonder. Then great Joy broke on
his face with a shining smile, and he
struggled to raise himself on an arm
"Kahwanna!" he cried, "Kahwan-
nal"
1t was a call from a far-distant past.
It thrilled that little company of listen
ers with its ecstasy.
'Why-why- What have dreamed.
nv princess of the hills, that you have
seemed so far away? What was it
All, have forgot! But you are here
at lasti"
He raised palsied, trembling arms
to the girls neck.
You are back from the gates of
death that I fancied had closed upon
youl You are back. And there
is forgiveness in your dark eyes. oh.
nv love, there is forgiveness"
His lips quivered bit and he went
on.
did I dream of the great wrong 1
did you, Kahwanna? oh, have you for
given?"
The blue eyes were tragic in their
puzzled wonder, their shining joy. and
the voice was desperately earnest.
For a moment Siletz checked her
anguish and strove to understand.
Then something, some divine instinct
seemed to give her wisdom and she
smiled TREMENDOUSLY.
"All is well" she said pitifully, 4
have forgiven"
THANK God!" cried the old man
sharply, "oh, God, l thank. thee! The
way is light at last."
He tried to raise himself on an ell
bow again.
But how does it happen? l saw
you die in the lodge of Kolawmie with
the babe that you bore me for love
on your breast-and yet-yet-l have
you againl Did l dream, oh, my prin-
cess of the little tribe?"
"a dream" sobbed Siletz softly,
"only dream
He looked long into her half-fright-
ened face.
Il have searched the world for you
my maid OF service with the gentle
eyes-eyes like a deer's for softness.
Oh, Kahwannal l have chanted the
marriage service, that | never said
for you in the days of my youth,
thousand times among the hills! l
have mated you in heaven throughout
the years wherein | lost you! have
wept for the Primrose that l crushed.
at dawn and dusk / have tried to
atone"
There was pathetic, eager justifi-
cation in the weakening voice and the
others, all aware that they witnessed
the last act in some forgotten tragedy
of the Preachers life, stood in silence,
unconscious of the darkening smoke
clouds, the menace of the rising roar
"You bore on your face the sign of
the Siletz women-the three bars or
Bondage, of Faithfulness and of Serv-
ice-and yet you were not OF their
blood, but of my own. Only Kolawm1e
knew how you came among them,
wee, dark child, how they took you
in and gave you name, and he never
told. You were red to me, Kahwan-
ma soft-eyed creature of the wild
and you were my woman, bought with
a white mans kiss!"
Here Sandry shrank as if at blow.
drawing in his breath with a sigh
But the Preacher hurried on, as if to
tell all that had lain upon his heart
these many years.
you would have followed me across
the world upon your knees, and you
served me like slave. And IL re-
paid you with a white mans coin!
/ left you to break your heart among
the dusky people who were kinder
than II But the Winds of
God blew upon my conscience and my
heart and l returned. Your face and
your faithful eyes. waiting, waiting.
| brought me back from the far cities
only TO see YOU die in the lodge of
Kolawmie with my babe on your
breast, Or-you say l but dreamed.
Kahwanna?"
With failing sight the speaker tried
to pierce the mystery, gazing at Siletz-
HDid / dream of death and retrlbu-
/ tion-and of Kolawmie, who-bent
above the babe to put that sign upon
her face? struck his hand away
when it had set but fraction of the
! fatal bar-the sign that said you were
wild. that forbade you to the shallow
cities. that made you white mans
toy! You-you-Kahwanna -ah, /