Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-05-26
Page Five

came to me that /, as well you were Choctaw, and
have today to die Choctaw has been
taught to die. 1 a horsethef, but I a Choctaw
well, and Choctaw does not go back his truth
OATH So that you tell the tale in after years to
those who feared and trembled for my honor, L
wish you to with me and stand at side die.
wish that you should be able tell your children and
your grandchildren, that horsethief may still keep his
word, and that the of dog may be Choc
taw STILL
At the end this most surprising speech, Lewis
James grasped the extended hand of John Cohee and
a feeling of admiration for the other made him sud
denly glad 1t was not until few moments later that
the great thought him-the thought that he
himself free, free back the home he loved
free his fertile land free win the love
of Minnie Folsom.
With the staccato notes of the hammer pulsing in
his he put his two hands upon the shoulders of
John Cohee and looking into his eyes, he said:
81 will go with you, John Cohee. And in the years
that your spirit in the shadowy land, you
listen, and you will hear tell all how John Cohee,
who counted coward proved the bravest of all
Choctaws, because he conquered himself and his DESIRE
and because when the moment he could not back
upon the oath which his lips had spoken. will tell it
to the children of the tribe that they may the
story into songs The mothers rocking their little
will hull them sleep with the tales of John Cohee the
Great Choctaw, because l. myself, will let them
forget. The old of today will be proud that they
have known you and the madens whom you looked
on tenderly will shed tears for you"
And he said these words the pathetic face of little
Minnie before his eyes, and for a moment his
wavered he looked into the face of the whom
Minnie loved and whom he going o shot to
death. But only for a moment. For Indian love
is secondary matter after ALL and his honor the great
est thing in the world Therefore James, the fact
that John Cohee should die like a the vital
thing if the heart of little Minnie
of
eyes Cohee, horsethief there crept
a look of great shame.
"Ah," he said, "the maidens. have loved many of
Them many indeed that cannot regret To lit
tie Minnie wish you would say that not worthy
of a tear from her eyes The maidens, there
deed many of them, and they all fair. But" he
jerked the words suddenly, the interpretive
mood seemed to have left him. Let go. The
is nearly The hour draws Nigh Pin the leaf
here, and pointing to his heart, he pucked the
leaf which had already been pinned the bosom of
Lewis James, and held it his breast while the other
fastened it securely in place
Then they gave each other firm handclasp, and
without backward glance walked out of the little
circle of and struck into the path which
the council house John Cohee led the with his
head erect, and Lewis James followed in silence.
The little town very busy that day. and numbers
of people walking back and firmly
packed earth of the sidewalks, although of
interested in the coming execution.
the little hollow where the town nestled, and the only
cool place the great green about the towering
council house, which frowned down upon the entire
valley. Little groups of talking together
under the ancient ems its lawn, and others
cessanty back and forth into its great front door.
When John Cohee and Lewis James to the street