Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-08


fort to stop 1t was futile
1t was soon evident that the feet
in their heavy shoes had gone their
last journey upon the hills. that the
triumphant flute had piped its last
song of victory.
My children said the Preacher
Il promised to come when you should
need NJ have served a need. You
are young. my son. and the path OF
youth is fair. There are too many
primroses thereon to sacrifice one
year of it. | am old-old."
Here Siletz flung herself upon her
knees beside atm. unable to control
herself. rocking to and fro after her
fashion. her braids swaying and ter
rible anguish upon her face.
The handsome blue eyes turned
wonderingly upon her.
"Daughter-little one OF the tender
heart-hush! hear strange sounds
and / would listen"
He closed his eyes and lay for a
time in silence. the delicate tracery
on his face emerging more clearly as
a pallor spread beneath it. II was the
divine record OF years spent with his
God in the high places, though here
and there a dropping line bespoke a
vague. forgotten sadness.
Presently he murmured:
''The Winds of the Mighty One arc
upon the sounding board of the hills
Ait"
Again a silence and he opened his
eyes with return to earth. But ia
them had come the dimness o.
dreams. and aforementioned year:
and times and places.
They gazed wonderingIy into the
dark. tear blinded ones of Siletz bend
ing above. For long time the old
man lay. staring up with that look o.
wonder. Then a great JOY broke OF
his face with shining smile. and ht
struggled to raise himself on an arm
'Kahwanna!" be cried. "Kahwan
ma"
1t was a call from a far-distant past
II thrilled that little company Of listen
ers with its ecstasy.
"Why-why-- What have dreamed
my princess of the hills, that you hav,
seemed so far away? What was it
All, l have forgot! But you are here
at last"
He raised palsied. trembling arms
TO the girls neck.
you are back from the gates o.
death that / fancied had closed upor
you! You are back. And there
is forgiveness in your dark eyes. Oh
my love. there is forgiveness"
His lips quivered a bit and he wen
on.
Did dream of the great wrong
did you, Kahwanna? Oh, have you for
given?"
The blue eyes were tragic in thei
puzzled Vonder. their shining Joy. ant
the voice was desperately earnest.
For a moment Siletz checked he
anguish and strove to understand
Then something, some divine instinct
seemed TO give he wisdom and sh'
smiled TREMENDOUSLY.
"All is well" she said pitifully. "
have forgiven"
Thank God" cried the old mai
sharply, "oh. God. ] thank thee! Tn
way is light at last"
He tried to raise himself on an el
bow again.
But how foes il happen? ] saw
you die in tn lodge Of Kolawmie will
the babe that you bore me for low
on your breast and yet--yet--I hav'
you again. Did / dream. oh. my prin
cess of the little tribe?"
"A dream" sobbed siletz softly
only a 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, Kahwannai / have chanted thi
marriage service. that never salt
for you in the days of my youth. 1
thousand times among the hills.
have mated you in heaven Throughout
the years wherein / lost you! have
wept for the Primrose that ! crushed
at dawn and dusk! I have tried &
atone"
There was a pathetic. eager justin
cation in the weakening voice and tbs
others. all aware that they witnessed
the last act in some forgotten tragedj
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 o.
the Siletz women--the three bars o.
Bondage, OF Faithful1ess and of Serv
ice-and yet you were not Of theii
blood. but of my own. Only Kolawmi.
knew how you came among them,
wee, dark child, how they took yor
in and gave you a name. and he neTHi
told. You were red to me. Kahwass
ma soft-eyed creature Of the I'd -
and you were my woman. bought va
a white mans xiss'"
Here Sandry shrank as II at blow
drawing in his breath with sigh
But the Preacher hurried on, as il to
tell all that had lain upon his hear
these many years.
CTo BE Continued