Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-11-21

girl. Your cheeks are wild roses and
honey gold. Your eyes are like
fawn's; your lips sweet as honey
Another kiss There, that's more like
it You're learning how. Now look
ST -le."
She raised her dropping lids with
the sudden, desperate courage of one
who is very shy, and gazed up at him.
her tender eyes starlike with the soft
glow of her love and alteration.
Yon-you really like me?" she
whispered.
mo, | hate you like poor Lo hates
firewater. Give him a taste, and he
wants it all. | want you"
.'Charlie-he said l must marry
white man. l am joyed in my heart
You say yud want mel But am only
halfbreed girl, and you
you're my honey-sweet grille. Go
and open the door,"
She looked up at him again full and
direct, and his gaze sank before the
trust in her clear eyes.
You want me to be your engaged
grill" she murmured. "When people
are engaged, they are going to be mar
ried. Charlie said / must marry a
white man, a good white man. You
are kind to me. 1t is wonderful. /
have read that even army. officers have
married halfbreed girls. But you are
grander than any officer, and you are
very good to think of marrying me-"
Vandervyn forced a smile, and re-
piled to her adulation without NEE ing
her enraptured gaze:
What else did you think l meant
when l kissed you? OF course we shall
be married. As we are here on the
reservation, it will be according to the
custom of the tribe"
Married? Oh, my heart sings,"
cried the girl. II will be your wife
yours! / can't believe it There
comes Charlie. / must run and tell
him."
Vandervyn hastily released her, and
drew his arm out of the window as he
looked around.
"Waitl" he commanded. Hes COM
ing fast enough. Leave the door
barred''
The halfbreed was racing Hardy's
mare up the creek bank at furious
gaiiop. He flung himself out of the
saddle and advanced upon Vandervyn,
his face dark with suspicion.
what you saying to my sister," he
demanded.
The white man met his threatening
look with misconceptions, half
amused smile.
1--WE been showing the girl what
think of her. he replied.
Redbear came to a sudden halt. The
muscles of his face began to twitch
"Oh, Charley reproached Oinna
what makes you look at him that
way? Why don't you thank him?"
She unbarred the door and stepped
outside.
"For what?n questioned her brother
in harsh, strained voice.
Because he is going to be my man
going to take me for his wife"
Marry you? Oinna-you?" The
halfbreed could not believe his ears.
Through his daze shot flash of angry
suspicion. But you-you won't marry
heri''
vandervyn smiled in his careless
manner.
"Oh, guess yes"
you'll marry her? You'll take her
to town and marry her like white
people?"
'Pll marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her to
town. Oinna and I have agreed to be
married according to tribal CUSTOM"
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. 81
won't have it. You're white, and Oinna
is half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion"
"You know a lot about it, Charlie.
Haven't you ever heard of common-law
marriages? Lots of white people get
married that way"
what way?"
"You must know about it. Instead
of going to lot of fuss and bother
over ministers and licenses. many
peonle just take each other for nus
band sad wife and go to housekeep-
ing"
"Is-is that real white peoples
marriage?" asked Oinna.
vandervyn frowned. "You don't
think Pm lying, do you? Why, you
often see in the newspapers about COM
mon-law wives getting their share of
their dead husbands estates, just the
same as if they had gone through all
the fuss of weddings. Ask Hardy if
that does not often happen"
"Well, if it's real marriage"
muttered Redbear.
"Of course it is, Charlie. if he says
so!' cried Oinna rapturously.