Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-05-25
Page Five

eIds OF the earth, needs be to escape and then 1T
came to me that as well as you Choctaw, and
so have come today to die a Choctaw has been
taught to die. l horsethief, but | am a Choctaw
as WELL and Choctaw does not go back on his truth
OATH So that you may tell the tale in after years
those men who feared and trembled for my honor, |
wish you to go with me and stand at my side die.
wish that you should be able to tell your children and
your grandchildren, that horsethef may still keep his
word, and that even the of dog may be Chloe
taw still"
AT the end of this most surprising speech, Lewis
James grasped the extended hand of John Cohee and
feeling of admiration for the other made him sud
denly glad 1t not until few moments later that
the great thought to hm-the thought that he
himself free free to go back to the home he loved
free to his fertile land free win the love
of Minnie Folsom.
With the staccato notes of the hammer pulsng in
his he put his two hands upon the shoulders of
John Cohee and looking into his eyes, he said:
IL will go with you John Cohee And in the years
that your spirit in the shadowy land, you can
listen, and you will hear tell to all how John Cohcc
who was counted coward, proved the bravest of all
Choctaws, because he conquered himself and his DESIRE
and because when the he could go 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 ul them to sleep with the tales of John Cohee the
Great Chocaw because /, myself will never let them
forget The old of today will be proud that they
have known you and the madens whom you have looked
tenderly will shed tears for you"
And he said these words the pathetic face of little
Minnie came before his eyes and for a moment his own
wavered he looked into the face of the man whom
Minnie loved and whom he going to see shot to
death. But only for moment. For to Indian love
IS secondary matter after ALL and his honor the great
est thing in the world Therefore to James, the fact
that John Cohee should die like man was the vital
thing, if the heart of little Minnie should break
of woe.
Into the eyes of John Cohee the horsethef there erep
a look of great shame
"Ah," he said, "the maidens / have loved many of
them many indeed that cannot regret one. To lit
tie Minnie wish you would say that l was not worthy
of tear from her eyes The maidens, there were in
deed many of them, and they all fair But" he
ierked out the words suddenly, and the interpretive
mood seemed to have left him LET us 90. The sun
is nearly set The hour draws nigh Pin the green leaf
here, and pointing to his heart, he plucked the
eaf which had already been pinned the bosom of
Lewis James and held it to his breast while the other
fastened it securely in place
Then they gave each other firm handcasp, and
Without backward glance walked out of the little
rce of trees and struck into the path which terminated
It the council house. John Cohee led the way with his
ead erect, and Lewis James followed in silence.
The little town very busy that day. and numbers
i people were walking back and forth the firmly
lacked earth of the sidewalks, although but a few Of
hem interested in the coming execution. Al
hough the so near the horizon, it was hot in
he little hollow where the town nestled and the only
ool nInre was he aho fba