The Ordway new era., 1917-06-08
r.Ilop. He f,uns himself on. Of the

.what you saying to my sister!" he
| demanded.
The white man met his threatening
look with a half-contemptuous, hai-
amused smile.
.rye been showing the girl what 1
think of her" he replied.
| Ke,ibear came TO sudden halt Inc
muscles of his face began TO twitch-
-oh. CharlIe!" reproached oinna.
what makes you look at him that
way? Why don't you thank himF
She unbarred the door and stepped
/ outside.
For whatT" questioned her brothef
in a harsh. strained voice
Because he is going TO be my man
going to take me for his wife"
Marry yOul oinna-youT The
halfhreet could not believe his ears.
Through his dare shot flash of angry
suspicion. But you-you won't marry
her.
yandervya smiled in his careless
manner.
oh, guess yes"
"Youu marry her? You'll take her
to town and marry her Ike white
.eop!eI-
III marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her TO
town. Oinna and l have agreed TO be
married according 10 tribal custom
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. Il
won't have It You're white, and oinna
IS half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion"
You know a lot about Ii, Charlie.
Haven't you ever heard OF common-law
marriages? Lots OF white people get
married that way"
What wayT
You must know about 1t Instead
o. going TO a lot OF fuss and bother
over ministers and licenses, many
people Just take each other for hus-
hand and wife and go TO housekeep-
ing"
ISIS that a real white peoples
marringe?' asked Oinua.
yandervyn frowned. You don't
think Tn 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 II they had gone through all
the fuss OF weddings. Ask Hardy II
that does not often happen"
Well. II It's a real marriage
mutteret Redbear.
"Of course IL is, Charlie, II he says
so!T cried oinna rapturously.
Her brothers face glowed with sud-
den unconcealed eIultance. He STAN
msred almost incoherently: Then
yOu-Marie-you don't marry-don't
marry Marie"
No" replied yandervyn, and his
voice rang clear. Il have no intention
ot marrying her"
Maybe MsrieTl like me now, when
l tell her you are going TO be my
brother" sighed Redbear.
yandervyn laid brotheriy hand on
his shoulder. Hold on. boy - he said.
You let me manage things You
know that Marie thinks she likes ne.
But now Hardy Is here, and he wants
her. II she hears that hare thrown
her oTe-, she viii run OF with him
she don't Ike him
what II she doesn't. Hes an army
Officer. He has money. and when he
goes from here he will wear his uni
form all gilt and spansies- You know
how the girls Ike that No-I tell
you there's not the ghost OF a show
for you until he is out Of the way. Our
little blun didn't work He says he is
going 10 stay. So for q while you and
oinna E1ust keep still about the mar
rage Tomorrow morning you and I
are going into the mountains to talk
With the chiefs. OInna will go with
NE But It must be understood at the
agency that you have sent her to
Who could you send her toy
Ii-owe-konza is our mothers IA
ther. Not even Mr.. Dupont knows
that" said Redbear Before he came
here, she ran OF with e bad white man.
They went TO the Blackfeet. After a
time he got an arrow through his back.
Ny mother came home. Ti-owa-konza
would not See her face. She had to
work for the agent till they made us
go away 10 school. Then she died"
@Old ThunderboIt your grandfather p"
remarked Vandervyn, Selling upon that
one fact In the squalid tragedy. Does
he know ity'
told him so today. He said nv
taee- But mayts he will come TO
IKE me. He said to bring olnna for
him TO look at her"
That's great! Wen tell 1t to every
body. But remember. not word about
the marriage until after we get rid of
hardy and am agent. Then things
VIII go all right for all of us. You
ssFvy that, Charlie? While you rub
down the mare I'll go in and say good.
Dg until tomorrow morning."