The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1917-11-29


"Oh, I say now, don't be a" lie
detected something behind her look Of
chlldlike artlessness. and fastened 10
concede the point. But of course II
you feel that way about 1t! You will
not have to break your promise after
The law will then make your property
mine. So that Is settled, sweetheart.
Now comes the main question. When
shall we be married."
The girl qulvered at the word. lie
stepped close, and looked into her
eyes, his own glowing golden with ar
dor. She dropped her gaze, and drew
back from him as IL confused by the
suddenness of his proposal.
T-must think" she murmured
"Would 1t not be best to--wait until
he has given me the miner"
"Not when you have his word that
he will do It. Anyway, there's no
harm in naming the day. Come, make
1t an early onew
The girls rich color deepened with
q blush.
"Not now!" she replied, struggling
to recover her composure. "You must
wait. Perhaps tomorrow-but now
L" She glanced around as IL looking
for a way Of escape. There was no
promise Of succor in her fathers COM
plncent grin. Her gaze darted down
into the valley; II rested upon the en-.
camping Indians. "Look," she muir
INJURED. "That Is Thunderbolt's tepee.
am going down to see him. He should
be told that he may be prosecuted II
he hunts here now. 1t is no longer
tribal land"
There's no need, sweetheart" said
vandervyn. ~ will see to 1t that no
one interferes with the chief and his
band"
81 shall 20 down and tell him." she
insisted. mo, do not come with me-"
He frowned Mt her willfulness,
shrugged, and turned to Dupont.
"Come into the cabin. Jake. and
give me n drop Of something" he
urged. "I'm dry as a bone. That
ride wasn't any Joke"
Marie was already Fastening down
the mountain slope into the valley.
When she came to the camp, she was
received with pleasant greetings. The
keen eyes Of the Indians had long
ago perceived and recognized the white
people on the terrace.
The venerable figure Of Ti.owa-
konza appeared in the entrance Of the
biggest tepee. He disappeared. A
moment later three women came out
OF the tepee, and one OF them told
the girl that the chief wished her to
go In. She stopped and passed
through the low opening.
The chief was seated at the far side
Of the tepee near an outstretched blan-
keted form. There was no one else
present. lie beckoned Marie TO come
across TO him. As she approached, she
| saw that the hair Of the still figure
! before him was braided after the fash
/ ion of the maidens of the tribe. She
| bent over and looked into face that
| was so thin and pale that at first she
/ did not recognize It. The large, sunkru
eyes opened and looked up ut her with
II startled gaze.
"Oinna :" she exclaimed, and She
knelt down beside the girl. "You are
ILL.,"
"No-- Go way, please" begged III,
wrctched girl. A slow flush reddcned
her wan face. She sought 10 turn
from the visitor. II want To be alone
| am 'shamed. Go way, please"
Marie looked up ut Ti-owa-konza
lie saw the pity In her eyes, and
spoke softly In Lakotah:
Rose who art white yet red, II
the flower OF the golden lily n worn
Is gnawing. The golden lily withers
Pluck out the worm. else she viii
fade and go from me-"
He stood up and wrapped his blan
ket about him and went out.
An hour passed. Through the can
vas wall of the tent those outside
heard a low murmurlng and at timc
the sound OF sobbing. At last Mnri'
raised the edge Of the tepee and spOk,
TO n group Of women. One OF then
hastened to fetch from the fire bow
va hOl ulblit. FNllc H'Il lIlNo Nl
tepee, and at once came out agall
without the bowl.
There followed another long wal;
, But no more crying could be heard
and gradually the sound of the loN
=! voices within the tepee died away (
4 silence. Ti-owa.konza came back I
the entrance, listened awhile, an
: noiselessly slipped inside.
!. onna lay with her head on Marie
Q breast. Her eyes were closed. Sh
had fallen into the peaceful, healin
!. slumber Of childhood. A smile no,
e cred on her half-parted lips. The bow
beside her was empty.
y Very gently Marie laid the slecpln
r girls head upon blanket roll, an
k rose TO come across to the silent gran,
father. They talked for several mil
!. utes In LakotAh. When she steppa
i past him and left the tcpee. his fac
i was still set In the stolcal calm {
n the Indian warrior of his generation
q but his proud old eyes were glstenln