Meade County news., 1917-03-08

odNNhO anu dhN0hNOh uDOn
his face dark with suspicion.
"What you saying to my sisterY' he
demanded.
The white man met his threatening
look with q Neutrality-suspicious., half
amused smile.
ave been showing the girl what 1
think of her." he replied.
Redbear came to sudden halt. The
muscles of his face began to twitch.
"Oh, Charlie!" 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?" 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
her!"
Vandervyn smiled in his careless
manner.
"Oh, guess yes"
"Youn marry herr You'll take her
to town and marry her like white
people?"
"Tll marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her to
town. Oinna and have agreed to be
married according to tribal custom"
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. ~
won't have it. You're white, and Oinna
is half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion"
'You know lot about 1t, 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
of going to lot Of fuss and bother
over ministers and licenses, many
people just take each other for hus-
band and wife and go to housekeep-
ing"
Isis that q real white peoples
marriage?" asked Oinna.
Vandervyn frowned. "You don't
think I'm 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 II
that does not often happen"
"Well, If it's a real marriage
muttered Redbear.
"Of course it is, Charlie, If he says
so" cried Oinna rapturously.
Her brothers face glowed with sud
den unconcealed exultance. He STAN
. mered almost incoherently: '"TheI
yOu-Marie--you don't marry-don'
marry Marie"
"No," replied Vandervyn, and hi
voice rang clear. II have no intention
of marrying her."
maybe Marie'll like me now, whel
I tell her you are going to be m!
brother" sighed Redbear.
Vandervyn laid n brotherly hand ol
, his shoulder. "Hold on, boy |" he said
you let me manage things. Yol
know that Marie thinks she likes me
, But now Hardy is here, and he want
her. If she hears that have throw
her over, she will run off with him."
"She don't like him."
"What II she doesn't! He's an arm,
, officer, He has money, and when h
! goes from here he will wear his uni
> form, all gilt and spangles. You knov
how the girls like that No-I tel
you there's not the ghost Of a shOV
for you until he is out of, the way, Ou
little bluff didn't work. He says he Il
going to stay. So for while you ant
Oinna must keep still about the mar
riage. Tomorrow morning you and
are going into the mountains to tall
with the chiefs. Oinna will go will
me. But 1t must be understood at tn,
agency that you have sent her to-
Who could you send her TOT"
"Ti-owa-konza is our mothers fa
, ther. Not even Mr.. Dupont knows
'idl, oulu INtuDCuIs DtlOIt lle CulllN
here, she ran off with bad white man
They went to the Blackfeet. After {
time he got an arrow through his back
My mother came home. Tl-owa-kOnzt
would not see her face. She had t
work for the agent till they made III
go away to school. Then she died."
"Old Thunderbolt your grandfatherT
, remarked Vandervyn, seizing upon tina
one fact In the squalld tragedy. "Doel
he know lt?
II told him so today. He said m!
face But maybe he will come t.
like me. He said to bring Oinna fo
him to look at her."
That's greatl Wen tell 1t to every
body. But remember, not word abon
the marriage until after we get rid O
Hardy and am agent. Then thing
will go all right for all of us. Yol
savvy that, Charlie? While you rul
down the mare I'll go in and say good
by until tomorrow morning."
CHAPTER VIII.
, 6est-Laid Schemes.