The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-24

placent grin. Her gaze darted down
into the valley; it rested upon the en-
camping Indians Look" she muir
INJURED. 'sThat is ThunderboIt's tepee.
1 am going down to see him. He should
be told that he may be prosecuted if
he hunts here now. 1t is no longer
tribal land
There's no need, sweetheart" said
| Vandervyn. 81 will see to it that no
one interfereS with the chief and his
! band"
81 shall go down and tell him." she
insisted. ''No, do not come with me-"
He frowned at her wfllfulness.
| shrugged, and turned to Dupont.
"Come into the cabin, Jake, and
give me a drop of something" he
urged. ''rm dry as q bone. That
ride wasn't any joker
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. He 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 a face that
was so thin and pale that at first she
did not recognize it. The large, sunken
eyes opened and looked up at her with
startled gaze.
"OinnaT" she exclaimed, and she
knelt down beside the girl. "You are
ILL.,"
"No- Go way. please" begged the
wretched girl. A slow flush REDEEMED
her wan face. She sought to turn
from the visitor. ST want to be alone
I am 'shamed. Go way, please
Marie looked up at Ti-owa-konza.
He saw the pity in her eyes, and
spoke softly in Lakotah:
''Rose who art white yet red, in
the flower of the golden lily a worm
is gnawing. The golden lily withers
Pluck out the worm. else she will
fade and go from me-
He stood up and wrapped his blan.
1 bot oh nd
An hour passed. Through the can.
vas wall of the tent those outside
heard a low murmuring and at times
the sound of sobbing. At last Marie
raised the edge of the tepee and spoke
to a group of women. One of them
fastened to fetch from the fire bow
Of hot broth. She went into the
tepee, and at once came out again
without the bowl.
There followed another long wait
But no more crying could be heard
and gradually the sound of the low
voices within the tepee died away tC
silence. Ti-owa-konza came back tt
the entrance, listened awhile, anC
nOiselessly slipped inside.
Oinna lay with her head on Marie'G
breast. Her eyes were closed. Sht
had fallen into the peaceful, healing
slumber of childhood. A smile hov
cred on her half-parted lips. The bow
beside her was empty.
Very gently Marie laid the sleepins
girls head upon a blanket roll, anC
rose to come across to the silent grand
father. They talked for several min
. utes in LakOtah. When she stepped
past him and left the tepee, his face
was still set in the stoical calm O
the Indian warrior of his generation
but his proud old eyes were glistenin;
with gratitude and stern joy.
The sun had set, and the twilight
, was already fading. BY the tine Ma
rie's slow step brought her up TO tn,
terrace, the valley and mountain slOp
. were dusky with the shadow of ap
preaching nightfaIl. Within the cabil
, Dupont had lit one of the mine candles
r The candlestick was an empty whisk,
( bottle. Another bottle, not yet empty
stood on the rough deal table between
the two men.
etHeIlo, grille ?" sang out Vandervyr
: as Marie paused in the open doorway
4 He sprang up to come around the tabl
4 to her. 1--WE been languishing for 20
all afternoon. Would've chased dow
a the hill. only your dad said you'd &c
on your ear If I did,
|, EYES," quietly replied the girl. Sh
d had raised her hand to shield her fac
J. from the candle, as If the light dazzle
- her. AS she spoke, she stepped /
e and along the side OF the table oppC
Z site him, apparently not seeing hin
o Eyes, would not have cared to Sc
f you I was nursing one OF the girl
q down In the camp"
i Vandervyn stopped short. 'It WASH
y anything infectious, hope
mo. shall not suffer from IL
n same trouble. But am very tired.
see you and Pere have eaten 70
e might finish the bottle outside"
T ."How about a kiss to sweeten Il
r toddy?" he suggested
" She burst into a tantalizing lit
le laugh. 81 fear you must take YOU
straight for while, Reggie. You al
d stin engaged to your cousin. 1 b
IL Heve- Good night, PEREZ
Dupont, heavy with food and Hauo
at mumbled a response. and sturaf1l,