Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-01-16

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
a startled gaze.
"OinnaP' she exclaimed, and she
knelt down beside the girl. "You are
ILL.,"
mo Go way. please" begged the
wretched girl. A slow flush Redeemed
her wan face. She sought to turn
from the visitor. 81 want to be alone.
| 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-
ket about him and went out.
An hour passed. Through the can
vas wall of the tent those outside
heard low murE-uring 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 a bowl
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 to
silence. Ti-owa-konza came back to
the entrance, listened awhile, and
noiselessly slipped inside.
Oinna lay with her head on Marie's
breast. Her eyes were closed. She
had fallen into the peaceful, healing
slumber of childhood. A smile how
cred on her half-parted lips. The bowl
beside her was empty
Very gently Marie laid the sleeping
girls head upon a blanket roll, and
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 of
the Indian warrior of his generation,
but his proud old eyes were glistening
with gratitude and stern joy.
The sun had set, and the twilight
was already fading. BY the time Ma
rie's slow step brought her up to the
terrace, the valley and mountain slope
were dusky with the shadow of APP
preaching nightfall. Within the cabin
Dupont had lit one of the mine candles.
The candlestick was an empty whisky
bottle. Another bottle, not yet empty,
stood on the rough deal table between
the two men.
Hello, girlier' sang out Vandervyn,
as Marie paused in the open doorway.
He sprang up to come around the table
to her. 1--WE been languishing for you
all afternoon. Would've chased down
the hill, only your dad said you'd get
on your ear If l did"
Eyes," quietly replied the girl. She
had raised her hand to shield her face
from the candle, as if the light dazzled
he chn cfnnno6 in
and along the side of the table oppo-
site him, apparently not seeing him.
'Yes, / would not have cared to see
you. / was nursing one of the girls
down in the camp
vandervyn stopped short. ut wasn't
anything infectious. I hope"
"No. / shall not suffer from the
same trouble. But am very tired. l
see you and Pere have eaten. You
might finish the bottle outside"
"How about a kiss to sweeten the
toddy?" he suggested.
She burst into tantalizing little
laugh. 81 fear you must take yours
straight for while, Reggie. You are
still engaged to your cousin. / be-
lieve- Good night. PEREZ"
Dupont, heavy with food and liquor,
mumbled response, and stumbled
out into the dusk. reluctantly followed
by Vandervyn. Marie flung their blan-
kets out after them and barred the
door.
In the morning Vandervyn was re-
lieyed to find that the nights rest
had lightened her mood. She cooked
a delicious little breakfast, and was
pleased to be very gracious to him.
The anxiety with which he had met
her at the cabin door soon vanished.
He fell into the gallantry of an ac-
copied sutton who is very much in
love and bit uncertain of his con-
quest.
He waited until Dupont went to
fetch the horses before he ventured
to reopen the question of questions ::
Sweetheart, you've had time to think
it over and decide. Tell me, when is
to be the happy day?"
''YeS," she murmured, 81 have
thought it over"
You will name an early date! he
exclaimed, assured by the coy sweet
ness of her look.
Her smile faded, and she dropped
forward in an attitude of humility that
he had never before seen her pride
permit. She replied in meek voice !:
"Oh, no. no! / must do what is just
by you. Think what 1t would be like
for you to take back with you as your
wife quarterbreed girl straight off an
Indian reservation"
Vandervyn WINGED, rallied. and re-
Joined with ardor: LET them think
what they please, so long as you are
my wife
That is most gallant and-brave of
youl" she murmured. "But-there is
also Pere."
yandervyn bit his lip. NEED he
come along?"
Marie looked up, her eyes full of ten
der reproach.
Il did not think that of you, Reggie.
How can leave him here alone? You