The Ely miner., 1917-02-23

L" She glanced around as if looking
for q way of escape. There was no
promise of succor in her fathers COM
| placent grin. Her gaze darted down
into the valley; 1t rested upon the en-
camping Indians. "Look," she mur-
INJURED. ''That is Thunderbolt's tepee.
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"
II shall go down and tell him." she
insisted. mo, do not come with me-"
He frowned at her willfulness,
shrugged, and turned to Dupont.
"Come into the cabin, Jake, and
give me a drop of something" he
urged. "Tm dry as q 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 cut
| 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
a startled gaze.
"Oinna I" she exclaimed, and she
knelt down beside the girl. "You are
Ill"
"No- Go way, please" begged the
| wretched girl. A slow flush reddened
her wan face. She sought to turn
from the visitor. II 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-
ket about him and went out.
An hour passed. Through the can
| vas wall Of the tent those outside
heard 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 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 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 ap-
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, girlie!' sang out Vandervyn,
as Marie paused in the open doorway.
He sprang up to come around the table
to her. 'I've been languishing for you
all afternoon. Would've chased down
the hill, only your dad said you'd get
on your ear n did,"
"Yes," quietly replied the girl. She
had raised her hand to shield her face
from the candle, as if the light dazzled
her. AS she spoke, she stepped in
and along the side of the table oppo-
site him, apparently not seeing him.
eyes, I would not have cared to see
you. I was nursing one of the girls
down in the camp"
Vandervyn stopped short. '1t wasn't
anything infectious, I hope"
"No. I shall not suffer from the
same trouble. But am very tired. I
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 a tantalizing little
laugh. II fear you must take yours
straight for a while, Reggie. You are
still engaged to your cousin, I be-
lieve- Good night, Pere."
Dupont, heavy with food and liquor
mnmhled reSnanSa and stumhIad