Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-04-12


"What you saying to my sister, he
demanded.
The white man met his threatening
look with Neutrality-suspicious. half
amused smile.
"pve been showing the girl what I
think Of her." be replied.
Redbear came to a sudden halt. The
muscles Of his face began to twitch.
"Oh, Charlie!" reproached Oinna.
'What makes you look at him that
way7 Why don't you thank himr
She unbarred the door and stepped
outside.
"For what7" questioned her brother
In a harsh, strained voice.
Because he Is going to be my man
going to take me for his wife,"
Marry youi 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"
"You'll marry her1 You'll take her
to town and marry her like white
people?"
"I'll marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her to
town. Oinna and I have agreed to be
married according to tribal custom. !"
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. Il
won't have 1t. You're white, and Oinna
is half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion,"
you know q lot about It, Charlie.
Haven't you ever heard of common-law
marriages7 Lots Of white people get
married that way"
"What way?"
"You must know about It. 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"
"Is-ls that a real white peoples
marriagei" 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 IL
that does not often happen"
"Well, If it's real marriage
muttered Redbear.
"Of course it is, Charlie, II he says
sol" cried Oinna rapturously.
Her brothers face glowed with sud-
den unconcealed exultance. He stam-
mered almost incoherently: "Then
you-Marie-you don't marry-don't
marry Marie"
NO." replied Vandervyn, and his
voice rang clear. II have no intention
Of marrying her."
"Maybe Mariell like me now, when
I tell her you are going to be my
brother" sighed Redbear.
vandervyn laid a brotherly hand on
his shoulder. Hold on, boy!" he said.
''You let me manage things. You
know that Marie thinks she likes me.
But now Hardy is here. and he wants
her. II she hears that I have thrown
her over, she will run of with him."
"She don't like him."
"What If she doesn't! He's an army
officer. He has money, and when he
goes from here he will wear his uni
form. all gilt and spangles. You know
how the girls like that. No-I tell
you there's not the ghost Of a show
for you until he is out Of the way. Our
little bluff didn't work. He says he is
going to stay. So for while you and
Oi2na must keep still about the mar
rtage. Tomorrow morning you and
are going into the mountains to talk
with the chiefs. Oinna will go with
me. But 1t must be understood at the
agency that you have sent her to-
Who could you send her TOT"
'N-owa-konza Is our mothers IA.
Their. Not even Mr.. Dupont knows
that" said Redbear. Before he came
here. she ran of with bad white man
They went to the Blackfeet. After q
time he got an arrow through his back
My mother came home. Ti-owa-konza
would not see her face. She had to
work for the agent till they made us
go away to school. Then she died."
"Old Thunderbolt your grandfather
remarked Vandervyn, selling upon tina,
one fact in the sQualid tragedy. "Does
he know it?"
Il told him so today. He said nv
face- But maybe he will come tc
like me. He said to bring Oinna 70,
him to look at her"
THAT'S greatl Well tell it to every.
body. But remember, not word abou,
the marriage until after we get rid Of
Hardy and I am agent. Then things
will 60 all right for all Of US. You
savvy that, Charlie? While you rub
down the mare I'll go in and say good.
by until tomorrow morning."
CHAPTER VIII.
eest-Laid Schemes,
Hardy had gone to the Duponts' 70,
supper when Vandervyn returned t.
the agency. He made a hasty toile,