Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-04-05
BY
Robert Ames Bennett

parents. The blend Of types apparent
in her face was far from unpleasing.
She kept her soft brown eyes shyly
downcast. Yet she must have watched
him covertly through her long lashes.
The tea was hot. He slipped 1t slowly
and gloated on the girls confusion. Un-
able longer to endure the strain, Oinna
at last faltered In timid desperation:
"You-you are Mr.. Van. Charlie-he
said you and he are partners"
"Partners7" repeated vandervyn with
q quick frown. HE said that1"
The girl shrank back. "Please. sir,
he didn't mean anything wrong"
what more did he say7"
"Nothing-only that. Please, it's
only his way Of talking"
THAT'S all right. Don't be afraid"
Vandervyn treasured her with . quick
change to smiling friendliness. II am
Charles best friend"
"Oh, thank you, thank you! He is
my only brother. We have nobody
else: only ourselves"
In her gratitude the girl forgot her
self-consciousness. She raised her
soft eyes and looked full at Wander
vyn. he smiled and bent nearer.
Though she blushed scarlet, she was
unable to turn her gaze away from his
ardent blue eyes.
"O-ee-nah," he drew out her name in
the caressing tone that he would have
used in fondling a pet dog.
She smiled even as she trembled. He
came closer. Her gaze wavered and
sank before the look in his glowing
eyes, and she shrank back. He sought
to put his arm about her, but she
sprang clear with the agility Of a star
tied doe.
"Oh. come now!" he urged. "Just a
kiss. What's the harm of q kiss?"
The girl had retreated into the cabin.
He blocked the door. There was no
way for her to elude him IL he wished
to press his vantage.
mo, no, plcase!" she begged. "At
school they told me only bad girls let
men kiss them"
"Bahl" he Icoffed. "What do those
old fossils know about it?" His voice
deepened to an allurlng richness.
! "Come. I will not hurt you, Oinna.
Give me kiss
"Let me-let me Quit" she painted.
"Not unless you pay toll"
She looked around for some way Of
escape. There was none. She stared
wildly out through the window and
then looked at him over her shoulder.
The sudden stiffness Of her pose
checked and disquieted him. Was it
possible that she had seen her brother
returning1
He sprang outside and around to the
corner CT the cabin. A short distance
away he saw Marie Dupont riding
across from the road at smart can
ter. He waved his hat to her and faced
about juSt as Oinna was gliding from
the door.
"Stop!" he called in tone that
forced the girl to obey. Don't be silly,
Oinna. You have my word for it I
meant no harm. If you run now, Miss
Dupont will think we have been doing
something wrong"
"Oh, don't want her to. She was
good to me. Don't let her think bad
Of me-" implored the girl.
''Then go in and get her a cup Of
tea. Quick-here she comes"
The girl disappeared as Marie's pony
swung around the corner Of the cabin.
vandervyn stopped to fiddle with his
stirrup leather. He Strengthened. and
looked over his pony's back. Marie
had pulled up few feet away, and
was staring past him toward the door
of the cabin, her cheeks ablaze and
her eyes flashing with anger.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, glancing over
his shoulder with well-feigned surprise.
''What's the matter?"
''You ask that?' she cried. IT met
Charlie half way to the agency. He
said you were riding out of the val
ley"
eyes. Stopped here to get drink
from his sister. They have only creek
water. I've hnd to wait while she
boiled some for tea. But It was a
lucky delay-you're here. You'll ride
with met"
II wish to speak to that GIRL" re-
piled Marie.
"Going to hire her for kitchen
maid?" he asked, and he called over
his shoulder in a rough tone: "Hurry
up in there. You're keeping Miss Du-
pont waiting"
''You should not speak that way to
Olnna. She Is not dog" reproved
Marie. "See; you have frightened
her It's all right, Oinna. Mr.. Van
didn't mean to be cross"
The girl had stopped in the door
way. her eyes timidly downcast. With.
out looking up, she came around to Ma.
RE and offered her the cup of luke
warm tea that she had brought In
obedience to vandervyn's command.
Marie took sip and paused to peer
down into the dark brew.
"Merci!" she cried. ut is half
sugar"
"You were good to me-" naively ex-
planned Oinna.
Morio lauchod and handed hacle tho