Meade County news., 1917-05-03


"Oh, say now, don't be "a" He
detected something behind her look of
childlike artlessness, and hastened to
concede the point. "But of course if
you feel that way about it You will
not have to break your promise after
The law will then make your property
mine. So that is settled, sweetheart.
Now comes the main question. When
shall we be married?"
The girl quivered at the word. He
stepped close, and looked into her
eyes, his own glowing golden with ar
dor. She dropped her gaze, and drew
back from him as if confused by the
suddenness of his proposal.
"I-must think" she murmured.
"Would it not be best to-wait until
he has given me the miner
"Not when you have his word that
he will do it. Anyway, there's no
harm in naming the day. Come, make
it an early onew
The girls rich color deepened with
blush.
"Not now!" she replied, struggling
to recover her composure. "You must
wait. Perhaps tomorrow-but now
I" She glanced around as if looking
for way Of escape. There was no
promise Of succor in her fathers COM
placent grin. Her gaze darted down
into the valley; it rested upon the en-
camping Indians. "Look," she mur-
mured. "That is Thunderbolts 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. II will see to 1t that no
one interferes with the chief and his
band"
II shall GO down and tell him." she
insisted. "No, 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. "Pm dry as a 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 himiwas braided after the fash
ion of the maidens of the tribe. She
bent over and lo6Bed' i1to.aafd 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
d startled gaze.
4i"Oinna w she exclaimed, and she
Knelt down beside the girl. "You are
ILL.," ..",
Mo- 'GO''way, please" begged the
Nretched girl. A slow flush reddened
her wan face. She sought to turn
from the visitor. "I.want to be alone.
l'am 'sha{eA. Go way, please" y
Marie lboked up at Ti-owa-konza.
He saw the. pity. in her. eyes, and
spoke softly in Eakotah: ~ T.
"Rose who art white yet red. in
the flower of. the golden lily 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
hastened 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
nolselessly 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 hov-
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 balzQtahs y. When she stepped
Ipass him and LEFT Che stepee, his face
was still set in the stolcal calm of
the Indian warrior Of his generation
but his proud old eyes we're glistening
with gratitude and stern Joy. =: