The Ordway new era., 1917-08-10

ut Vnndfrvyn with naive seriousness.
SO you see l must keep my promise"
"Oh, l 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 marrled?"
The girl quivered Mt 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 us If confused by the
suddenness Of his proposal.
"I-must think" she murmured.
would 1t not be best to-wait until
he has given me the mine?"
mot when you have his word that
he will do it. Anyway, there's no
harm in naming the day. Come, make
it an early one!"
The girls rich color deepened with
Il blush.
mot now!" she replied, struggling
to recover her composure. "You must
wait. Perhaps tomorrow-but now
L" She glanced around us IL looking
for 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. It Is no longer
tribal land"
There's no need, sweetheart" said
Vandervyn. II will see to it 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 drop Of something" he
urged. "Tm dry as a bone. T.. 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 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
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 face that
was so thin and pale that at first she
did not recognize it. The large, sunken
eyes opened and looked up ut her with
startled gaze.
"Oinnav' 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.
1 am 'shamed. Go way, please"
Marie looked up ut 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
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 walt.
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
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
a., Torntah. When she stepped