The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-02-01
CHAPTER XIV.
A Lovers Promise.


of Sioux creek into the agency valley,
Vandervyn was stiH as gay and good
humOred as at the start of the jour
ney. He even volunteered to inter
vene for Hardy with Marie.
at is very kind of you to make the |
Offer" replied Hardy in rather still |
tone "If Dupont is at home, may l
ask you to send him to the office"
Certainly" replied Vandervyn, and
all the way down to the agency he
chatted genially. When they came to
the level behind the warehouse, he
waved his hand in friendly parting.
"Slong. See you later. Be sure to
chop off your whiskers in time for
supper. You'll need to look your
best"
Dupont soon dumped into the
agency office, fairly Oozing with jovial
friendliness.
"Howdy! Howdy, Cap" he greet
ed Marie, she says she'll look to
see you at supper. Mr.. Van says you
wanted to see me. Anything l can
do, Cap, just call on me. I'm ready
to call quits now, if you are"
Hardy accepted the prOffered hand
and exchanged cordial grip.
"This pleases me very much, Du-
pont," he responded. 1--WE will all
now work together for the tribe. l
give you my best wishes that you
may win the NINE"
1--WE got fair show to, seeing as
how you amt going to let on about 1t
! in your report. Now, just tell me
what l can do for you"
Merely a few words as interpre-
ter" said Hardy. Il wish one of the
police at once to ride over to the
railroad with these kilograms and let
ters. The sooner l receive inStruc-
tions to send the delegation to Wash
ington, the better"
That's no lie. Mr.. Van says the
money can't be appropriated till con-
gress meets, but the treaty is fixed up
SOS the amount can be settled on and
the reservation ordered divided up by
the treaty commission"
"Ahw exclaimed Hardy. I'VE may
get the agricultural lands allotted in
time for the planting of winter wheat
Come; we will send off these tele-
grams and letters"
Since the return of the party from
the mountains, not one of the ponce
but was more than willing to serve
the new agent. Two of the younger
men were soon canterlng away down
the valley on their best ponies, proud
of the fact that they had been chosen
to make the night ride to the railroad.
Hardy returned to the office with
Dupont, and became deeply absorbed
in discussing ways and means for the
development Of the Indians as farm
ers. When Dupont noted the hour.
there seemed scarcely time for even
one of the captains quick-Change tot
let's. Yet he appeared at the door of
the Dupont house, spick and span and
his beard clean shaven, without hav-
ing required his hostess to wait sup
per half a minute.
AS he entered in response to Du'
points hOspitable below, there was a
perceptible hesitancy in his manner
Marie was seated at the far end of the
room near Vandervyn. She rose, anC
came forward to greet Hardy, her CHR
proudly uptilted.
There seems to have been a gen
+ eral misunderstanding of motives
d, captain" she remarked with frank di
rectness. II still consider that yot
, were unduly harsh, but now under
, stand that you meant well and per
haps had some excuse. Reggie say
=, that we are all to work together TO
the good of the tribe"
'It pleases me very much to hea
you say it."
"What interest have you in helping
them?" she Queried, evidently reluc
{ tant to believe his motives unseltish
"It means a good mark on his OF
= fetal record" bantered VandervyI
= Every little thing counts on promo
), tion-like merit marks at school"
"You see!" agreed Hardy. Il can
pretend to altruism. / am ambition
. to stand we'll in my profession. If
: make a good showing when given
i detail, l put merit marks on my rec
ord, as Mr.. Vandervyn has so aptl
expressed it."
e Marie's challenging gaze softenet
and she looked thoughtfully down &
Il her white hands.
q isn't even self-sacrifice form G
II selfishness?" she murmured.
The appearance of the Indian bo
a in the dining room doorway checke
e Hardy's reply.
" During supper the girl RENAME
l. unusually thoughtful and silent. Ha
u dy discussed with Dupont plans II
1t the instruction of the tribe in agricu
turc. The idea had occurred to hi
~ that the government might permit hi
- to build an irrigation system for II
~ farming lands of the tribe, using Il
dian labOrers, and paying for IL
&c work out of money appropriated II
u the sale of the mineral lands. VINE
Vandervyn chose to listen, 1t WI
IS with half-amused smile that did n
TO always cover the underlying cynic
y irony. Most of the time he devote
IN himself to an attempt to rally Mar
Ut out of her thoughtfulness. Inste'
!. of responding, she became more pc
y sive. Harry attributed the girls ha
to somber quietness to his presence. 1
ed they left the supper table, he ask
IT. Dupont to come to the office.
.s- Marie and Vandervyn followed the