Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-23

and drew her about to the president.
"Ay dear, this is the great White Fa-
| Their of all Indians and Of our tribe
he is our father-yOur excellency, this
is Mrs. Reginald Vandervyn."
The, blow was given with merciless
force. AS Vandervyn gaped at Marie,
her eyes famed with sudden up
leaping of fierce eXultance.
He gasped and choked out: "You--
you ALL these hs-this-you-
Indian"
yes, Indian--tO you, even as she
was Indian to your cried the girl.
'You have been so eager to marry a
breed girl-here is one already your
wife!'
"Its q liza black lie!' denied Van
dervyn. 81 never married herr
you took her by tribal custom, and
you told her that you We're taking Eer
legally according to the common law"
"She cannot prove l lived with her
openly as her husband" rejoined VAN
dervyn.
ing Onna with kindly gravity. do
YOU wish him to acknowledge you as
his wife?"
mo, no, sir" she disclaimed. Il
don't want him any mere
81 am pleased 70 hear you say that"
replied the president. He turned to
| Fandervyn. Il understand this Witness
is prepared to testify that the sigma
lures to your contract were obtained
on the false representation that it was
q second copy of the minutes Of the
tribal council"
IT'S a lie!' hoarsely replied the
young man. Hardy knows nothing
about it, There's only her word
against mine
we can send for the Indian wit
neSScS, if necessary. Another matter
at the inquest you testified under
oath that Il certain Indian killed Agent
Nogen, and that YOU and Redbear then
killed the murderer. When you shot
was dead. He lived long enough to
confess himself the murderer of Agent
Nogen. Why did you perjure yourself
at the inquest?"
You can't prove it." defiantly chal.
lenged Eandervyn. Il stand by my
testimony. This squaw and Hardy
have Matched up the lie between them.
Even il Redbear made such a confess
sion, it is only hearsay ana not legal
evidence"
"Your friend Eedbear seems to have
enjoyed shooting at agents" remarked
the president. He also confessed to
having made the two attempts on the
life Of Captain Hardy. in view Of your
perjured testimony at the Nogen liz
quest, one is led to infer a not inn
probable connection between those at.
tempts and your ennity to Captain
Hardy. But the point at present is
whether you still insist upon the val
idity Of your contract. Do you wish
an official investigation that will take
the evidence of the Indian witneSsesW
A cold sweat was gathering on Fan-
dervyn'S forehead. He looked at Marie.
She turned from him, afraid that he
might miscOnStrue the WOmany SOFT
ness into which her fierce resentment
had melted. He wheeled about, and left
the room, sullen, unrepentant, defiant.
"a very great pity" commented the
president Young and clever, hand
some, we'll educated, good social stand
ing-yet all wasted Courage-misdi-
rected; no sense of shame; immoral,
rather than immoral. He will ride
hard to still harder falls than this
one, or else to what the world calls
success. But l am too busy man to
moralize. Ii you will pardon me,
ladies, there is to be Il cabinet meet
ing"
lie bowed to them, and then con-
fronted Hardy. ''Sir, | warned you
that if you did not speak in your own
defense, you would have no other OPP
portunity | shall not reverse my APP
prevail of the findings of the court
martial
Hardy had stood an amazed and
dumfOunded spectator to the rejection
and disgrace of his rival. But through
out it all Marie had never once looked
at him. If her scornful casting off Of
Vandervyn had reused any hopes for
himself, they must have been dashed
when she led Oinna away without IA
voring him with so much as glance
| of recognition. There was Il slight
stoop in his shoulders as he saluted
the president.
eff the sentence approved by your
excellency does not make association
with me scandalous," he said, Il beg
leave to express my thanks for the
intimation that you will invalidate the
fraudulent contract"
Without replying, the president
| abruptly faced about to his desk.
Hardy again saluted, and marched
| from the room as If on dress parade.
CHAPTER XVI.