The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-27

Shrinking yet yielding, with eyes
dmidly downcast and olive cheeks
burning with bIissfui shame. the young
girl allowed him to draw her closer.
Her lips quivered. yet she raised them
to meet his kiss.
'-There!" he rallied. "Was it so
dreadfuI?"
She did not answer: she could not.
Her head dropped forward with the
i instructive modesty of an innocent
young girl. He put the forefinger of
his free hand under her chin and
raised her head to take a second kiss
"One good turn deserves another,
sweetheart" he said.s
You should not-not call me that"
she whispered. lyon are q gentleman
white man; 1 am only a halfbreed-
I'm yellow as a Chinaman'
''No-gOlden. You are my golden
girl. Your cheeks are wild roses and
honey gold. Your eyes are like a
fawn's; your lips sweet as honey
Another kiss There. that's more like
it You're learning how. Now look
at me-
She raised her dropping lids with
the sudden. desperate courage of one
who is very shy, and gazed up at him.
her tender eyes starlike with the soft
glow of her love and alteration.
"fou-you really like me?" she
whispered
No, l hate you like poor Lo hates
frewater. Give him taste, and he
wants it all. l want YOU"
"Charlie-he said 1 must marry a
white man. 1 am joyed in my heart
You say you want mel But 1 am only
halfbreed girl, and you
You're my hOney-sweet grille. Go
and open the door,"
She looked up at him again full and
direct, and his gaze sank before the
trust in her clear eyes.
You want me to be your engaged
girl - she murmured when people
are engaged, they are going to be mar
ried. Charlie said 1 must marry a
white man, good white man. You
are kind TO me. 1t is wonderful. 1
have read that even army officers have
married halfbreed girls. But you are
grander than any officer, and you are
very good to think of marrying me-"
Vandervyn forced a smile, and re-
piled to her adulation without meeting
her >enraptured gaze:
What else did you think 1 meant
when 1 kissed you? OF course we shall
be married. As we are here on the
reservation, it will be according to the
custom of the tribe"
Married? Oh, my heart sings :"
cried the girl. Il will be your wife
yours 1 can't believe it There
comes Charlie. 1 must run and tell
him."
Vandervyn hastily released her, and
drew his arm out of the window as he
looked around.
wait :" he commanded. Hes COM
ing fast enough. Leave the door
barred"
The halfbreed was racing Hardy's
mare up the creek bank at furious
gallOp- He flung himself out of the
saddle and advanced upon Vandervyn,
his face dark with suspicion
What you saying to my siSter?" he
demanded
The white man met his threatening
look with n neutrality-suspicious.. half
amused smile.
''I've been showing the girl what 1
think of her." he replied.
Redbear came TO sudden halt. The
muscles of his face began to twftch.
"Oh, CharlieI - reprOached Oinna.
What makes you look at him that
way? Why don't you thank himY'
She unbarred the door and stepped
outside
For what?" questioned her brother
in a harsh, strained voice.
Because he is going to be my man
going to take me for his wife"
Marry you? Oinna-yOu?" The
halfbreed could not believe his ears.
Through his daze shot a flash of angry
suspicion. But you-you won't marry
herI"
vandervyn smiled in his careless
manner.
''Oh. guess yes
you'll marry her? You'll take her
to town and marry her like white
people?"
I'll marry her as some white
people marry. I'll not take her to
town. Oinna and have agreed to be
married according to tribal CUSTOM
Again Redbear's weak face dark
ened with suspicion and anger. 81
won't have it. You're white, and Oinna
is half white. White people don't
marry Indian fashion"
sfYou know lot about it, Charlie.
Haven't you ever heard of common-law
marriages? Lots of white people get
married that way"
''What way?"
'You must know about it. Instead
of going to a lot Of fuss and bother
over ministers and licenses, many