Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-06-02
A Daughter of Chief
White Crow
By HAROLD sINCLAIRE.
10. 1921. western Newspaper un4on. }


attended the spectacle alone.
Men and women participated in the
great sacred dance in honor of the
corn.
This year there was newcomer, a
girl of exquisite beauty.
Il am the assistant agent" said
Clifford introducing himself to her as
she stood a little apart from the
throng of Indians after the dance.
you are of this tribe? But l have
never seen you. Where do you liver"
81? Oh, am an Indian in exile"
she answered, smiling. mo, you win
not see me again. This is my first re-,
turn and my last. My father was
Chief White Crow"
~" said Clifford, shall remain
here-always, l think. l was born
among the Indians and have learned
to love them. l ask no more of life
than that l may. remain here until
die, protecting them, instructing them,
helping them and teaching them
to help themselves"
God aid you in your worthy pur-
pose," she answered softly. Clifford
saw that there were tears in her eyes.
He clasped her in his arms and rained
kisses upon her lips and throat.
She fought him like a fury, fought
/ her way out of his arms, and stood
glazing at him under the large, yell
low harvest moon.
"You-how dare you'll" she cried
passionately. "You-who were sworn
who have just told me that you
wanted to help" She choked upon
her words. $50 you think because l
wear the Indian garb that am only
an Indian girl" she went on in tones
of intensest bitterness.
Forgive me-" he murmured hum
bly,. II love you. / have never seen
any woman like you. l was insane.
Give me chance to prove that was
not sighting you"
"Oh, you shall have your chance"
she answered and turned away.
Governor Lawson was partly of In
dian blood. Though 1t was only one
eighth, or hardly EIore, he boosted of
1t. 1t gave him prestige among the
aboriginal inhabitants of his state,
many of whom had won honors In
various ranks of life. Three were In
the legislature. One owned bank.
Governor Lawson made the welfare Of
the Indians his study and hobby. He
sent for Clifford, to examine him con-
corning a matter of disputed lands.
After the talk he said: "You have
been seven years on the reservation,
they tell me. You must take a long
rest in the capital.
Durham" said the governor, 81
want you to stay and be our guest at
my daughters wedding tomorrow.
And, when Clifford assented, grudg-
ingly, for he felt i'll at ease, the COVER
nor led him into his drawing room. A
young woman was seated there.
"Estelle," said Governor Lawson, II
want to introduce Mr.. Durham"
The color famed into Durham's
face. 1t was his Indian girl. She
smiled coldly at him.
"You asked for your chance" she
said. well, l have given it to you"
ITO love your he murmured, and
she drew back as though he had
whipped her.
ITO prove that you were not slight
ing me-" she answered.
Clifford Durham was man of sim
pie mold. He had never loved until
that night; since then he had always
loved. He knew he always would.
Later that evening he turned his feet
resolutely in the direction of the gov
errors residence, set in the grove Of
trees. Next moment he was striding
noiselessly across the turf.
Estelle was seated at her window
beside lamp. Invisible though he
was to her, she was perfectly appar-
ent. When she raised her eyes he
saw tears rolling down her cheeks.
And then the memory became ire
sistible.
He walked up to the window and
tapped lightly. "Estelle!" he called.
She sprang up with a startled ges-
ture, turned and faced him. She
seemed to freeze to stone.
"Estelle," he said, 81 know why
you came to the Hopi dance last year.
1t was because you are an Indian still,
as am In soul. 1t was the old, un-
tanned love for the wilds, the plains,
the solitude. You are like a Gagged
bird here. And you are going to be
married tomorrow
He laughed softly and held out his
arms.
"You will never be happy in the
life that you have planned out" he
said. you must follow your destiny
you must come with me-"
"Oh-if ] dared v' she said. "What
would they think of me? What would
they say?"
"Come, Estellel" he whispered.
And suddenly he caught her in his
arms and kissed her as on that night
under the harvest moon
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