The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-07-07
g. 1921. westsra Nswspspss un,...

tbs cOEh canoe, IN nOnOr OF IA taS-
selling blades and Id praise OF tie
giyer and each year since he Lud
ioined the agency Clifford Durham
Intended the spectacle alone.
Men and women participated ID the
treat sacred dance III honor Of the
corn. zN
This year there was q newcomer, 4
sirl OF exquisite beauty.
am the assistant agent" said
Clifford Introducing himself ia her as
she stood q little apart from the
;hrong Of Indians after the dance.
You are OF this tribe? But j have
lever seen you. Where do you liver
IT? Oh, ! am an Indian In exile
she answered, smiling. No, you will
.ot see me again. This Is my first re-
urn and my last NY father wal
'hief White Grow" .8
7" said Clifford. shall remain
ere-always, | think. was born
.imong the Indians and have learned
10 love them. / ask no more Of life
han that may remain here until ]
lie, protecting them, lnstructing them.
helping them and teaching them
% 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
ler way out Of his arms. and Stood
;iaring at him under the large. vel.
low harvest noon.
"You-how dare you r. she cried
passionately. "You-who were sworn
who have just told me that you
wanted to help She choked upon
har words. $50 you think because ]
wear the Indian garb that l am only
in Indian girl" she went on In tones
ut intensest bitterness.
Forgive me-" he murmured hum.
bly. Il love you. I have never seen
any woman like you, vas insane
tive me a chance to prove that l was
not sighting you"
"Oh, you shall have your chance :
she answered and turned away.
Governor Lawson was partly OF In.
dian blood. Though It was only one.
eighth, or hardly more. he boosted OF
it. It 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 a 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 q long
rest in the capital.
Durham" said the governor, q
want you to stay and be our guest al
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. n
want to Introduce Mr.. Durham"
The color famed into Durham'i
face. 1t was his Indian girl. She
smiled coldly at him.
You asked for your chance" she
said. swell, I 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 4 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 fee,
resolutely In the direction Of the gov.
errors residence, set in the grove Of
trees. Next moment he was stridinl
noiselessly across the turf.
Estelle was seated at her window
beside a lamp. Invisible though .he
was to her. she was perfectly appar
ent. When she raised her eyes be
saw tears rolling down her cheeks
And then the memory became IRE
sistible.
He walked up to the window and
tapped lightly. 'sEstelleln he called.
She sprang up with q startled ges
ture, turned and faced him. Sht
seemed to freeze to stone.
"Estelle," he said, ssI know WHY
you came to the Hopi dance last year
1t was because you are an Indian still
as I am Ia soul. II was the old, I'm
tanned love for the wilds. the plains
the solitude. You are Ike q caget
bird here. And you + going to b.
married tomorrow y
He laughed softly and held ont ii,
arms.
.You win never be happy Ii tn,
life that you have planned out" b,
said. you must follow your destin,
you must come with me-
aOh-if I dared I" she said. ssVVha,
| would they think Of mel What woult
they sayf"
sCorne, Estelle !" he whispered.
And suddenly he caught her ii hi
arms and kissed her % On that nigh
under the harvest moon.
re your duty were here I would no
urge you,r he said.
IL y0u had not come I should hav,
killed myself she said. "Oh, nv loy,
lever. since that night under the har
vest moonl II was I who cent fol
you. / knew you would come then and