The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-09-14

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Many young braves sprang Willingly
forward and the three were hailed be.
fore Erskine. Old Kahtoo waved bis
hand toward them and sat down. Frs.
kline rose and fixed bis eyes sternly
on the covering prophet:
HE shall go forth from the village
and shall never return. For his words
work mischief, he does foolish things,
and bis drumming frightens the game.
He Is a false prophet and he must 60"
He turned to Crooked Lightning:
1.-THE Indians have made peace with
the Long Knives and White Arrow
would make peace with any Indian,
though an enemy. Crooked Lightning
shall go or stay, AZ he pleases. Black
Wolf shall stay, for the tribe will need
him as a hunter and q warrior against
the English foes Of the Long Knives.
White Arrow does not ask another
to spare an enemy's life and then take
it away himself" .
The braves grunted approval. Black
Wolf and Crooked Lightning averted
,, their faces and the prophet shambled
uneasily away. Again old Kahtoo pro-
claimed generously, 1T Is Welt" and
went back with Erskine to his tent.
There he sank YEARLY on a buffalo
skin and pleaded with the boy to stay
with them as chief In his stead.
He was very old, and now that peace
was made with the Long Knives he
was willing to die. II Erskine would
but give his promise, he would never
rise again from where he lay.
Erskine shook his head and the old
man sorrowfully turned his face.
And yet Ersklne fingered on ana
on at the village. OF the white WON.
an he had learned little other than
that she had been bought from an.
other tribe and adopted by old Kah.
too; but it was plain that since the
threatened burning Of her. she had
been held In high respect by the whole
tribe. He began to wonder about her
and whether she might not. wish to
go back to her own people. He had
never talked With her, but he never
moved about the camp that he did
not feel her eyes upon him. And
Early Morn's big soft eyes, too, never
seemed to leave him. She brought
him food, she sat at the door Of his
tent, she followed him about the vii.
lage and bore herself openly as his
slave. At last old Kahtoo, who would
not give up his great hope, pleaded with
him to marry her, and while he was
talking. the girl stood at the door Of
the tent and interrupted them. Her
mothers eyes were growing dim, she
said. Her mother wanted to talk with
White Arrow and look upon his face
before her sight should altogether
pass. Nor could Erskine know that
the white woman wanted to look into
the eyes Of the man she hoped would
become her daughters husband, bul
Kahtoo did, and he babe Erskine 60
His foster mother, coming upon thu
scene, scowled, but Erskine rose ant
went to. the white woman's tent. Sh,
sat just inside the opening, with .
} blanket across the lower half Of he
face, nor did she look at him. In
stead she piled him with questions
| and listened eagerly to bis every word
! and drew from him every detail 0
, his life az far back as be could re
member. Poor SOUL 1t was the frs
), opportunity for many years that sh'
, had had to talk with any white per
son who had been In the eastern
. world; and freely and frankly he bel,
nothing back.
, All the while the girl had crouche'
near, looking at Erskine with doglik'
eyes, and when he rose to go tn
woman dropped the blanket from he
face and got to her feet. Shyly sh
lifted her hands, took his face be
tween them, bent close, and studio,
It searchingly:
"What Is your namer'
"Erskine Dale"
\ Without a word she turned bacl
into her tent.
At dusk Erskine stood by the rly
ers brim, with his eyes lifted to
rising moon and his thoughts wit
Barbara on the bank Of the James
Behind him he heard q rustic ani
turning, he saw the girl. her breas
throbbing and her eyes burning wit
light he had never seen before.
BLACK Wolf will kill you" sh
whispered. "Black Wolf wants Earl
G0sa md he knows that Early Nor
wants White Arrow.r Erskine pu
both hands on her shoulders an
looked down into her eyes. Sh
trembled, and when his arms wen
about her she surged closer to hin
and the touch Of her warm, suppl
body went through him Ike fire. An
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