The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-22
Erskine Dale Pioneer
By JOHN FOX JR.
Z Copyright 1919, 1920 by Charles scribner's Sons

Continued from Our Last Issue.)
tsYou haven't made mo unhappy.
ltdon't know what you have made
me Papa says girl does not un.
derstand and no man can, but he
does better than anybody. You
saw how felt II you had killed
him, but you don't know how
would have felt II he had killed you
don't myself"
She began pattIng her hands
gently and helplessly together, and
again she dropped her chin into
them with her eyes lifted to the
moon.
Whenever you look at that moon
otsr In that dark wilderness, wish
you wonld please think OF your lit
tie cousin-will you?"
''You don't know how often our
thoughts will cross, and that win
be "a great comfort to me. Some.
timesiI am afraid. There is wild
strain on my mothers side, and It
is In mel am afraid may some.
times do something very foolish.
and II won't be me at all. II will be
shgebody that died long ago." She
put both her hands over both his
and held them tight.
u never, never dIstrusted you. I
trust you more than anybody else
in the whole world except my faith.
or. and he might be away orr-she
gave little sob-"ho might get
Skled J want you to make me a
promise"
Anything" said the boy huskily.
@1swant you 10 promise me that,
ormatter when. no matter where
yops are, II need you aud send for
ypp you will come" And Indian.
iliAF he put his forehead on both her
little hands.
.Thank you. must go now"
Bewildered and dazed, the boy rose
aud 5awkwardly put out his hand.
kiss me good.by." She put her
arms about his neck, and for the
first time In his life the boys lips
meta woman's. For a moment she
put her. face against his and at his
ear was a whisper.
"Good.by, Erskine!" And she was
B gone-swiftly-leaving the boy in a
dizzy world OF fallino stars through
which white light leaped 10
h&shts his soul had never
dreamed.
XVII.
With the head OF Clark's column
Of stalwart backwoodsmen went
Dave Yandell and Erskine Dale.
During the months Kashaskic
fell, then yincennes passed into the
hands Of the Americans and there
came one morning when Erskine
went forth at dawn, and his com.
ms into the Shawnee camp was like
the coming OF a king. Early Morn
greeted him with glowing eyes, his
foster5mother brought him fool,
cooking proudly upon him, and old
kAhtpoi harangued his braves
around the council-pole.
NY son spoke words Of truth"
he proclaimed generously. "He
warned US against the king over tho
waters and told us to make triende
18th thssAmericans. Ny son Is tho
he prophet. Bring out tho false
bAstand Crooked Lightning ant
Black Wolf, whose life my son
saved though the two were enc.
mics. My son shall do with then
as he pleases."
Many young braves sprang will.
ingly forward and the three were
{ hailed before Erskinc.
Erskine rose and fixed his eyes
sternly on the covering prophet:
ssHe shall so forth from the vii.
1age and shall never return. He
issa false prophet and he must co.
he turned to Crooked Lightning:
Crooked Lightning shall so O.
stay, us he plcases. Black Wolf
shall stay, for the tribe will need
him as hunter and warrior
against the English foes of the
Long Knives"
The. braves grunted approval
Black Wolf and Crooked Lightning
averted their faces and the pro,
phet shambled uneasily away
Again old Kahtoo proclaimed
generously, "it is WE'LL" and wen
back to his tent. There he san1i
YEARLY on a huffalo-skin and plead
with the boy to stay with them as
chief in his stead. He was very old
and now that peace was made he
Twas willing to die. II Erskine would
but give his promise. he would nev
er rise again from where he lay.
Erskine shook his head and thu
old man sorTowfully turned his
face.
And yet Erskine fingered on art
on at the village.
OF the white woman he hat
learned little other than that sh.
had been bought from another tribe
and adopted by old Kahtoo; but 4
was plain that since the threatened
Banning of her she had been helt
ia high respect by the whole tribe
He had never talked with her
but he never moved about the CAM
that he did not feel her eyes upol
him. And Early Morn's big sot
eyes, too, never seemed to leave
him. She brought him. food, shC
sat at tho door Of his tent, she fol-
lowed him about the village ant
bore herself openly as his slave.
at last old Kahtoo. who woult
not give up his great hope. pleat
with him to marry her, and whilt
! M q "a Hing khn Girl nLnhh ~ III,