South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-22

To thc white woma1's tent She
ar just inside the opening with
blanket across the lower half of her
face she piled him with questions
and listened eagerly TO him every
word and drew from him every de-
tail OF his life as Far back as ne
could remember
Poor soul il was the first oppor-
tunity for many years that she had
TO talk with any white person who
mad been I'm the Eastern world. and
freely and frankly be held nothing
back.
tahen I'm turn be questioned her.
She told little. and HIS own native
dclicacy made him understand. She
90. had bee1 captured with son
who would have been about Frs
kiue's age. but her boy and her
husband had been killed She had
been made a slave and-now she
drew tne blanket across her eyes
after the birth OF her daughter she
felt she could never go back 10 her
OWE people
She loved her daughter. she would
rot subject her or herself 10 humili-
alton among the whites. and, any
how. there was no one TO whom
she could go. Her concern was with
her dauShter-what would become
Of her? Many a young brave. be-
sides Black Wolf. had put his heart
at her little feet. but she would have
none of them And so Erskine was
the heaven-sent answer TO the
mothers prayers-that was the
thought behind her mournful eyes.
All the while the girl had CrOuched
near. looking at ErskiHe with dog
like eyes. and when he rose 10 90
the woman dropped the blanket
from her face and got 10 her feet.
Shyly she lifted Der hands. took his
face between them. bent close, and
studied It searchinCly.
What is your name %
"Erskine Dale"
Without a word she turned back
into her tent
At dusk Erskine stood by the riv-
er's brim. with his eyes lifted to a
rising moon and his thoughts with
Barbara Behind him he heard a
rustic and, turning. ne saw the girl
her breast throbbing and her eyes
burning with a light he had never
seen before.
Black Wolf will Kill YOU" she
whispered. BLACK Wolf wants
Early Morn and he knows that Early
Morn wants White Arrow
Erskine put both hands on her
shoulders and looked down into her
eyes. She trembled and when his
arms went about her she surged
closer 10 him and the touch of he's
warm supple body went through
him like fire And then with a tri-
Unphant smile she spraus back.
"Black Wolf will see" she whis-
pered. and fled. Erslline sank TO the
ground, with his head in his hands.
The girl ran back to her tent and
the mother. peering at the flushed
face and shining eyes. Glove to the
truth. She said nothing. but when
the girl was asleep and family sIuil-
ing. the white woman sat staring out
into the mOonlit woods, softly beat
ing her breast.
XVIII
In the white woman Erskiue soon
saw a change Once she had en-
couraged him To stay with the In
dams. now she lost no opportunity
to urge against it,.
Her face had blanched. she argued
passionately that he must go. and
Erskine was sorely puzzled. The
girl. too had grown rebellious and
disobedient. for the change in her
mother was plain also to her. and
she could not understand. More
over. Erskine's stubbornness grew.
and he began to flame within at the
stalking insolence of Black Wolf
who continued to seek the hand ~
Early Morn.
one day in the open village the
clash came. Black Wolf darted
forth from his wigwam, his ey-=
bIoodshot with rage and drink. and
his hunting knife i'm his hand.
a cry from Early Morn warned
Erskine and he wheeled. As Black
Wolf made "A vicious slash at hin
he sprang aside, and with his fist
caught the savage on the jaw Black
Wolf fell heavily and Erskine was
upon him with his own knife at his
cnemy's throat
stop them" old Kahtoo cried
sternly. but IL was the terrified
shrek 81 the white woman that
stayed Erskiue's hand Two young
braves disarmed the fallen Indian,
and Kahtco looked inquiringly at
his adopted son.
Turn him loose" Erskin q
scorned Il have no fear OF him.
Next time I shall kill him"
The white woman had run down.
caught Early Morn, and was lead
ing her back 90 her tent From in
side presently came low. passionate
pleading from the woman and an
occasional son from the girl
An hour later al dusk. Erskine
turned upward toward the tent the
girl gave a Mortified cry flashed
from the tent and darted for the
high cliff over the river.