Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-06-09

odHu- LIE paper WIS WTllleli III PEN
ell 1t had not even been moistened or
1t would have blurred. There was
nothing upon 1t to tell how long ago
1t had been written; but 1t had been
written certainly before June II.
after June H." 1t said.
That day was August the eighteenth
1t was seven months since Uncle
Benny had gone away. After his
strange interview with her that day
and his going home, had Uncle Benny
gone out directly to his death? There
was nothing to show that he had not ;
the watch and coins must have lain
for many weeks. for months. In water
and In sand to become eroded In this
way. But, aside from this. there was
nothing that could be Inferred regard
Ing the time or place Of Uncle Bennys
death. That the package had been
mailed from Manitowoc meant nothing
definite. Some one-Constance could
not know whom-had had the muffier
and the scrawled leaf of directions !,
later after lying in water and In sand,
the things which were to be "sent"
had come to that some ones hand.
Most probably this some one had been
one who was going about on ships
when his ship had touched at Mani
towoc he had executed his charge.
Constance left the articles upon the
bed and threw the window more wide
Iy open. She trembled and felt stirred
and faint, as she leaned against the
window, breathing deeply the warm
air, full of life and with the scent
Of the evergreen trees about the
house.
The cottage" of some twenty rooms
stood among the pines and hemlocks
interspersed with hardwood on ''the
Point" where were the great fine sum-
mer homes of the weather. "re-
sorters."
This was Uncle Benny's country.
Here, twenty-five years before, he had
first met Henry, whose birthplace-a
farm deserted now-was only a few
miles back among the hills. Here.
before that, Uncle Benny had been a
young man, active, vigorous, ambitious.
He had loved this country for itself
and for its traditions, its Indian
legends and fantastic stories. Half
her own love for it-and, since her
1t had been to her region
of delight-was due to him and TO the
things he had told her about 1t. Dis
tinct and definite memories of that
came to her. This lit
tie bay, which had become now for
the most part only summer play
ground for such as she, had been once
a place where he and other men had |
struggled to grow rich swiftly; he |
had outlined for her the ruined lumber |
locks and pointed out TO her the loca- |
ions of the dismantled sawmills. 1t |
vas he who had told her the names
If the freighters passing far out. and |
he names of the lighthouses, and |
about each. He had told |
Ter, too, about the Indians. She re-
rendered one starry night when he |
rad pointed out to her In the sky the |
indian 'Way of Ghosts" the Milky |
way, along which, by ancient Indian |
,elief. the souls of Indians travelled |
lp to heaven; and how, later, lying
m the recessed seat beside the fire
,lace where she could touch the dogs
Ipon the hearth. he had pointed out
o her through the window the Indian
Way of Dogs among the constella-
ions, by which the dogs too could |
make that journey. 1t was he who
ad told her about Mlchabou and the
and he had been the first
o tell her Of the Drum.
The disgrace, unhappiness, the threat
f something worse, which must have
lade death relief to Uncle Benny,
he had seen passed on now to Alan.
What more had come to Alan since
he had last heard Of him?
Word had reached her father
trough shipping circles in May and
gain in July which told of inquiries
agarding Uncle Benny which made
err and her father believe that Alan
as searching for his father upon the
Ikes. Now these articles which had
rived made plain TO her that he
ould never find Uncle Benny; ne
ould learn. through others or through
lemselyes. that Uncle Benny was
cad. Would he believe then that
lere was no longer any chance of
arning what his father had done?
'0uld he remain away because Of
ar. not letting her see or hear from
IN againf
She went back and picked uD the !
edding ring, The thought which had
me 10 her thar this was AlaD's moth
Is wedding ring, had fastened Itself /
,on her Win sense Of certainty II /
'fended fhaf unl,Down mofheri n
red her, a. least, from fhe stigma ,
licb C0nsfenee's ONn mother had \
en 80 ready 40 cast, fonsisnee could !
4 SCI begin % place tncle Benny 4
pollution 10 mar ring pui she vac y
aluulng fO be- able ~ think M Alan