Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-26
|ERS'Kll[NE DALE, PIONEER
BY JOEN FOX, i.
M 0spyasAt ~ Charles sera.srs ses
BY JOHN FOX, j.
OsyyrigAt ~ oAazsss sorSasrs 0e1e

couraEed him to stay with the IN
dams: now she lost no opportunity
to urge against it. She had heard
that Hamilton would try to retake
vincennes, that he was forming a
great force with which to march
ter down the wooden forts, and force
the Kentuckians behind the great
mountain wall. Erskine would be
needed by the whites, who would new
err understand or trust him il he
should stay with the Indians. All
this she spoke n day when Erskine
came to her tent to talk. Her face
had blanched. she had argued pas
sionately that he most go, and Frs
kline was sorely puzzled. The girl,
too. had grown rebellious and DISC
bedient, for the change in her mother
was plain also to her, n she could
not understand. Moreover. Erskine's
stubbornness grew, and he began to
flame within at the stalking insolence
OF Black Wolf. who slipped through
the shadows Of day and the dusk to
spy on the two wherever they came
together. And n day when the sun
was midway. and in the open of the
village the clash came. Black Wolf
eye b~loodshot with rage Inc drink,
and his hunting knife in his hand.
A cry from Early Morn warned Frs
kline, and he wheeled. AS Black Wolf
made a vicious slash at him he sprang
aside, and with his fist caught the
savage in the jaw. Black Wolf fell
heavily. n Erskine was upon him
with his own knife at his enemy's
throat.
"Stop them!" old Kahtoo cried
sternly. but it was the terrified shrek
'ofrthe white woman that stayed Frs
kine's hand. Two young braves dis
looked inquiringly at his adopted son.
Turn his loose!' Erskine scorned.
II have no fear of him. He is a
woman and drunk, but next time I
shall kill him."
The white woman had run down.
caught Early Morn, M was leading
her back to her tent. From inside
presently came low, passionate plead
ing from the mi and an occa-
sional SOP from the girl. And when
an hour later, at dusk, Erskine turned
a Mortified cry. flashed from the tent.
and darted for the high cliff over the
river. .
Catch herr" cried the mother.
"Quick!' Erskine fed after her. over
took her with her hands appraised for
the plunge on the very edge of the
cliff, n half carried her. struggling
and %sobbing. back to the tent. With
in the girl dropped in a weeping heap
and with her face covered. and the
woman turned to Erskine, agonized.
Il told her. She whispered, land
she was going to kill herself. You
are my SOM"
j., Still sleepless at dawn, the boy rode
Firefy in the woods. At sunset he
came in, gaunt with %brooding and
hunger. His foster-mother brought
him food, but he would o touch it.
The Indian woman stared at him with
keen suspicion, and presently old
Kahtoo. passing slowly, bent on him
the same look, but asked no question,
Erskine gave no heed to either. bu,
his mother. watching from her wig
wan. understood and grew fearful
Quickly she stepped outside and
called him. and he ros and went te
her b~ewildered: she was smiling.
They are watching" she said, and
= Erskine, too. understood. and KEEP,
I his back toward the watchers.
II have decided he said. "You
and she must leave here and go with
me-"
His mother pretended much dis.
pleasure. "She will not leave, and ]
will not leave here"-her lips trem-
bled-"and ! would have gone long
ago but =
II understand" interrupted Erskine
out you will e now with YOU son.
The poor woman had to scowl.
NO, and you must not tell them
They will never let me 20, and they
Will use me to keep you here. You
must go at once. She will never leave
this tent as long as you are here, and
II o stay she will die, or kill her.
self. Some day She turned alb.
ruptly and went back into her tent
Erskine wheeled and went to old
! Kahtoo.
You want Early Morn ?".asked the
old man. You shall have her."
NO" said the boy. Il am go:ne
back to the big chief"
You are my son. and am old
and weak
Il am a solder and must obey the
big chiefs commands. as must you
Il shall live" said the old mar
NEARLY, until you come again"
Ersk1ne nodded and went for his
horse. Black Wolf watched him with
malignant satisfaction. but said moth
ng-no did rocked Lightning. Frs.
kline turned once as he rode away
His mother was standing outside her
wigwam. Mournfully she waved her
hand. Behind her and within the tent
he could see Early Morn with both
hads at her breast.
tConunued Tomorrow Evening"