The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-09-21

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"Out az my way"
Black Wolf heSitated AMI gave way
but ever thereafter Erskine was on
guard
In the white woman. too. Erskine
now saw change. once she had en-
courHged him to stay with the In.
dams; now she lost no opportunity
to urge against H. She had heard
that Hamilton would try to retake Vim
cennes, that he was forming a great
force with which to march south,
the wooden forts, and force the Ken
tuckians behind the great mountain
wall Erskine would be- needed by
the whites, who would never under
stand or trust him II he should stay
with the Indians All this she spoke
one day when Ersklne came to her
tent to talk. Her face had blanched.
she had argued passionately that he
must go. and Erskine was sorely puz-
zled. The girl. too. had grown rebel
lious and dlsobedient. for the change
In her mother was plain also to her,
and she could not understand. More
over Ersklne's stubbornncss grew. and
he began to flame within at the stalk.
Ing insolence Of Black Wolf. who
slipped through the shadows Of day
ever they came together. And one
day when the sun was midway. and
In the open OF the village, the clash
came. Black Wolf darted forth from
his wigwam. his eyes bloodshot with
rage and drink. and his hunting knife
in his hand. A cry from Early Morn
warned Erskine and he wheeled. As
Black Wolf made a vicious slash at
him he sprnng aside. and with his
fist caught the savage In the jaw.
Black Wolf fell heavily and Ersklne
was upon him with his own knife at
his enemys throat.
"Stop theml" old Kahtoo cried
sternly, but IL was the terrified shrek
Of the white woman that stayed Frs
kine's hand Two young braves dis
armed the fallen Indian. and kahtoo
looked inquirindy at his adopted son.
Turn him loose" Erskine scorned
Il have no fear of him. He Is a
woman and drunk, but next time
shall kill him"
The white woman had run down.
caught Early Morn. and was leading
her back to her tent. From inside
presently came low, passionate plead
ing from the woman and an occasional
sob from the girl. And when an hour
later. nj dusk. Erskine turned upward
toward the tent, the girl gave hor-
rhed cry. flashed from the tent and
darted for the high clIfY over the river.
Catch her" cried the mother
quick :" Ersklne fled after her. over
took her with her hands appraised for
the plunge on the very edge of the
cllff, and half carried her, struggling
and snhhing. back To the tent with.
in the girl dropped In weeping heap.
and with her face covered. and the
woman turned Ia Erskine, agonized.
II told her" she whispered. and
she was going to kill herself. You
are my SOM"
Still sleeplcss AZ dawn. the boy rode
FREELY into the woods. Al sunset he
came In. gaunt with hrooding and hun
ger. His foster mother brought him
food, but he would not touch il. The
Indian woman stared at him with keen
suspicion, aud presently old Kahtoo,
passing slowly. bent on him the same
look. hut asked no question. Ersklne
gave no heed To either, but his mother,
watching from hey wigwam, under
stood and grew fearful Quickly she
stepped outside and called him. and
he rose and went Ia her bewlldered
she was smiling.
They are watching" she said and
Ersklne, too, understood. aud kept 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 |
W III 'uN' NV lAlN Niflh'l'h
-"and I would have gone long ago
hut "
II understand" interrupted Erskine
hut you will 20 now with your son"
The poor woman had 10 scowl.
"No. and you must not tell them.
They will never let me go. and they
will use me To keep you here. You
must 20 AT once. She viii never leave
this tent AS long ms you are here and
n YOU stay she will die, or XIII her
self Some day" She turned
abruptly and went back into her tent
Ersklne wheeled and went to old Kah-
too
You want Early Morn" asked the
old man. "You shall have her"
mo" said the hoy. II am going
back 10 the big chief"
"You are my son and I am old and
weak"
II am a soldier and must obey the
blg chiefs commands, as must YOU"
81 shall live" said the old man