Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-10-07


for he knows too much. Some day
I'll plug him full of lead in a corner
where no one will ever look for him.
Who would have thought he'd turn
so rusty after that-that White Rap
ids business? Wonder If he's got an
idea Pm not going to deal square
with him."
The forenoon passed slowly. The
more Curran thought the shorter his
temper grew. He stormed at old
Cyprien and his wife, and roared at
some Indians who had dropped some
fish offal near the landing-place on
the river.
"Here! You fellows clean this
up! Do you think I'm going to have
all this mess around here? Set your
kids at it, and don't let me catch you
doing such things again, or you'll see
what debt I'll allow you next week
when you start off trappingW
He went among the tents and
scolded about real or fancied griev-
ances until the Indians were mutter-
ing and casting evil glances in his
direction.
Finally one, more decided than the
rest, went up to him. The man was
a six-footer, who could juggle with
UNDERGROUND bags of flour.
eve know what is right" he said;
eve were not through with cleaning
our fish. Yellow Hair taught us the
proper way, and we did what he said,
because he was a man talking to
men. Now we shall do as we please,
or thou canst look for us long time
before we will bring thee our fur"
Curran's first impulse was to
knock the man down, but he thought
better. In the first place he would
probably get badly mauled, and it
would be a serious matter to have
the Indians turn against him.
Curran turned on his heels and
went off toward the river, anxious to
look again for any sign of Mashkau-
gan's return. He was glad to find
that canoe was in sight.
"Three men padding" he said.
"Wonder where Mashkaugan got the
others? But, no; this is a long
travelling canoe. Sure enough, it
must be Father Gregoire."
"Heyw he shouted. "Here is the
old Father White Beard returning
the Manitou limo Of the white men.
Burn some powder, you fellows!
Show him a welcome! Be on hand
to help him and unload his canoew
He was very eager to show the
old priest much attention. A few
guns were discharged, and the loud
defamation of Father Gregoire's an
Gent fowling- piece resounded.
Presently the good man landed,
smiling at every one, his kindly,
grizzled old face bespeaking his
pleasure.
'I will only stay until the morn
ing" he said. "I must soon hurry
north to James Bay, where I am to
winter Already at night the dead
waters are beginning to film over
with ice, and I don't want to be fro
zen in on the way. Are there any
children new born or dead whose
souls are to be prayed for? Any
couples awaiting MARRIAGE"
Ameou had. come from her tent
and stood near the old man.
"There is one man who is dead
and whose soul needs thy praying"
whom the white people called Lori
mer, is dead. My child, also I have
lost"
The missionary placed his hand on
her shoulder.
Indeed, my poor daughter, I will
pray for them," he assured her.
"Also will I pray for thy comfort in
thy bereavement"
Curran then took the old man into
the post building, bidding him sit in
the best chair, and ordering food to
be prepared at once.
"I have it in mind, father" he be-
gan, "that there are people across
the seas belonging to Lorimer who
would be glad to hear that prayers
have been offered for his soul.
Would you give me little paper
telling that you have done so, which
l will send to those who will mourn
for him."
'T believe his people are not of our
faith" said the priest.
"Yet, they may be glad, neverthe-
less" insisted Curran. "Here is pa
per and pen and ink. If the pen is
too rusty there are plenty of good
wild-goose quilts"
prayers are prayers, by whomso-
ever offered" said the missionary.
"It is true that his people may be
made happy knowing that we all had
kindly thoughts of their dead"
After much searching in the many
pockets of his coat, the old man
found his spectacles and wrote as
follows:
NY friend Lorimer was very
good man, whose kindness and
gentleness of character l had
several opportunities of appreci-
ating in the last four years. He
had also endeared himself to the
Indians. His wife is left very
desolate, and needs consolation,
1 have prayed for the soul Of
Lorimer and of his little son,
whom I hear is also dead. Also
I shall pray that those he leaves
behind may be comforted now
and granted peace everlasting in
the greater life to come.
FATHER GREGOIRE.
"Send this paper to the young
mans friends" he said. 1T can do
no harm, and may in some measure
serve to alleviate their grief"
Curran folded it carefully and
locked it up in box where he kept
a few other papers and trinkets. 1t