Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-02-24

over on our side. He's done more OF
the actual work of getting the cele-
bration going than have"
81 wonder why2" asked Billy, sud-
denly.
"AIl there Is left for him to do"
said Levine. Lydia, before the
speeches begin, go up in the pines and
choose your tract. I'll buy 1t for
you"
"The whole things wrong" NUT
tered Billy.
Levine gave him quick look, then
smiled a little cynically. YOU'D bet
ter 60 along with Lydia and take a
look at the pines," he suggested.
.Pd like to look at the pines again"
said Lydia. "Come along, Billy"
They entered the woods in silence
and followed sun-fecked aisle until
the sound of the celebration was
muffied.
Billy leaned against one of the great
tree trunks and stared thoughtfully
about him.
.sTm all mixed up, LYDIA" he said.
'It's all wrong. / know the things
Levine and the rest are doing to get
this land are wrong. and yet l don't
see how they can be stopped. l came
up here last month to see how bad
off the Indians were. And saw the
poor starving, diseased brutes and l
cursed by white breed. And yet, Lyd,
saw tract of pine up in the middle
of the reservation that I'd sell my soul
to -own!"
There was understanding in Ly-
dia's eyes. "Oh, the pines are won
derful," she exclaimed. eff one could
only keep them forever! And sup
pose that's the way the Indians feel
about them, tool"
"It's all wrong" muttered Billy.
Its all wrong, and yet" more firmly,
''the reservation Is doomed and If we
don't take some Of it, Lydia, we'll not
be helping the Indians-but just being
foolish"
ITO have it and hold 1t for your
children's children" exclaimed Ly-
dia, passionately. You and yours to
live on it forever. And yet, I'd see a
dead Indian baby and starving squaws
behind every tree. / know l would"
81 tell you what I'm going to do
said Billy, doggedly. I'm going to
get hold of that tract. I'm not going
to deceive myself that it's all any
thing but rotten thieving game
we whites are playing, but Pm going
to it, anyhow. I'll pay for it, some
how, and I'll go on doing what l can
to see that the Indians get what's left
of decent deal.'
The two listened to the wind in the
pines, then Lydia said, "We must get
back for the speeches"
Levine had just finished his speech
when Billy and Lydia got within hear
ing, and he introduced State Senator
James Farwell as the chief speaker Of
the day. His audience, standing in
the burning sun, was restless. The
Indians, understanding little that was
said, were motionless, but the whites
drifted about, talked in undertones
and applauded only when as fitting
peak to all the efforts of the ages
toward freedom, Farwell placed the
present freeing of the Indians from
the reservation.
"The fool!" said Billy to Lydia, as
Farwell finally began to bow himself
off the platform.
Levine rose and began, Ladies and
gentlemen, this ends our program. We
thank"
He was interrupted here by ap-
plause from the Indians. Looking
round he saw Charlie Jackson lead
ing forward old Chief Wolf.
"Chief Wolf wants to say a few
words" cried Charlie.
1.-THE program is closed" called Lee
vine loudly.
There was a threat in Charles
voice. "He is going to speak !" And
there was a threat In the Indian
voices that answered from the audi
ence, "Let speak! Let speak,
Levine conferred hastily with Far
well and the Indian agent, then the
three with manifest reluctance stood
back and Charlie led the old Indian
to the foot of the platform.
Old Wolf was half blind with
trachoma. He was emaciated with
sickness and slow starvation. Never
theless, clad in the beaded buckskin
and eagle feathers Of his youth, with
his hawk face held high he was a
heroic figure Of man.
He held up his right hand and be-
gan to speak in trembling old bass,
Charles young tenor translating SEN
tence by sentence.
II come from the wick-i-ups of my
fathers to say one last word to the
whites. have lived too long. / have
seen my race change from young men
strong and daring as eagles, as thrifty
and fat as brown bears, to feeble vel
low wolves fit only to lap the carrion
thrown them by the whites, and tosie
In the sun and die.
"And I say to you whites, you have
done this. You swore by your God.
In solemn council, that we could keep
thic rocorvafiOp forovor With rnoy,,