Evening star., 1930-03-30
The Indian Adoption.
BY -ANEs FENIMoRE COOPER.

The Indian Adoption.
BY 'ANEs KENMORE COOPER.
CJames Fenimore Cooper, i7ss-ls61. was
an American noveltist. author & oI .Ths SIs,. Sps',.
THE Deerslayer," etc.
A low, feeble and hollow voice was
heard rising on the ear, as If 1t rolled
from the inmost cavities of the human
chest and gathered strength and energy
as it issued into the air. solemn still
ness followed the sounds, and then the
lips of the aged man were first seen
to move.
end" were the first words that were
distinctly audible He is like buffalo
on whom the hair will grow no longer
He will soon be ready to leave his ledge
to 60 in search of another that is far
from the villages of the Sioux; there
fore, what he has to say concerns not
him, but those he leaves behind him.
His words are like the fruit on the tree,
ripe and fit to be given to chiefs.
Many SHOWS have fallen since lie
Balafre has been found on the warpath,
His blood has been very hot, but It ma, mas
had to cool The Wahcondah gives him
dreams of war no longer; he sees that
it is better to live in peace.
My brothers, one foot is turned 70
the happy hunting grounds, the other
will soon follow, and then an old chief
will be seen looking for the prints OF
his fathers moccasins, that he may
make no mistake, but be sure to come
before the Master of Life by the same
path that so many good Indians have
already Travelled. But who will follow?
LIE Balafre has no son. His Oldest has
ridden too many Pawnee horses; the
.F he hQaY1
by Kon2o dogs. lie Balafre has come
to look for a young arm on which he
may lean, and to find son, that when
he is gone his lodge may not be empty.
Tachechana, the skipping fawn Of the
Tetons, is too weak to prop warrior
who is old. She looks before her and
not backward. Her mind is in the lodge
of her husband
The enunciation of the veteran war
rior had been calm, but distinct and
decided. His declaration was received
in silence, and though several of the
chiefs who were In the councils OF NAH
toree turned their eyes on their leader,
none presumed to oppose so aged and
venerated a brave in a resolution that
was strictly in conformity to the usage
of the nation. The Teton himself was
content to await the result with SEEM
ing composure, though the CLEANS OF
ferocity that played about his eye oc-
casionally betrayed the nature OF those
feelings with which he witnessed pro-
cedure that was likely to rob him OF
that one of all his intended victims
whom he most hated. \
In the meantime LIE Balafre moved
with a slow and painful step toward
the captives. He stopped before tne
person of Hardheart whose faultleSs
form UNCHANGED eye and lofty mien he
contemplated with high satisfaction.
Then making a gesture of authority, he
waited until his order had been obeyed,
and the youth was released from the
post and his bonds by the same blow
of the knife. When the young warrior
was led nearer to his dimmed and fall
ing sight, the examination was renewed
with strictneSs Of scrutiny.
"It Is good" the wary veteran nnur-
INJURED, when he found that all his skill
in the requisites Of brave could detect
no blemish; "this is q leaping panther.
Does my son speak with the tongue OF
a Teton?"
ewes of the captive betrayed how well
he understood the quetion, but still ne
was far too naughty to communicate
his ideas through the medium OF a Ian
guage that belonged to hostile people.
Some of the surrounding warriors ex-
planned to the old chief that the cap
tive was q Pawnee-LOup.
my son opened his eyes on the
waters Of the wolves" said LIE Balafre,
In the language of that nation, but
he will shut them IN the bend OF the
river with O troubled stream. He was
horn a Pawnee. but he viii die Dab
cotah CDakota). Look at me. am
sycamore that once covered many with
nv shadow. The leaves are fallen and
the branches begin to drop. But
single sucker is springing from my
roots: it is a little vine, and 1t winds
itself about tree that is green. have
long looked for one fit to grow by my
side. Now have found him. LIE Bala-
fre is no longer without son; his name
will not be forgotten when he Is gone.
Men Of the Tetons, take this youth
No one was bold enough TO dispute
a right that had so often been exer-
cised by warriors far inferior to the
present speaker, and the adoption was
listened TO In grave and respectful
silence. lie Balafre took his intended
son by the arm, and leading him into
the very center of the circle, he stepped
aside with an air Of triumph in order
that the spectators might approve OF
his choice. MantOree betrayed no eVI-
dence of his intentions, but rather
seemed to await q moment better suited
to the craft policy of his character. The
more experienced and sagacious chiefs
distinctly foresaw the utter impossibItty
of two partisans so renowned, so hos
tile, and who had so long been rivals
In fame, as their prisoner and their
native leader, existing amicably In the
same tribe. Still the character OF LIE
Balafre was so imposing. and the GUS
tom to which he had resorted so sacred,
that none dared to lift . voice IN oppo.
sition to the measure. They watched
the result with increasing interest, but
with a coldness of demeanor that con-
cealed the nature Of their inquietude
From. this state of embarrassment the
tribe was relieved by the decision OF
the one most interested In the success
of the aged chiefs designs.
During the whole Of the foregoing
scene, it would have been difficult TO
trace a single distinct emotion in the
Itneaments of the captive. He had
heard his release proclaimed, with the
same Indifference as the order to bind
him to the stake. But now that the
moment had arrived when 1t became
-. v,,aGe Iaie olanff0N ha eYAkp