Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-26

On couch made of the beaverskin
and armsful of balsam boughs which
Jeems had carried from the creek
bottom, Toinette rested while the In
dians prepared for the evening feast
She smoothed and rebraded her hair
as she watched them. and although
every bone In her body seemed to have
an ache OF Its own. she felt sensa-
ton OF complete relaxation stealing
over her for the first time since the
tragedy at Tonteur manor. The men,
tai ense which came to soften her en-
vironment embraced her In such a
stealthy way that she was unconscious
OF the moment when her eyes closed
In complete surrender to the exhaus-
tion which was claiming her.
Jeems returned from one OF the
fires bearing a stick on which
dozen Of the cooked pigeons were
spitted He did not awaken Toinette.
but after he had finished his meal. he
broiled another dozen Of the pigeons
until they were as brown AS chestnnts
and stored them away with a roasted
lily root and few artichokes.
For two hours the cooking continued,
and when 1t was finished. with the
nights kill ready for future use,
Tiaoga's warriors wrapped themselves
IN their blankets and lay down to
sleep. The camp was soon In silence.
and for long time Jeems sat medl-
tating upon the changes which had
come into his life within the space
OF two days and nights. That every
thing was gone and that he and Toll
nette were the only ones left Of those
who had so recently made up their
world seemed monstrous exaggera-
tfon OF fact. Toinette sleeping quiet
~. forced the truth upon him. and
from the racking visions of his
thoughts he turned to her with yearn-
ing to hold her closely In his arms.
Her face was Of childlike loneliness In
the glow OF the stars. So complete
was her fatigue that dark dreams did
lAtA Iful tflE S0iulC vi ttGi uItbIsLfOuS-
ness. When the night was half gone,
he Wade pillow Of halsams, and be-
fore Tie fell asleep he drew Toinette's
hand to him gently and pressed his
lips against 1t.
Dawn another day. then night
again The journey was no longer I'M
possible for Toinette. When she
neared exhaustion, camp WINS made.
and when she awoke the march was
resumed Tiaoga called her Sol Van
Makwun. and the warriors regarded
her with kindlier eyes. As the days
continued and they witnessed her
courage, their hearts grew warm
toward her. and at times their glances
revealed nm admiration and friendli
ness which we're never In Tiaogas.
..ss'sp days served also as the bridge
across Which Jeems and frninette were
passing into Ii future that was all their
own. and the poignnncy OF the loss
they had suffered was mellowed by
these newer aspects SO Vital to them
selves. The world they had known was
a fabric which had crashed In ruin
about them-a desolation ont Of which
another existence was building itself.
AS the deeper solitudes Of the wilder
ness claimed them, this feeling became
a bond which nothing could break.
Wherever they went and whatever
happened. they would belong to each
other, for death might separate but 1t
could not destroy.
On the fourteenth day, Tiaoga sent
a messenger ahead. That evening he
sat on the ground near Toinette, and
Jeems translated what he said To-
morrow they would reach Hidden |
Town. and his people would be ex-
pecting them. There would be great
many scaps and had not lost q man.
They would honor her-and Jeems, |
accepting them MS flesh OF their flesh |
and bone of their hone Tonettte |
would live as his daughter. Silver
Heels heart would live In her song.
She would be Of the forests-forever.
chat was the word he had sent ahead
o Chennfso. Tiaoga was coming
With his daughter.
He stalked into darkness, and for a
ime Jeems and Toinette were Hfraid
0 speak the thought which was chok-
ne at their hearts.
your children and yonr childrons
.hiIdren )"
That night Toinette lay staring at
he sky with sleepless eyes.