Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-04-02

II seemed to Jeems that from the
beginning his freedom among the
Senecas was us great as II he had
been born OF their blood Gray Fox
took him to the tepee Of his father,
which was to be his home. and food
and drink were brought to him. Then
he was left alone. for even the de-
lighted old man whom Tiaoga had
honored by the Gift Of A son could not
he kept away from the celebration
which WIS In progress The thought
came To .Ieems that no impedlment~
Ind been placed In his way II he chose
to steal of Into the night and disap-
pear The ease with Which he might
have set out on this adventure was
proof IF his helplessness. Like the
others, he was captive forever
There was no escape from chenufsio
unless one accepted death as the route.
Tie did not think OF escape because
its desire possessed him. He was
measuring his world and adjusting
himself to Its limitations with emo
tions which were far from unhappy.
With Toinette, he could find here all
that he wanted In life. Tiaoga ana
Shindas knew that she belonged to
him. and the people Of Chenufsio were
now aware OF ii. His heart exulted
and his spirit rose with the chanting
OF the sayages. What difference did
II make that they were buried In the
heart Of the forests for all time7 He
had roinette. She loved him. Chenuf-
sio would not be sepuchre. Their
love would transform IT into para
disc.
He was eager to see Toinette again.
and began to seek for a place where
he could clean himself OF the colored
clay nastered on his face and body.
With his clothes. he went to the river.
and after q thorough scrnhhing re-
turned fully dressed with the eagle
feather still In his hair His weapons
had been given to him. and these he
carried boldly when he joined the In
dams. The triumphal fire was hlaz-
Ing. and as soon rs the hungry town
had fed itself. the scalp dances would
begin. The scalps were already sus-
pended on the victory pole In Its
light. Children we're playing about
them The fine dark hiiir IF me was
50 long hat they could reach the
tresses with their fH4ers. and when
tliev did this they shrieked with
ecstasy Among them was n white
skinned boy Of seven or eight who
laughed and shouted with The others.
Jeems found an opportunity to have
word with Shindas and learned that
Tonette and 0pitchi were together.
Shindas could NOT tear himself from
the martial dignity which was expected
OF him until the warriors had told
of their exploits In the scalp dance. SO
Ieems went alone and found Tiaoga's
tenee and the smaller one near 1t In
Which were Toinette and the Thrush.
II was lighted by a torch. and he drew
back among the dark boles of the
trees and waited. AT the end Of
half an hour. Tonette and Opitchi
came out into the ilumned forest
For a little while they stood under
the gnarled limbs OF the trees which
cast shadows from over their heads
He did not reveal himself until Opt
chis form disappeared among the
pools of light and darkness as she
went toward the fires. Then he ad-
vanced. calling Toinettes' name softly.
Her appearance surprised him. She
was not the ragged and dIsheveled
young woman who had arrived with
Tiaoga's men. Mary the Thrush, had
dressed her In the prettiest raiment
left by Silver Heels There was
something about the long yellow
feather, the filet OF scarlet cloth, and
the boyish closeness of her dress which
made Jeems give wondering cry. 1t
was as II they had come to her from
an obscure and distant past and had
always belonged TO her. He had
dreamed OF this lovely wilderness
princess: through years OF boyhood
hopes and plannings he had built up
worlds about her, and in those worlds
he had fought for her and had adj
Ventured with her where he alone was
her champion and her hero. He had
carried gifts of feathers to her
feathers and fawnskin and piece OF
cloth like that which she now wore in
a crimson band about her forehead
To him 1t was the precious red vel
vet, there in the glow of the moon.
He opened his arms, and Toinette
came Into them.