The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-08-14

waterworks. The Wigwam office still
stood on Pawhuska, but it now occu-
pied the entire house. Two years
after Yancey's return they had de-
cided to build home on Kihekah
street, where there actually were
trees now almost ten years old.
Sabra built white frame house in
the style of the day, with turrets, tow
ers, minarets, cupolas, and scroll work.
There was stained glass window in
the hall, in purple and red and green
and yellow, which, confronting the
entering caller. gave him the look Of
being suddenly stricken with bubonic
plague. There were parlor, sitting
room, dining room. kitchen on the
first floor; four bedrooms on the second
floor, and bathroom. actually, with
full-size bathtub, toilet, and
marble washstand with varicose veins.
In the cellar there was hot air fur
mace.
"As long as we're building and fur
nishing," Sabra said sit might as well
be the best" She had gone about
planning the house, and furnishing 1t,
with her customary energy and capa-
bility. With it all she found time to
do her work on the Wigwam-for with
out her the paper would have been
run to the ground in six months.
Usage had long since ceased to con-
slider 1t queer that she, woman, and
the wife of one of its most prom
inent citizens. should go to work
every morning like man.
Sabra, in common with the other
well-to-do housewives of the COM
munity. employed an Indian girl as a
house servant. There was no other
kind of help available. After her hid
eous experience with Arita she had
been careful to get Indian girls older.
more settled. though this was difficult.
She preferred Usage girls. These
married young, often before they had
finished their studies at the Indian
school,
Ruby Big Elk had been with Sabra
now for three years. A curious, big
silent girl of about twenty-five
most handsome--one of six children
large family for an Usage Sabra
was somewhat taken aback, after the
girl had been with her for some
months, to learn that she already had
been twice married.
"What became of your husbands,
Ruby?"
'sDied."
She had a manner that bordered on
the insolent Sabra put it down to
Indian dignity. When she walked she
scuffed her feet ever so little, and this,
for some inexplicable reason, seemed
to add insolence to her bearing. "Oh,
do lift your feet, Ruby! Don't scuflle
when you walk" The girl made no
reply. Went on scuffling Sabra dis
! covered that she was lame; the left
leg was slightly shorter than the right.
She did not limp-or, rather, hid the
tendency to limp by the irritating slid
ing sound. Her walk was straight.
leisurely. measured. Sabra was ter
ribly embarrassed; apologized to the
Indian girl. The girl only looked at
her and said nothing. Sabra depressed
a little shivver. She had never got
accustomed to the Indians.
Rubys father, Big Elk, had been
chief of the Usage tribe by election
for ten years, and though he no longer
held this highest Office, was man
much looked up to in the Usage ma
ton. He had sent his six children
and actually his fat wife to the In
dian school, but he himself stead
tasty refused to speak word of
English, though he knew enough of
the language. He conversed in Usage,
and when necessary used an inter-
prefer. 1t was a kind of stubborn In
dian pride in him. 1t was his endur-
ing challenge to the white man. "You
have not defeated me-"
It slowly dawned on Sabra that
young Gin was always to be found
lolling in the kitchen, talking to Ruby.
Ruby, she discovered to her horror.
was teaching Gin to speak Usage. A
difficult language to the white, he
seemed to have natural aptitude
for it. She came upon them, their
heads close together over the kitchen
table, laughing and talking and sing
ing. Rather, Ruby Big Elk was sing
ing a song with curious rhythm,
and Ito Sabra's ear. at least) no
melody. CHM was trying to follow the
strange gutturals, slurs, and accents.
his eyes fixed on Ruby's face. his own
expression utterly absorbed, rapt.
"What are you doing? What is
this?"
The Indian girls face took on it's
customary expression of proud dis
dain. She rose. ''Teach UNI song"
she said; which was queer, for she
spoke English perfectly.
"Well, must say, Cimarron Cravat!
When you know your father is expect
ing you down at the Office She
stopped. Her quick eye had leaped to
the table where lay the little round
peyote disk or mescal button which
is the hashish of the Indian.
She had heard about it; knew how
nrevalent among the Indian tribes