I
Tallyrand and Firefly
By J. MacNEILL JOHNSON
I
{«»<>•
CHAPTER VI.
Old Horseshoe paid little heed to
the scenery along the river until about
midday on the second day of his lone
ly voyage, but then he arrived at the
mouth of Boone’s Creek and there
awoke within him a sensation new to
his Indian nature; for Mr. §tudebolt
had partly explained to him his plans
for making the Old Indian a land
proprietor, and Old Horseshoe remem
bered that this place was one of the
landmarks Mr. Studebolt mentioned
in the boundaries of the new domain
he had in mind for Old Horseshoe to
purchase from the state of Tennessee
with the money he was to get for his
scalps and furs.
Land-lust is easy to acquire, and
Old Horseshoe had not rowed two
miles from the mouth of Boone’s
Creek before he began to wonder why
the idea of land holding had never
before occurred to him as desirable.
On arriving at his wigwam he pre
sented to his wife and daughter the
silk dresses Mrs. Studebolt had sent
them as presents. He knew very well
that such a present as this would
cause a furore of excitement, but he
pretended not to know it, and made
only the casual comment, “Presents
from White Squaw.” The old man
then took his long gun that Mr. Stude
bolt had given him, and rapidly walk
ed off towards the High Hills, with
the intention of walking around his
new domain, which required the great
er part of the afternoon.
When he returned home, although
it was nearly dark, no fire had been
made in the wigwam and no prepara
tion for supper. His wife and daugh
ter were in ecstasies over the beauties
of their silk dresses, and like children,
Wenona would say, “Mine’s blue!”
and Minnehaha would answer, “Mine’s
red!”
Old Horseshoe pretended not to
notice their excitement and half look
ing over his shoulder as he spoke,
said, “Come, see.” They followed him
out of the wigwam to a small hill
nearby and watched him as he ascend
ed the hill, and when he reached the
highest point of the hill he turned
his back to the river, his face to the
eastward with one arm stretched
north and the other south, said “Lis
ten! My land east to top of High
Hills! My land south to Boone’s
Creek! My land north to Mussel
Shoals! My land west to Great
Father of Waters! White Brother
promised. He always speaks truth.”
The woman and the girl in a vague
way wondered what it could all mean,
but they did not question; they ac
cepted it as true, and something to be
desired, because of the look of hap
piness in Old Horseshoe’s face; but
when they started to return to the
wigwam. Old Horseshoe said, “What
does Wenona and Minnehaha say?”
Almost in the same breath Wenona
said: “Mine’s blue!” and Minnehaha
said: “Mine’s red!” Old Horseshoe
pretended not to hear them, but look
ing back at the little hill said, Ugh!
Old Horseshoe build fine white house
on hill for squaw and -papoose,” and
the old man left his wife and daugh
ter, that he might not further show
his emotions.
The woman and the girl looked at
each other with their hands clasped,
and after a long silence Wenona said
softly: “Mine’s blue!” and Minnehaha
answered almost in a whisper, “Mine’s
red!” They were glad, indeed, that
Old Horseshoe had become a wealthy
man, but their gladness was covered
over with the silk dresses, and the
only words with which they co^uld ex
press their happiness were “Mine’s
blue,” and “Mine’s red.”
As they sat in the wigwam that
night Old Horseshoe told his wife and
daughter that Tallyrand and Firefly
were coming to pack wolf scalps and
otter skins, and that Mr. Studebolt
would come by on a steamer two days
later to accompany him to St. Louis
to sell the furs and collect the bounty
from the scalps; and as Old Horse
shoe swelled with the consciousness
of wealth, he asked Wenona to say
what she thought of it all. Again
she replied out of the fullness of her
heart, “Mine’s blue!” and Minnehaha
said in spite of herself, “Mine’s red!”
In assumed disgust. Old Horseshoe
went to bed; but he was really pleased
that they should be so proud of their
new dresses, but he would not have
let them know it for the world. This
is a strange trait in the character of
a man, but many white men have it
as well pronounced as Old Horseshoe
did.
Two days later Tallyrand and Fire
fly arrived on the Jacksnapper. Fire
fly was diked out in a new suit of
clothes, with boots that had copper
toes. He was very proud of his new
clothes, but he had been taught in the
Indian school of stoics to pretend to
be careless about finery, and it was
hard to get him to talk about his
clothes. At the door of the wigwam
the boys were met by Old Horseshoe,
and his wife and daughter, each of
which said with a rather strained dig
nity: “You are welcome.” But as
soon as Minnehaha had a chance to
I speak to Firefly in private her first
[words were: “Mine’s red! Wenona’s
I blue!” Firefly had been shown the
I silk dresses before Mrs. Studebolt
i sent them, and he at once knew what
I these words referred to; and he told
I them with great pride about his
. dream, and about Mrs. Studebolt ask
ing him what colors she and her
mother liked best.
The boys had brought their new
guns, Firefly had been given a gun in
the meantime; and Tallyrand had
brought as a present from his mother,
two strings of beads, one very fancy,
and one more plain. When he showed
them and told Wenona that she was
to have her choice, her eyes glistened
with intense excitement, and she made
a close examination of the two strings
of beads, all the time keeping her
back towards Minnehaha. Then she
chose the most flashy string, and
handed the plainer one to Minnehaha,
but still with her eyes fixed on the
beads she had chosen for herself, and
never even looking at her daughter.
Tallyrand was astonished at this
childish selfishness of the woman, and
may have showed his feelings in his
looks and manner, for Old Horseshoe
quietly walked between his wife and
daughter, took the beads from them
both, quickly right-about faced, then
handed the beads back—thus making
the exchange. He did not utter a
word, nor was there any protest on
the part of Wenona, and she seemed
as greatly pleased with the plainer
string of beads—at any rate she was
satisfied with her husband’s choice.
Then the boys’ new guns were to be
examined; and soon the family drop
ped their reserve towards Tallyrand,
and took him to their hearts almost
the same as if he had not been a
stranger.
Old Horseshoe began to tell the boys
about his land and the new white
house he was to build. Mostly Wenona
and Minnehaha sat in silence, but
as often as they were spoken to they
said: “Mine’s blue!” or “Mine’s red!”
showing that their simple minds were
still absorbed by the silk dresses.
Night came on, and the boys were
ready to retire to their pallets pre
pared in the far wing of the wigwam,
but before they lay down they heard
the howl of a wolf not very far from
the wigwam. Tallyrand became alert
at once, but Old Horseshoe said: “No
sheep, no chickens,” and quietly smok
ed on. By this speech he meant that
the wolf could do no harm. But Tal-
lyrand said, “But I want to shoot
him!” Old Horseshoe shook his head
and replied: “Horseshoe bides his
time.” Then the old man explained
that this wolf was probably sent as
a spy by the pack from east of the
High Hills to ascertain if there was
danger near the new Indian camp, and
if they let this wolf alone he would
go back and report to the pack, and
in a few more nights doubtless the
whole pack would come. Then they
could kill a dozen, and he added: “One
wolf worth little: kill him, pack no
come; wait till Horseshoe and White
Chief come home from St. Louis.”
So they went to bed and to sleep.
and were awakened in the morning
by Old Horseshoe who said “Wild duck
on the wing,” which meant that it
was day. The boys had brought a
hammer, saw and nails with them,
and also some thin hardwood boards
to make crates for packing the scalps
and furs, so they went to work with
a will, making the crates and count
ing and packing the wolf scalps and
otter skins; so they had them in ship
shape a day before the steamer ar
rived with Mr. Studebolt on board.
The steamboat came and took Old
Horseshoe and the scalps and furs
aboard, and quickly passed on up the
river towards St. I.ouis. The boys
spent the afternoon shooting squirrels,
and when they were returning they
suddenly came upon Wenona and Min
nehaha at a small lake half a mile
from the wigwam, diked out in their
silks, and looking at their images in
the lake. The woman and the girl
were in no way abashed, but innocent
ly looked up at the boys and spoke
in the same breath: “Mine’s blue!”
and “Mine’s red!”
Tallyrand then and there made up
his mind that the next present should
be a large keekingglass.
To be continued
SAVE
"Wlnat You’ve Got!
YOUR PROPERTY
YOUR INCOME
INSURE IT
DO IT NOW
D. A. McLAUCHLIN, Agent
VASS, N. C.
Fire Insurance Life Insurance
Everybody Wants
Good Merchandise
at Low Prices
HERE is your Opportunity
i
OUR NEW SPRING GOODS ARE
unusually beautiful in color combination, and are of bet
ter quality, too. The prices are in line with public de
mand, quality considered.
SPRING OXFORDS
OXFORDS that fit your feet and are easy on your
purse are hard to find, but We Have Them.
Special Prices in DRESS SHIRTS this week
Gunter’s Store
VASS, NORTH CAROLINA
Mrs. Geo. Stewart spent
^ay with Mrs. R. L. Oldhan
Mr. Alex McFayden, of
the guest of Miss Fannie S
Cameron route 3, last Sun<
Mr. R. B. Cameron has
a new Ford.
Miss Maggie Stewart j
Ruth Stewart, were visito
home of Mrs. Geo. Stewar
iirday of last week.
Miss Kate Autrey, of
route 1, has returned fro
county where she taught
term.
Mrs. Cameron Johnson an(
of route 1, spent the week
Mrs. Johnson’s parents, Mr.
Neill Stewart.
Mr. D. A. Cameron is
rapidly. He is now able
about in the house a little.
Mr. M. G. Pilson’s barn b
Saturday night, about 11 o
stroying all of his corn ai
It is not known how the fir<
ed.
Mr. A. B. Parker, who
very ill, does not seem to I
ing very much.
Mr. Watson McFadyen
guest of Miss Kate Autrey
day afternoon.
UNION COUNTY’S BIG
(Monroe Inquirer)
In 1920 the six counties i
the 13th Judicial District c
votes for Morrison for Gove
is an off year and not so i
will be cast this year in the
Union county can cast more
that number of votes if o
crats will turn out and vet
has more than 10,000 white
it, and nearly all of them
crats. In 1920 the census
barrus county a populatio|
730 and in the same year t
cast 9,620 votes in the ge
tion. The census gave Davi
ty 35,201 people and in the
it cast 10,751 votes. The
sus gave Union county 36,
Why should Union county
11.000 voters? There are
1.000 Republicans in the c
we believe that Union
Democrats in it. If our
register and vote there c|
earthly chance of defeating
Judge. Let every Democ
county see that his or her
the registration book—and
(Political Adv.)
NIAGARA
Miss Mildred and Mai
spent a day in Sanford the
Mr. B. C. Morgan and
Snipes and children motorej
ham county, Sunday, and vi
tives.
Mrs. Jane Morgan and 1|
Olive Morgan, who have
past two months visiting in
ty of Chapel Hill, have no^
to their home at this plac<
Mr. George R. McDermotj
spent a part of the day
Lakeview.
Miss Anna Marston who|
the past season here and
leered her friends by her acqj
left the past week for a to\
Chicago and will also vis
in Jameson, Wisconsin,
across to her home in Van
for sale—By Wigj
Store, Byrd’s Headache
'Guaranteed (I