The Daughter of the Chieftain

Up went the single stone in the air, and Omas grabbed the batch

that were lying on the ground, and then caught the first as it came

down.

"That won't do!" called Alice, seizing the brawny hand, which--

sad to say--had been stained with blood as innocent as hers; "you

didn't do that fair!"

"What de matter?" he asked, looking reproachfully into the round

face almost against his own.

"I'll show you how. Now, I lay those three on the ground like

that. Then I toss up this, pick up one without touching any of the

others, keep it in my hand and pick up the next--see?"

She illustrated her instruction by her work, while her pupil listened

and stared.

"I know--I know," he said quickly. "I show you." Then the wag of

a Delaware tossed the first stone fully twenty feet aloft, caught

up the others, and took that on the fly.

"I never saw anybody as dumb as you," was the comment. "What is

the use of your trying? You couldn't learn to play Jack Stones in

ever so long."

She was about to try him again, when, childlike, she darted off upon

a widely different subject, for it had just come into her little

head.

"Omas, when you were here the other day, you promised that the next

time you came to see me you would bring Linna."

"Dat so--Omas promise."

"Then why haven't you done as you said?"

"Omas never speak with double tongue; he bring Linna with him."

"You did?--where is she?" asked Alice, springing to her feet,

clasping her hands, and looking expectantly around.

The Delaware emitted a shrill, tremulous whistle, and immediately

from the wood several rods behind them came running the oddest

looking little girl anyone could have met in a long time.

Her face was as round as that of Alice, her long, black hair hung

loosely over her shoulders, her small eyes were as black as jet,

her nose a pug, her teeth as white and regular as were ever seen,

while her dress was a rude imitation of her father's except the

skirt came below her knees. Her feet were as small as a doll's,

and encased in the beaded little moccasins, were as pretty as they

could be.

"That is Linna," said the proud father as she came obediently

forward.