“And not him! Oh, mother, try and love him a little, if it is only for my sake.”
“Be content; I shall give him all the love he merits, and more for your dear sake.”
“It is a long, long time, since he went away from Wyoming. We have been here one entire week; indeed, it seems like years. Johnson Hall is not so far away that he cannot come back any time now—is it, mother?”
“No, my child; he might have been here to-night. But your father left us soon after he did, and has not yet been heard of.”
“Has he been gone so long? I did not know it,” said Tahmeroo, innocently.
Catharine sighed; had she, too, become of so little account with her child?
“The chief has gone through a part of the country thick with enemies,” she said, probing that young heart with jealous affection.
“But he is wise and brave”, answered Tahmeroo, proudly. “The very glance of our chief’s eyes would send an enemy from his path.”
“But there is war on every side now. It may be a long, long time before he comes back to the lake.” “Oh, no; when Walter comes he will send all our warriors to help the great chief.”
Again Catharine sighed. It was hard to see the very soul of her child carried off by that bad man. Tahmeroo did not heed the sigh, but started up suddenly, catching her breath with a throb of keen delight.