Virginia's Ranch Neighbors

by Grace May North

There was a rush of conflicting emotions in the heart of the listener, and foremost among them was the sudden realization that her son, Harry, loved, really loved an Indian maiden. If her voice shook a little as she replied, Strong Heart did not notice it for her words were friendly as they always were to any fellow-being.

“My very kind nurse then is your sister?” she inquired. “I have been too ill to wonder who she was or from where she came.” Then, fearing that in some way this had lacked in graciousness, she added simply and sincerely: “Strong Heart, we all dearly love your sister. She has truly been an angel in our home.”

And, even as she spoke, Mrs. Wilson knew that it was the truth. Harry loved Winona and so too did his mother. Then she directed the Indian lad to the water-hole toward which Winona and Harry had ridden, and, when the visitors were gone, she sat for a long time watching the fire and thinking: “My boy shall never know that I regret his choice, and yet, do I really regret it, for a nobler girl he could not have chosen.”

In the meantime Winona and Harry had been riding at a canter. Then, letting their horses walk more slowly, they conversed quietly together. They spoke of his mother and Harry expressed to the dusky girl at his side his great appreciation of her services.

By now and then asking a question the lad persuaded Winona to talk about her year at school. She ended by telling of Fleet Foot and she described in glowing terms his deed of heroism. Harry Wilson, listening, believed that Winona cared for the Indian lad about whom she was talking, and, a few moments later he was convinced that his surmise had been correct.

Suddenly they had been halted by a whooping call from little Red Feather, and, turning in their saddles, they drew rein and waited for the Papagoes to ride up. Instantly Harry knew that the tall, arrow-straight youth, who whirled his pony about that he might speak to Winona, was the one of whom he had just heard.

They rode apart, somewhat, and for a time seemed unconscious of the presence of the others as they talked earnestly in low undertones.

Harry tried to be interested in a conversation with Strong Heart concerning the condition of water-holes at that time of the year, but now and then he found his gaze wandering in the direction of his mother’s nurse while his thought assured him that Winona naturally would care more for one of her own people than for one of another race.

When the young Papagoes had ridden away toward the mountain trail which they would have to cross to reach their walled-in village, the other two, after visiting the water-hole, returned to the Wilson ranch. Winona was in the lead and each was thoughtfully silent. As they neared the house Harry hastily hastened his pony and rode at the girl’s side. She looked up with a smile so radiant that the lad was more than ever assured that her visit with Fleet Foot had brought her great happiness.

“Dear girl,” he thought, “from now on I will try to think of her as I would of a sister. After all, mother will need one of her boys just to care for her.” Aloud he said, “Winona, Ben and I have often wished we had a sister. You have been to all of us in our trouble what I believe she would have been. I hope you will come often to visit in our home.”