It was a grisly scene in the bare, cheerless ball room; Black Chief’s daughter, all undressed, lay on a bench, while Old Black Chief, her father, and Taleeka, her mother, Simon, Pat Smith, his wife, his daughter, Sally Ann, Doctors Forrester and Colegrove, and Christian Trubee stood near her, or coming and going, most of them holding lighted candles, which cast fretful shadows against the walls and close-shuttered windows of this scene of much former ribald merrymaking. All present knew why the girl had sought to take her life, yet not a single accusing word was uttered. All wanted to save her–for what? Later she was carried into one of the adjoining guest rooms and put to bed.
Somewhat later Pat Smith’s wife, a motherly woman, met Trubee in the hall, saying to him:
“Won’t you please let me whisper to her that you are happy her life is saved, and that you will marry her as soon as she is able?”
The young man hesitated, then faltered: “I rather you’d not say it just now.”
When she was almost to the door he ran after her, saying: “Tell her what you suggested, in my presence.”
He followed her into the room. The landlady bent over the stricken girl and gave her the message. Black Chief’s daughter looked up at Trubee, and trying to smile, said:
“I can’t do it; all I ask is that everything be as it was before you came to the Reservation.” “ said the young man, "that I return to the University, having everything as it was before we went to the Strawberry dance, or before you took me to ‘Corydon’".
“That is exactly my meaning”, the girl whispered faintly. “Then all will be well”.
“I think I can gather my things together and make the three o’clock train east this morning; it is only right that I should go; I have made everybody unhappy since I came here.” “replied Black Chief’s daughter, "only me, and then only since the trip to ‘Corydon’."
With a lingering hand clasp they parted, and Christian Trubee, like one dazed by his unsuccessful tilt with Fate, moved off towards his room, not knowing whether to be glad or sorry, but secretly eased in spirit for accepting the only course that would extricate him from his triangular dilemma.