“Naki, the Indian woman, and another man,” was Ceally’s reply. There was a short pause, and then the two entered.
Naki spoke first. He explained that he had found the Indian woman at Stockbridge when he had given her up for lost. Then she told in her own way that she had made up her mind to return to Stockbridge and ask help from the man who, alone, knew the story of her grandchild’s parentage. The old squaw had completely broken down. She said that she knew that it was best for Eunice to be allowed to come into her inheritance. She said she remembered that Barbara had told her of Mrs. Latham and Reginald’s wish to keep Eunice concealed. She finished by telling that midway on the hill, in the early dawn, she had met Reginald Latham and his mother climbing up to her tent. The old squaw, who was wise, had told Mrs. Latham that there was one man in Stockbridge who could prove who Eunice was and that she would go and implore him to keep the child’s parentage a secret. Mrs. Latham and Reginald were delighted, and urged the old woman to go.
Mr. Latham listened quietly to Mother Eunice’s story and to that of the man from Stockbridge, who bore the old woman witness.
It was a simple story. The Indian grandmother thought her daughter had been unhappy because of her marriage into the Latham family, believing the girl had been persecuted because of her Indian blood. So she wished to spare her grandchild the same fate.
Mr. Latham was entirely convinced. Eunice was his niece.
“Come,” he said, finally, to Miss Stuart. “Let us be off to our girls!”
“Mother Eunice,” he said solemnly, shaking the old squaw’s hand, “I promise to be good to your child. You shall not be separated from her. But she must be educated as other girls are. Stay here with Ceally and Naki.”
The Indian woman bowed her head. She had given in forever when she surrendered Eunice to “The Automobile Girls” the afternoon before.
But what about Eunice and her protectors? They had not dared to leave the hotel for fear that Aunt Sallie and Mr. Latham might arrive in their absence.
So the girls were waiting with the best patience possible, curled up in the chairs and on the sofa. Barbara was reading aloud. Little Eunice had fallen fast asleep on the bed.