Campfire Stories of Indian Qiaracter 499 



Thinking thus, he wandered on, and on, and found himself 

 standing by the entrance to her lodge. Within he heard, 

 faintly, some one crying. He could not be sure that was it, the 

 sound of it was so low. He stepped noiselessly in and carefully 

 drew aside the door skin. No-Heart was sitting where he had 

 last seen her, sitting before the dying fire, robe over her head, 

 and she was crying. He stole past the doorway and sat down 

 beside her, quite close, but he dared not touch her. "Good- 

 heart," he said, "Big-heart, don't cry." 



But she only cried harder when she heard his words, and he 

 was much troubled, not knowing what to do. After a little, he 

 moved closer and put his arm around her; she did not draw 

 away, so then he drew the robe away from her face. " Tell me," 

 he said, " why you are crying? " 



"Because I am so lonely." 



"Ah! You do love him then. Perhaps it is not too late; I 

 may be able to overtake him. Shall I go and call him back to 

 you?" 



"What do you mean?" cried No-Heart, staring at him. 

 "Who are you talking about?" 



"He who has just left: the Arickaree," Long Elk answered. 

 But now he had edged up still closer, and his arm was tighter 

 around her, and she leaned heavily against him. 



"Was there ever such a blind one?" she said. "Yes, I will 

 let you know my heart ; I will not be ashamed, not afraid to say 

 it. I was crying because I thought you would not return. All 

 these summers and winters I have been waiting, hoping that 

 you would love me, and you never spoke." 



"How could I?" he asked. "You never looked at me; you 

 made no sign." 



"It was your place to speak," she said. "Even yet you have 

 not done so." 



" I do now, then. Will you take me for your man? " 



She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, and that 

 was answer enough. 



In the morning, like any other married man. Long Elk went 

 out and stood by the entrance to the lodge which was now his, 

 and shouted feast invitations to his father and friends. They 

 all came, and all were pleased that he had got such a good 

 woman. Some made jokes about newly married ones, which 

 made the young woman cover her face with her robe. Yet she 



