exceedingly sad and lonely, and, to add to my sorrows, brother
Jim had acquired a love for strong drink, and frequently came to our
lodge in a state of intoxication. I grieved over his infatuation and
reasoned with him in his sober hours, but all in vain; he grew worse
and worse, and often treated me harshly, In despair I went to the
trader who I knew supplied him with whiskey and entreated him with
tears not to sell him any more. I received from him only insults."

"Of course, you might have known what to expect from one of that
class," said Little Wolf with flashing eyes, "I discovered long ago,
that there was no mercy in the heart of the liquor dealer. They know
it's a mean business and any one who engages in it must first harden
his heart enough to turn away from tears of blood."

"I don't think _all_ who engage in the traffic realize the
consequences accruing from it," Antoinette mildly replied. "I am sure
no humane person would continue in it, if they once took into
consideration the vast amount of misery occasioned by it. I am sure
brother Jim was bad enough before he began to drink; but after that he
became as unmanageable as a wild beast. Still, alone in the world, I
clung to him with all the warm affection of my nature.

"A few months after the death of my nurse, he was pursuaded to join a
party from Pembinaw, who were going on their annual visit to St. Paul
for the purpose of trading with the whites. At my earnest request he
permitted me to accompany him. I was then in my fifteenth year, and
mere child as I was, he left me the first day of our arrival entirely
alone in our encampment at St. Paul, while he went with the rest of
the company to the city.

"By chance a gentleman passing, heard the sound of the violin, with
which I was beguiling the tedious hours, and came into my tent. At
first I was quite alarmed at sight of a stranger, but his words and
manner immediately won my confidence, and put my fears to rest, and,
I confess, I was lonelier when he left me and glad when he came again.
He knew my unprotected situation, and always made it a point to come
when brother Jim was absent. It would be quite impossible for me to
describe to you the subtile influence which this person gained over
me. I learned to love him with all the ardor of which my passionate
and imaginative nature was capable. It was the first unbounded
devotion of a warm and innocent heart that he betrayed. I have no
words with which to co