Her husband, noticing these frequent absences asked her why she went
forth so frequently. She replied, "To get the fresh air."
The weather grew warmer; the ice left the lake; grass and leaves were
growing. Then the woman waited till her husband slept, and stole out
from the man whom she kissed no more, to the lover whom she fondled and
kissed more than ever.
At last the husband's suspicions being fairly aroused, he resolved to
watch her. To do this he said that he would be absent for three days.
But he returned at the end of the first day, and found that she was
absent. As she came in he observed something like silvery scales on the
logs. He asked what they were. She replied, _Brooches_. [Footnote:
_Nskmahn'l_: coins of all sizes hammered out by the Indians and
made into pin-brooches.]
He was still dissatisfied, and said that he would be gone for one day.
He went to the top of a hill not far distant, whence he watched her.
She went to the shore, and sat there. By and by there rose up out of
the lake, at a distance, what seemed to be a brightly shining piece of
ice. It came to the strand and rose from the water. It was a very tall
and very handsome man, dressed in silver. His wife clasped the bright
stranger in her arms, kissing him again and again.
The husband was awed by this strange event. He went home, and tried to
persuade his wife to leave the place and to return to her people.
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