Mt Idaho April 29^th 1890

Kate – dear Sister
Head is aching and eyes (& bones too) but I must try to send a letter by tomorrows mail if possible. I am still suffering from the Grippe which I had not time to attend to when it seized me and from what I had to pass through last winter & still have I do not know if I could reach Lapwai.

I had a letter from Robert written at Moscow on their way home. Word was to be sent me at once as soon as they reached Kamiah. This is tuesday evening, and not one word has come to tell me that Robert, and those with him have reached home safely. Did you see them at Lapwai? Write at once please and tell me everything you know about them and matters there. Word was that Robert was to be ‘attended to’ at Lapwai (by his enemies) on his way home. The tinun was sent for, or taken to Lapwai last week I suppose is still there under training. Kate, do you know that Archie was at Lapwai and he sent for the tinum to be brought to tell her story to the Agent that time, just before the Judges went out of office I have been told this repeatedly, by reliable Nez Perces. As soon as I heard it, Edwards long social visit to you the morning after the Council flashed across me and made me believe the story. It was a sharp trick to keep your attention engaged from passing events. So that they could get past your house (A) without your seeing. Find out if you can about Archies secret visit there, and his call to tinun. It was that which opened the eyes of many lately & led them to say "ikuin Archie was the cause of Roberts arrest."

The Kamiah church was settling back so many who were led away coming back, having their eyes opened, and I though the trouble was over. But this trial of Robert at Lapwai again will set everything in a ferment again. ("How long? Oh Lord")

There has come to light a conspiracy to waylay Robert which his mistake of starting too soon to Pres. frustrated & taking the trail instead of the road. This Lapwai trial will take him twice over that dreadful road again and its dangers – if he has strength left to attempt it. God help him & us. Kate, I am so afraid you have written something to Mr D doing Robert a hurt – tho not meaning to do it. I infer that this Lapwai trial may have come from him. He is to investigate or be among the investigators. Robert says Mr D believes the woman. Kate – Robert is as innocent as you or I. It is all a made up story as the other. It is exactly the same old plot and the very same plotters white & red four years ago and it means you and me, both just as much as Robert only he must be gotten rid of first – by death or dishonor. That blow strikes both your school and mine as well as the Cause among the Nez Perces If ever you had need of wisdom from God and grace and strength and prayful watchfulness and courage in your life you will need it at the coming trial. Your sister has been doing all in her power. More than you know to defend you too. Every time you say – or if you say "My sister get so excited’ you weaken the force of her effort for you too (How did Mr D know "Miss Sue gets so excited" I wrote no word to him ) and Kate, speak out plainly about Archie (tho I know more than you, most probably, and not from my boys either). He is the root, and wire puller of the whole trouble. To get his ch at Lapwai or Kamiah is the last desperate hope of Chiefs & his chieftainship – You know the Kamiah session excommunicated Jimmy - not for his doings to Robert. They warned him last summer or fall that the would do it, if he did not stop trying to lead astray their flock – his last taking the church members away from the communion decided the matter. He ought to have been ex – years ago & prevented much evil. Of course Archie & Co will be busy by every work & devise to get things ready among the people for the coming Presbyters. Speak out plainly about John Cree, too. He is a big factor in this trouble, as four years ago, and as then will be on hand to tamapaik whatever is needed & correspond with Charlie. With Robert & the schools out of the way, Archie at K or L & with Creas’s help, there could soon be a vacancy made in the Agency. It is the very same old political co-workers & plot. I enclose some of the Superstitious beliefs thro which so much work has been done (is being done) against Robert. Even Peter is still under the influence of that last ‘Number 3" as I saw by a letter he wrote to one of my new pupils Only he quoted 1^st Tim. 2^d v. as a sure proof that Robert was guilty. "The Bible says so." Poor foolish Peter. If Archie can get Kamiah that will leave Lapwai for him in peace he thinks.

And poor weak backed Moses. Last fall Loy took him on a long hunt, bringing him back a changed man. His child took sick with Grippe as he was starting from Kamiah to Mr I after Christmas, became so sick on the road that he was compelled to stop at Andrews where the tinun lived, was there for three weeks, with the sick child and in that time he was entrapped. Archie still at Lapwai. Shortly after Archie left he came up and confessed to both Robert and me that he had been ‘shapapelainin mishamitki’ ‘caused to go astray by lies.’ He knew then that the tinum’s story was lies he said. I do not know how his heart is now. I have not ‘cut him off’ from School. He still holds the key of his house here but I have not seen him for a long time. I never had time to tell you all this before. And I have scarcely strength to tell it today. I am scarcely able to up. But I want to send this in the mail at noon D.V.

Keep a copy of the superstitious beliefs for yourself (You know some of them I think) and give what I send to the Presbyters before the trial. Mr D used the 1^st in his church court you remember. He would never have got at the truth without it. The two who confessed to the K session of having sinned with the tinun were Trikash and Camas’s son. This tinum is another Martha, but slyer and has stronger backing in A. to keep her going. She is a Martha an abandoned woman but, what good is talk

God is stronger than the Enemy who is bring all the forces of evil to bear upon us.

P.M.

Your letter enclosing Mr Ds has come. I have had no word from Robert & any boys yet. Kate, Charlie is perhaps one of the witnesses to be in L. I am so glad Miss Fletcher will be there and the Eaves D.V. The witnesses at Kamiah will be summoned for one side only against Robert (none for him, if it is in the power of the Enemy to accomplish it and as many of R’s K friends will be hindered from going as possible. That is sure. Do all you can at Lapawai if the K friends are there to have them taken as witnesses. Have Tukash & Kamas’ son (a [illegible] pupil he was) who confessed to the Kamiah session their pakwit with the tinum put on the witness stand at Lapwai. You know Robert. He is not ‘wise’ in self defense – simply trusts God and takes what comes from Satan. (None of this trouble is from God or any of the arrests) It is too clearly Satans work from the beginning of our troubles.) God is the Mighty Deliverer, as Mighty as 4 years ago. Roberts simple trust in Him would lead him to go alone to Lapwai if he alone is summoned as he will be if it can be accomplished.

We too must simply trust God doing to the very utmost He puts in our power. It is you & I as well as Robert now, as before.

I am so glad Dr Gunn will be there. Shew him all your heart. You can do so without the least hesitancy. Tell him about Roberts witnesses & everything. He is a true friend. You can trust him fully. I am so glad Miss Fletcher will be there and the Eaves too. Please tell them with my best love – go out to all the trial meetings – take care of your health write to me every time you possibly can – every day if you can - you know what I am

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