Mt Idaho May 5^th 1890

Dear sister
I sent you a letter last week. Did you recieve it? I was so troubled because you had not seen our boys on their way home – but since then two of them have been up. I have not seen Robert, or had letter from him from K and will not now before he goes to Lapwai. D.V. but the boys say he is well and is not troubled. "It shall be with him as God wills" he says. Neither are our boys troubled about the trial, or I - if a just one. I have no fear of the results Their ‘mistake’ is gong to Pres so soon was of God and no mistake. They spent three days at Moscow. The Agent also there. He was very kind to them. He & Robert talked. They like him very much. Mr Adair was very kind to them too. Robert preached for him in Moscow, the Agents home. All the ministers were very kind to them at Pres. they say save the Spokan Falls minister - who seemed to lean on the other side tho. I do not know that he said or did anything to them. This trial is no disgrace to the Cause. Kate, Miss Axtell or any one else I know does not think that. The only thing disgrace is that matters were not investigated, and these persecutions of Robert, who is as innocence as you or I stopped long ago and all this trouble.

Peter met Robert and our boys with outstretched hands as they passed thro Lapwai on their way home. Kate, Peter was all right up to the date of that last secret visit which it is said Archie [illegible] to Lapwai &c which helps make me believe the story When [illegible] occurred Loy lodged for days in Peters house (tho Peter even may not have known of Archies coming, as he did not last summer). Kate, this is (was) only another of Peter ‘somersats’ – a bad one. He is ‘lighting on his feet’ soon perhaps. He & Moses were both entrapped to have them to throw the blame on & shield Archie &c. Help Peter Kate. No white man could have taken the church where he found it & done better, and, if he could be freed from evil influences he would still do well.

Our boys saw the tinun’s horse at Lapwai as they passed thro they say. She was down to Archie that quickly. No power of man or Satan will be left untried by A & Co. you may be sure but God is stronger than all. Do not fear. I do not have any fear that is founded on the very least fear that Robert may be guilty. I have not heard yet the story in detail from Robert or my boys who are with me (How could they tell such talk to their teacher?) Heard it once only i.e. the outline from one who had it fresh from the tinun’s lips & who believed it – then – but not now. It was simply an impossible story to one who has known Robert Williams for 16 years & I recognized its animus at once.

Dr Gunn presented the matter to Presbytery. I do not know if any others did. My boys only came up last week to let me know that all had reached home safely and had to return to their work at once. Were here perhaps not more than 1 or 1 ½ hours & I had so much I wanted to know about Kamiah too. The Christians there still stand firm. Kate, that Ellen Tiwaiya who visited you is the bitterest & most venomous of all, perhaps against Robert, to revenge herself on Miss McBeth. the Ind women tell me. It is because I will not have her & George who caused so much trouble last winter by her falsehoods, among my pupils & wives last winter. She is ‘fierce.’ I do not wonder Silas could not live with her. Robert had not the least thing to do with her not being sent for to come to Mt. I.

Mr Nelson wrote Dr Gunn of Roberts arrest &c at once and I have sent him. Dr G the whole story from time to time as I could. He knows everything – more than you do and understands other matters of which I know more than you and had not time to write again. You could not help. He (Dr G) could. He has copies of Charlies ‘Statement" and a letter from Dr E (after you was here) plain, manly, and to the point – enclosing a copy of Charlie’s letter to Gen Noble – acknowledging that this statement – on oath – to Gen. Heth about me was false, virtually as Dr E says plainly if was. Dr G has also copy of Mrs Montieths letter and Charlies last note to you &c with the telegram from Washington &c which protects the ‘Lapwai sister too’ from Charlie & Co. And I have asked Dr Gunn to tell the Nez Perces at Presbytery, and have them understand clearly that the ‘statements’ about Roberts arrest and other Nez Perce matters did not come from Robert, or any pupils, or Miss Kate McBeth but from S.L. McB to [illegible] kept you & R & my boys out of it. Took my evidence from outside of you & them so that all the revenge might fall on me only.

You do not need to say to Dr Gunn "my Sister says so" as your sister has said all to him herself. But speak out plainly to him what you yourself know. Do not fear in the least. He is a true friend I believe. And, will try to help all in his power. And, it is time some matters were attended too. Even if I could live thro such another year as the last I do not see the good which can come from longer endurance of all this trouble. And if it is passed over in silence, another arrest of Robert on some lying pretext would be almost inevitable, and he could not live thro it. Better to get at the root of things now and stop them (It will make lands in severalty easier too.) The Agent told Robert that they could only get 70 names against him (R) all thro the tribe wherever they tried.

Kate keep for yourself the "superstitious beliefs of Nez Perces" which I sent you. Do no give it to Rev. Wheelis, I mean. I sent one copy to Dr Gunn. That is enough. A stranger would not understand, and it might cast a slur to many on the whole tribe, and I meant only those who are still under the influence of the old Superstitious (as for instance those who could be made believe that Robert could poison their souls with the bread & wine) and those who still at heart cling to the old ways - not the more enlightened Christians (In all my experience with Billy’s family – I have never yet known one of them - not even Mark in his worst days to tell a falsehood, once, or even prevaricate which cannot be said of every white family. Of course I do not keep in my school those I find untruthful. And there are many truthful Nez P. Christians. Of course I did not mean them.

Another thing I mentioned about the tinun (as all the people call Roberts accuser) [illegible] very little with Robert or out boys who are with me. If there is any mistake about what I have said of her antecedents the mistake is not theirs. But hand & eyes are so tired.

You know how I will be praying if I do not go. I have asked Dr G about going to L. but it would be at the risk of my life as I feel now. I have been not well as usual this spring, partly from the trouble. Do not be troubled. Let Dr Gunn manage. Be present all you can and may God give you the grace & wisdom & discretion & courage, and help you will need & guide you in every work & act & strengthen & comfort you by His Spirit prays Lovingly –

Sister Sue