The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-09-12
AN INDIAN STORY.

on the side of the wood covered hill, lies q
'nrga rock, brown, mossclad mud lightning
Scared. and 1t too has a page Of interest.
An Indian woman, lurking behind it while
the whites were burning the village and
staying her people, was seen by ore Of the
invederS, who Immediately eveled his rifle,
and shot the poor creature dead. under the
impression, it is said, that he was firing at
one Of the warriors. The lndinn woman
had child IN her arms, and the horror
stricken murderer, as some ntonement for
what he had done, after burying the mother
at the foo. Of the rock, carried the child, SO
strangely baptiscd in blood, with him 10 the
sei''c'cen.7.
/: I'll. event we're not well authenticated,
should G,ubt its ,rulhfulress. 1t is well
known that when the Mnck>u.check villages
were destroyed, the Indians received warns
ing of the enemy's near approach, and fled.
Now, what was This poor woman doing with
her boy 80 near the scene OF disaster, while
her protectors were far away? sometimes
imagine causes for such strange womsn'y
/ condact. ! see her sealing back TO her ru-
med nome, in search, perhaps Of Il missing
husband. old, bedrldden father, or heart
aching search for lost child, tia. she
feared the hcarless whites might find and
bear away. Let the cause have been what
it mNy, the poor sufferer sleeps quietly
where the sassafras and elm wave above her
their delicate and graceful limbs.
The history of the Indian boy is as wild
as his adoption was strange. He was taken
into llc family of the destroyer of his mother,
and treated as n member. He grew up
true Indian, scorning work. silent and way
ward. but cminen'ly handsome and graceful.
lie had, FOR playmate, younger daughter
Of his new parent, and they passed their
childhood roaming over hill and dale in
search of flowers and fruit. They were
then sent to school, and, although he was
seldom found inside the school.room, az they
generally parted when in sight of The log
house, ne 10 hunt or fish all day, she 10
study when evening came, and the
maiden wrnded hsr way home, in some wood
or glen By the path, she would see his tall.
dark form Standing erect in The gloom of the
evening. waiting 10 guard her safely home.
II knowledge Of tins ,ruunt disposition
ro"~"est,- a'",',t fe'hoT ii '*so az. ''""
her-sl'e loved him TOO well 10 see him
beaten.
Reared thus, is i, to be wondered at that
The preuy girl and her Indian compnron
should owe each other? The rosy checked,
large eyed daughter Of the old captain, in
time, was much admired mud had many quit
ors, but turned 10 her first love. But at last
wooer came, possessed of more wealth
and higher standing. nnd a sad conflict began
in the lilIe hear, between love and pride.
THIS sounds strange, bu, in those days lndi.
ans were looked upon almost as we look on
negroes aud to marry so much oeneaih her, !
TO be gq2ad a. as one degraded and ou,casi,
startled .Ihe 7onr girl. do not know
whether natures own plead his cause OF not,
| like to ,hink he did not sec him gliding
AWAY through The still wuods TO commune
aioue. lea yIng love to urge his suit. Pride /
proved 'he victor. The wealthy sul'or was
accepted. On the day of the wedding the
Indian was absent. The younger portion Of
the company jes'ed at his exp"Lse. for his
srcrc, had become known. The ght pass.
ed, and in The morning the ngonized parents
were called upon To find their daughter end
her husband murtere& and the lnlian gone,
none knew whittier, nor was he heard of
after. Tie slayer ola mother wep' over his
murdered child, for the disappointed lover,
the avcnger. had done his work and passed
nwuy-"fa'al as the lightning, silent as the
night"