The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-07
Oweena.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

.
She was an Indian glrl, and dwelt with her
father and brothers in their wigwam, within
sourd of the silver ripples of the Min-ne-ha-ha.
A great chieftain was her father, and her
brothers were his sons. What need is there
to say more? r. .e
Fair was the gentle Oweena as the fairest
day in June, and graceful as the swaying
branches Of the willow. When she danced,
the humming- bird paused among the flowers
to view her motions, and her song made the
mockiag-bird faint with envy.
Often had Oweena's hand been sought by
the neighboring chieftains, for she was tbe
loveliest maiden of hel tribe. But in vain
were all their pleadings. She laughed at them
and refused to wed any among the warriors
Yet often, when The sun was sinking below
the horizon. would Oweena deck herself in
all her gayest ornaments, and climbing to the
hill-tops, gaze eastward with an earnest eye,
until the twilight gathered o'er the scene, as
though in expectation Of some arrival. And
this was so--for listen: In her childhood,
"wise woman' among the tribe had whispered
to Oweens that at some future time the sun
set hour would bring valient chieftain, with
brow fairer than the snow, from the far
eastward, to WOO and win her. And it was his
| coming that Oweena waited on the hillside
near her fathers wigwam. But Oweena new
er told this secret to her brothers, nor to the
maidens of the tribe.
Silently she waited the coming of the white
| warrior from the eastward-silently, amid the
silver laughing Of the Min-ne-ha-ha.
And Oweena waited long. Years glided by,
and still only dark warriors met the gaze OF
her bright, long lashed eye, as she turned it
toward the sunrise. Yet she trusted in the
tale of the swise woman" and gazed ON still
until the maidens used to say, as they saw
Oweena at the close of day standing on the
hillside, that she kept tryst with a phantom
from the forest, whose form other eyes saw
not; and they kept apart from her as though
| they feared her. .f ..a-- .
One morning, when October's redness lay
on the forest foliage; and wind whispers were
among the wigwams, the father and brothers
of Oweena decked themselves with the tro.
phies Of their bravery, and painted their fore
heads for the battle.
Oweena inquired not their intentions; such
is not the custom Of the Indian woman. But
she heard them speak of the strangers home,
and the scalps Of white warriors. -
| With them went also many other braves !;
and Oweena watched their departure from her
old place upon the hillside, until the distance
veiled them from her sight.
Many days passed, and they returned not !;
but one evening, just as the sun sank behind
the distant mountains, Oweena heard the war;
cry of her brothers, and from the hillside saw
the band approaching. Foremost among them
between her father and another chieftain, came
with firm tread white warrior, bound and
bleeding, but brave even in his captivity.
Oweena gazed upon his broad white brow
upon the huge blue eyes beneath its shadow
upon the chestnut curls and crimson cheek
upon the mouth so small and firm in its COM
preston. She marked the small but graceful
form, the gallant bearing, the soldiers meas
ured football, and knew within her soul that
this was the white -browed warrior whose COM
ing she had so patiently awaited on the hill
side within sound Of the silver Min-ne-ha-ha.
Scarcely had she seen him ere she loved him,
for Love is of no mortal birth. But once on
earth he visiteth the human heart, and that
once his coming is as the lightning's FASH
Ere we know it, be lies foulded in our hearts,
shedding bliss untold through all our pulses.
Thus it came to pass that all that night Oweena
dreamt Of the white cheftain who had come
to her from the eastward.
And the captive, also. One glimpse aloQe
had he of those dark eyes, bent so earnestly
npon him as he passed. Yet they haunted
him in the silence of the night, bringing dreams
of bliss to cheer the lonely hours of his pain
full bondage. Each had met that other half Of
the soul for which they had sought valnly
heretofore. In dreams the heart Of the white
warrior folded the Indian maiden to its en-
brace.
| The next morning, with fierce mutterings
and angry gestures, the chieftains gathered
round the council fire; and ere long the captive
stood among them ready for the torture, but
undaunted still, and with smile Of scorn up
on his firm lip that won the savage admiration
of his captors. Yet suddenly it changed to
one Of joy; for the eyes he had areamt of in the
silent night shone in the cleaning of the coun-
Gil fire, and woman stood among the warriors.
1t was Oweena. Bending with many bushes
before the assembled chieftains, she told the
prophecy of the "wise woman" and prayed
that this warrior-captive might be given unto
her. Peace waved her wand above that saw
age band, and Oweena's prayer was granted.
In little while, wigwam of logs rose
close beside the forest, and in this wigwam
dwelt Oweena and her bridegroom, happy in
each others love.
A great hunter was this white warrior; the
deer fell seemingly athis very bidding. Brave
was he beyond the bravest, and be exceled in
many things. But what most surprised the
tribe was his affection for Oweena, and the ten
derness with which he regarded her. Many a
dark-eyed maiden whispered to her sister the
wish that other white warriors might come
INTO them from The eastward, even as had this
one TO Oweena. ~
| He taught her to speak his language; and
on quiet nights, songs, such as no Indian ear
had ever heard before, floated from the door
- SIx~lz L.. AI.A S~.l