Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-06-05
A STORY OF THE FAR WEST
THE TRAPPER'S CABIN.
4 LEGEND OF THE PRAIRIE.

=. L wonder not" said she, in reply, " that
it seems strange 20 you. 1t will seem strau-
ger still when L tell you that have lived here
already for four long years, and In all that
ZINE seen none but Indian females, and be
sides yourself but two white men," and she
heaEed deep, long sigh.
Pardon me-" said Hugh, &" for asking
why you thus seclude yourself, so far from
civilization and society,"
She hesitated moment. .hen answered 10
a low, sad tone: =. The love | cherish for an
unfortunate father" and there was an instinc-
tive shrinking that made Hugh feel, plaiuer
than words would have done, that the subject
was painful one.
Hugh adroitly changed the conversation,
but listened eagerly while she told him Of the
wild adventures that had characterized their
life, and many strange and beautiful things
that had bordered their pathway. She pic
tured to him the vast stretch of prairie that
surrounded them, and Giscoursed most eio-
quently of its green aud fowery charms thro'
the spring and summer of its golden hues in
autumn, when the first light frost had crisped
its wavering grass, of its fearful magniicence
when the crimson pillows OF fame surged over
it, and of It's sullen, sea-like grandeur when
the snow was heaped In its hollows and crest
ed in It's ridges. Then she told him of the
glory of the woodland which, lay only little
way to the west of .beir cabin, and the beau
ty of the softly flowing Des Moines, whose
waters were OF crystal clearness, aud whose
banks were as rich in agate and pear-like
she'll. Then she sketched the Indian warrior
whose hunting grounds were as yet all around
ed beside their hearth, teaching her wild
f,r ho-
hair a graceful wreath from the silver plumes
of the rainbow colored birds that were futter-
ing in the old tree tops.
"Aud do you fancy such companionship =?
Have You no fear of Indian stratagems and
Indian cruelties 2" asked Hugh.
A shuider ran over the yonpg girl, and her
face grew suddenly very pale, and she looked
timidly around her ere she replied:
:. Until month ago 1 had never known
fear" said she, {" for the Indian, if met with
kindness, is as much, nay, more to be depen-
ded on than are our brothers. But now, |
live in constant terror. My father has Of
Tended one of the young chiefs, and the con-
sequences feel will be fatal to him or me
and perhaps both. My father has realized it
too and since then, until to-day. has not ven
tured out of sight of home. But thoulh he
has carefully sought traces of Indian steps, he
has in all that time seen none, and SO this
morning, noting by his keen eye the approach
of a fearful storm, he went to his old hunting
hut in The timber The deer, you know, al
ways rush to the woodland for shelter. and he
expected to kill enough to-day to last us thro'
the season. But l feel that he has run a
| fearful risk"
"And you feared. knowing your red friends
! were incensed against you, to stay here all
alone" exclaimed her listener.
Il wonder that you consented to let me in
Did you not fear it might be some indian IL
disguise 2"
IAN Indian could not speak as you did,
SIR" she replied. ''and if my own senses had
misled me, these tyusty friends would have
proved true - and she pointed to the dogs
..They can scent an Indian sc far as he car
one of the pale faces They are well trained
too. My father received them as dyang gif
from the old trapper who lived in the cabir
when he came and he had trained them we'll
for the country was much wilder then thar