Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-12
very dear to the heart of Red Rifle. 2

| oAASAl uhSAOoJ 0WCPp ofSAs VAAO DNNA VI OAA"'O
ma like the trancing music ola spell. In
an instant she was Red Rifles again, and
the next moment when she thought Of Hen
ry Hoffman she would have given worlds to
be able to recall her engagement with him.
Still she stood there hesitatingly until at
length Red Rifle, Indian though he was,
saw that she was lost and won, took her in
his arms and led her away, down the same
path that led to the waters edge. They
paused in the same spot where an hour be-
| fore she had given herself to. Henry Hoff-
man. ~ 81 ~; .35tisiH" E fit'a +EtH
Standing there, Red Rifle pointed to the
horizon where the moon was now fast losing
herself behind the western hills ~.
"The queen Of the night sinks low in the
western sky soon her light will fall no
more on the woods and waters. The shades
Of the dead will appear. The demons of
| the woods will come from their homes and
dance in the darkness. The water spirits
will glide upon the dim bosom Of the Red
stone and sing their strange songs. All
will then be dark and unearthly; but not so
dark as soon will be the heart Of Red Rifle.
His moon will soon set; it will rise no more.
The demons of despair will come and dance
in his wigwam. The spirits Of evil will
sing his death song. The shades of his ia
theirs, will appear and beckon him to the
land of the Hereafter. His days are num-
bered-he will soon be'no more" 10 l.l~'
:. "Oh, has it come to this 2" almost Shrek
ed Ollavena. ''Do you know all, Red
Rifle Pr s.} oo9alri5s lsi ssie5 lf-.- -"
F. cred Rife knows chat his love has given
herself to the paleface But let it be so.-
] If she loves him Red Rife will not come be-
tween them. His Father will soon call him
home, and when he Is gone all he asks il
that Ollavena will sometimes come to the
spot. where lies the one that loved her SC
well that he died for her, and there drop
one tear upon his grave in remembrance o.
him." =.
"Oh, Red Rife must not talk SO wildly.
I cannot bear it. twill kill me! I am his
now and always; L willsnot belong to the
paleface: am Red Rifles, and he has on
ly to say when he will take me-
Closely to his breast Red Rife now gath
cred Ollavena. Softly he pressed his lips
to hers as he murmured in her ear the day
when he would take her to himself She
shuddered as she heard him, for he had
named the same day and the same hour up
on which she had promised to marry her
paleface lover. What under heaven should
she dor She could not marry them both.
So the weeks and months went by and at
length Ollavena's wedding day came, It
was the first day Of the year, and just such
a day as any woman might wish for as her
happiest. A little Of the autumn glory still
fingered the sun rose up cheerily, as if de-
termined to make good the old saying,
''Happy is the bride that the sun shines on, y
and still unsteady as ever dashed the Red
stone among IN rs the messy rocks, and ed,
But while everything was. 50 beautiful
and bright without, Ollavena satin her room
in state Of mind closely verging upon dis
traction. She had made no effort to rid her
self of either of her engagements, # vas
as she had always said, she could not choose
between her lovers, When with Henry she
resolved and re-resolved that she would with
out delay recall her promise to Red Rifle
but once in his presence she as firmly deter
mined 70 break her .troth with his rival;
and 50 She had never dismissed either. And
now the question as to whose she should be
seemed likely to become one entirely Of time;
for without doubt she would marry the one
who first came to claim her
The clergyman was already there, the
guests were in waiting, and by-and-by
Henry Hoffman came. Ollavena, pale as
death, stood up by his side the minister
joined their hands and began to read the
ceremony. It was all over with the redskin
certainly, for in moment more the desti
MES Of Henry Hoffman and Ollavena would
be bound fast together.
'Does any one know of any reason why
these two may not be joined in the bonds of
holy wedlock p ST. -s.... ..,r... .
As the minister asked this question a
shadow fell across the threshold, and the
next instant a plumed head darkened the.
doorway, Red Rifle too had come at last to
claim his bride. Ollavena gave fearful
scream the instant her eyes fell upon him,
and then broke away from Hoffman and
stood in the middle of the room, irresolute.
els the ceremony to proceed ?" asked the
minister. ,.= M fs .I ,s...
Gas soon as the bride chooses her hus-
band, I suppose said the mother of OLA
vena, who saw at once how the matter
stood. ,al SINS, ,t. t5
"Let her choose then, and quickly
The two lovers advanced. 1t was criti-
cal moment, Like statue fixed and mo-
tionless stood Ollayena Hoffman was the
first to speak. rs So -h.tf e54
(Which is it, Ollavena, Red Rife Or my
self?" *.,-f .. .-e.s a' u
Still Ollavena stood rigid and speeehless,
and the Indian now spoke" t i
ssLet the maiden choose, and Red Rife |
will be content, even though it be the pale
face. Speak, maiden" ~
sOllavena was silent STILL although no
longer motionless; for quickly and quietly
she glided from among the throng, and be-
fore any one could question her she was ma
king her way down to the Water. AS she /
reached the creek she clambered high upon
a hinge rock which overhung the stream,
and then casting farewell look back
upon her home, her friends, and her lovers.
who, now that they OWNED her intention,
were in full pursuit, she plunged into the
dark and sullen waters. She rose for the
last time as they reached the fatal rock, and
throwing her arms aloft she gave utterance
to piercing scream, and then sank forever.
The lovers saw and comprehended it all
in moment. They saw how much happi-
ness each had taken from the other In an
instant, as If by mutual impulse, they
drew their knives and rushed upon each 9th
er thus fighting they both went over the
rock together and shared common fate.
X X x X j X
Dear reader, all this was many and many
q wear arn In story the laoend and the