New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-18

b
IRE sleeping when the nightbird and wolf jon
n hdeous duette, am l back once more on
Georges knee while he hears my lesson that l
missed at school, and scolds me for my mat
tention. You see, SIR can talk of it now al
ter all these tears i have just shed but never
allow these people to see me weep,it displeases
them So But all is over with me now. My
father started with his family to Denver, ex-
pecting to make great fortune ; but, on the |
day the Indians we're making great feast to |
their god, Mantle, one of them captured me. |
Now, the rule is, on such day, if one of the
men can succeed in capturing o pale face for
the yearly sacrifice to offer Mantle, the great
spirit. he will be loaded down with honors and
great distinction conferred upon him. Only the
great chief of the tribe interdict this order
and reserve the victim to make him one of his
chief rulers or something Of that kinda
thing however, seldom resorted to was
spared, but better would il have been for me
had shared the fate of those WHO are 30 I'M
fortunate as to be caught on such day"
.'Sav not So Wenona only few miles dis
tant, wonder 70 the northeast, where you see
faint veil of smoke ascending, burn the camp
fires of your friends tonight l will take you
thither.p
Take me to my friends! o, sir do not raise
nv hopes i'm vani / could never survive it !"
said the poor girl, elasping her hands and cast
ing an i'm ploring look at the old trapper.
.'Never fear, all will be well be but calm
and collected, as / have found you all along
until purposely wrung your heart to find out
your true feelings, and you are safe. Do not
sleep tonight, but retire, as usual. 1t will be
dark tonight, and when you hear the single
boot of an owl turn your eyes toward yonder
rocky bank, where a faint star will glimmer for
an instant. That is your signal. Stealthily
leave the camp and seek the direction of the
star once there, q firm hand and brave heart
will lead you to my horse-Nero-lariated on
the prairie. He is strong enough to carry both
of us to the camp Of friends, who will take you
where you choose. Now seek the camp, your
long absence might be marked"
As she left the spot one Of the Indians passed
her and frowned darkly, but no further notice
was taken Of the affair
That night long past midnight two forms,
mounted on fleet and powerful horse bound
ed over the grassy plain. No word had been
spoken as several miles had been thus ira
versed. They had now reached Bull creek fold,
just a half mile south of where the city of
PaOla now stands. Here, after crossing the
stream, the trapper suddenly halted. AT a
short distance before them, and on the very
spot where the plaza of PaOla is now stu
ated in the center Of the town, burned the
lurid camp-fres of those they sought, sending
rudy lines of light through the darkness of
night. "Wenona, yonder is our destination.
You they expect US. All is ready for
movement, for we must leave these parts i'm
mediately. The pursuers must be left behind
By daylight We must be long way from here.
But there is q great surprise in store for you,
and before you enter the camp l must ex-
plain. Those campers are no other than your
own father and mother u
At this announcement WenOna gave little
hoy FILL la had of no
arm prevented.
There is still another surprise for you, but
We will watt
Soon in the camp, she was sobbing in the
arms Of her mother and father. But gentle
hand at length separated them:
"Come-there is danger in delay let US be
off at once"
Eyes. indeed" said Mrs. Whitford, the now
joyous mother of WenOna--or Ellen, which
was her.. true name Eyes You are right, George,
let us start Immediately. What would we ever
do without your
At the mention OF this name, Ellen, as we
shall now call her, turned suddenly around in
blank amaZement, when the wig with the long
gray hair, and other DISCUSSES, lay at her feet,
and George-her own George Melton, in all his
youthful manlness-stOod before her.
"Can it really be George p said the blush
ing girl, as she suddenly found herself locked
in her lovers arms.
"You will not be angry, my dear Ellen
you know the confession which / strategized
from you
Here other explanations followed, from
which she learned that Immediately after her
capture George Melton had left the quiet Of
home and civilization to seek her. That for
years be encountered perils and dangers, as he
sought her, without avail. But in this time he
had become familiarized to the country, In
ltavx do Of IL,
tanning to savage life; and this proved more
efiectual toward final success than any thing
else.
Her father and mother remained at Denver
where they, too, did all they could. But now
hopeless and in despair, they once more were
returning to their home, when they encountered
one Of Georges scouts, who informed them
that the former had at last found out the where
abouts of their long lost daughter, and directed
them where to halt.
The group, as they stood there interchang-
ing mutual explanations, formed an interesting
tableau, lit up with the red light, and casting
wierd shadows back on the prairie. All seem
ed to be perfectly in raptures about the skillful
manner in which George Melton had conducted
this difficult but all important matter, as the
late old trapper and scout related his recent
strategy.
"And now, Ellen, before We leave this spot,
you must pledge me your hand for, after all
that has happened during these eventlul years,
you must indulge me in this unique arrange
nnent, so that the exciting little drama may be
finished before we return to the
quiet haunts of every day life. If we only had
"A clergyman with us" taking her unresisting
hand, 1--WE might have it all settled at once"
CHANGING over the company of friendly In
dams and others who had been valuable aids
but just then a demoniac whoop startled them
from their transitory security, and in another
instant they were surrounded by party of
painted savages
A fierce battle ensued, and many a bloody
form was stretched upon thegrassy plain. Those
that sought safety in the surrounding darkness
were either hewn down or captured by stalwart
Indians.
Ellen Whitford fed from the bloody scene
and sank powerless in the darkness in a mo- |
ment she felt herself clutched and borne hur- |
riedly away. At the first grasp she lost all
and remained in deep swoon |
she knew not how long.
When she opened her eyes it was broad day |
light. She felt weak and faint, and suffered |
with a binding headache. "Oh, that too |
had been killed.! thought she, as she peered |
around.
She was resting on an Indian blanket, in the
depths of deep and wooded valley. All was
strange, and she uttered q faint moan In an |
instant tall form knclt by her side-not
painted Indian, but George Melton.
Hush, darling, all is WE'LL"
where is mother?"
s'She is with us'
"Tell me all, George, am strong, and can
lear the worst much better than suspense - |