New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-18
WHITE ROSE OF THE PRAIRIE
An Indian Legend Of Kansas.


In the "far, far West" way toward the
sunset, lie the bilowy prairies of Kansas.
Many years ago. upon an almost limitless sea
Of wavy green, lived and roved the numerous
tribe Of Miami. What is now known as Miami
county was then the choice hunting ground OF
the tribe. Then the elk, the deer, and the an.
telope skipped lightly over the flowry mead,
and wolves in long packs made night hideous
with their yellings. Oftentimes in those days
where the beautiful towns of Paola and Osa
watomie now stand, could be seen the stalwar,
form of Monogeken, their chief, his eagle
feather noddiDg in the breeze as he and his
followers, in all their grim glory, sent then
arrows whiZZing over the plain.
The camp of MOnOgeken and bis choice war
riors was situated upon the banks of the beau
tiful stream known rs the Marai des Cygnes
Here, i'm their leisure hours, these red children
Of the forest and the plain luxurated amid the
shade Of the cottonwood and sycamores. The
happy birds sang sweetly overhead among the
branches, while graceful skffs shot over the
crystal waters, or while Wenona, the white
rose, rambled in search of wild flowers. But
she was the fairesi flower among them, this
beautiful creature, her long golden hair float
ing in the sunlight, and her glorious eye Of
melting blue drinking i'm the beauties around
her. She had been captured some three OF
four years previous, while yet but twelve years
old, and now, in her dazzling loveiness, pre-
scented a strange contrast to her dusky friends
around her. She was treated with marked re
spect and looked upon with kind Of supersti
tious favor, for she had been captured under
peculiar circumstances, and then, besides all
this, it was generally understood among them
that she was, after the lapse of certain space
of time, destined TO become the bride of the
great chief Monogeken
1t was lovely night in Indian summer
The moonlight slept on the placid waters OF the
Marai des Cygnes, a solitary whip-poor. will
sent forth its dismal nocturn. Amid clump
of sycamores, whose ghostly white arms were
stretched over them, these brave warriors were
collected around their camp fire. Each one
sat perfectly quiet, as if indulging in some deep
revery, as was their custom, when suddenly the
dead silence was broken by football, and a
single horseman appeared like phantom be.
fore them. He offered no greeting, but as
silent as the group before him, slipped from
his powerful black charger and threw himself
on the ground among them. His buckskin
suit, trimmed with fringe of The same, and tips
of fur, together with his seeming familiarity
with Indians and their customs, betokened
him trapper.
He was soon on friendly terms with his new
friends, and remained several days. lie gave
no reason for his visit, but this reticence but
accorded with the general custom of the coun-
try. His agile movements and athletic feats
greatly pleased them, and certain unconcern
and sang frofd gained their confidence.
His long flowing gray hair indicated that he
was a man of years, Notwithstanding there was
a kind of brilliant flash to his dark eye, which
plainly showed that the fires 5of youth had not
yet all burned out
Wenona never conversed with strangers,
from the fact that it greatly displeased her cap
tors; but of this old trapper they evinced no
fear, as they had not perceived single glance
directed toward her, neither had he by single
word or question seemed aware of her presence.
This pleased them. as they were generally
piled with a thousand questions regarding the
lovely white rose that grew mp in their midst.
These interrogations never failed to bring
frown 10 the face of these Miami warriors,
TO that of Monogeken.
One afternoon some OF the men, the
trapper, a few of their women, and Wenona
were slowly filing from the camp Just described
to about half mile up the stream To another
camp of theirs, just where the town of Osa-
now stands, it happened that the
trapper and Wenona were side by side, and the
others all in advance, a thing quite natural,
owing to their scattering manner of walking.
The trapper gaZed searchingly upon the face
Df his fair companion, and thus addressed
her:
"IIow do you ike Your new home and
friends?'
The country is very lovely, and my friends
are kind
q You are perfectly happy here. then"
(" i have no complaints to offer"
Would you not like to return TO your
nome p
Il have none"
Would you not like 10 see your friends p
:" am so unfortunate as TO have neither
friends nor home"
All the time she turned her face from him,
md spoke low and burriedly.
Wenona, look over your shoulder, far
away over the uDdulating prairie to the east
Sard-what do you see? p
81 see where the hay Indian summer at
nosphere blends earth and sky in one great
Abrie.''
MY child, yonder your poor mother waits
md watches for you"
This was too much, and the long pent-up
iood gave way, and the wall she had built mp
between herself and past associations, though |
strongly built, and a wise precaution on her |
,art, suddenly crumbled ut her feet. Her /
ears fell in torrents as she uttered between
Ter sobs,
All, sir, you are too cruel; how can you
,ock at my grief!"
"Then you really have a grief, and you do
lot wish to become, after all, the lovely bride |
{ the great and powerful MonogekenY'
"Oh, no, no do not kill me %
"Wenona, tell me all | am your friend,
nd may have the power to aid you. IL you
Iish to wed Monogeken, say but the word, and
withdraw my foot from your presence"
"0h, save me, sir, If you, can l shall die
you leave me here. No, will never wed
though kind to me, and the great
hef Of the Miamis."
:" But if | aid you to escape / may be doing
Trong in thus stepping between you and for.
une, for you will, by marrying this ehieftain,
e raised TO an exalted and envied position.
md as for love, you must have been too young
'hen you left your friends 20 love any other"
iere the dark eyes of the trapper were bent
upon her.
''oh, yes, do love another though / was
90 young at the time to know that the dear
ieorge that used 10 dandle me on his knee
rould ever be held in such regard as think Of /
i'm now. You see he was my father partner,
hough very young man; and he wasmy best
riend. Ieannot remember the time when /
id not know him, nor when he first began TO
ri me- Oftentimes he has told me should he
il little wife when was grown up, and told
im yes then he would kiss me and run down