Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-06-08
Written for the Washington Standard
A NISQUALLY LEGEND.

there is little island, whose Evolutionary
name is Battao. a narrow channel separ-
atcs it from the mainland, and at the cbb
and flow Of the tide the water rushes
through tumultuously. The island is long
aud not very wide, aud is covered by for.
est that counts its years by centuries.
Hundreds Of Summers have poured the
fervnr Of their seasons into its stately
growth hundreds Of Winters have dow
c,ed it with s,urdiness and endurance.
Its strip of beach is s.rewn with soft, gray
stones, wave-w0rn into curious forms.
The charm Of legend fingers about these
stones. Many generations ago, there lived
in the vicinity of S,cilacoom Nisqually
chief, brave and powerful. He had many
horses and a ,etnuc Of slaves, the unhappy
trophies of his victories in war. But the
pride of his heart and of the tribe, was his
dau2 2hter, whose surprising beauty brought
her many suitors. In vain they rehearsed
betore her stories Of their prowess, and
brought her robes Of choicest beaver skins,
slis,enhg stones, rude trinkets aud brace
let's of strange shells, flowers and berries
aud trophies Of their skill in hunting aud
fishing. Everything that despairiny
woocr could hope would win him tender
thought, was laid before her in huniblest
homage. Size was kind to all, but only
kind her heart was untouched.
She was Il gentle mistress aud the SER
vice Of her slaves was Que of love. They
were her merry attendants, and her un.
troubled heart asked nothing that their
compauionship could not supply. Uncon.
scious of the distractions wrought by her
beauty aud her obduracy, she lived in per-
feet content iu her fathers lodge.
But one day there appeared among them
a stranger, handsomer than any that had
ever visited them. He was tall and mus.
cular, his eyes were keen, his voice soncr-
ous At evening, around the fire, he uu.
folded narratives of adventurous deeds in
the strange country from which he came.
From his eyes dartcd imperious glanccs
There was IA power in his rude cloquence
aud impressive pantomimc that delighted
his grave, undcmonstrative audience.
Their reserve melted before the charm of
his manner. Even Battao, the Tyec's
daughter. WAS cn,hralled. In his presence
she was happy; away from him an unfa-
m;liar di>quietude possessed her. Toseth-
or they threaded the intrcacies Of the SOM
brc forest; on the beach they watched the
tapping waves, aud Ger the blue flashing
waters their cancc bore them lightly to the
little island.
Here Buttao listened to words that be.
fore had fallen on Needless ear; now they
quickencd Ter heart with new emotion
But one day, as she sat on the shore Of the
mainland, her lover pacing listlessly for
ward and back, her quick ear missed his
footsteps. She saw him tearlessly walking
the painless waters, then vanish from her
anguished gaze into a thick wall IF mist
that enveloped the island. 1t drifted
away before the morning breeze, but tho
sea kept its own secret, aud her empty
heart had for itself no comfort. Her com.
panions vainly tried to interest her in the
puerile amusements Of other days. Her
happiness was 10 the past aud her only
solacc in recalling that past. A strange
charm drew her to this island. She felt
less lonely here; her lost lover seemed
nearer; his tones sounded in her cor and
memory, with tender faithfu'ness revived
each happy hour. While she sut absorbed
in reverie, she scoopcd the sands Of the
beach into her hand and sifted them thro'
her brown fingers. Thcy moulded as they
fell into tiny hand, IN arm, or foot into
fishes, rabbits and birds. She seemed
unconscious Of the magic aud followed her
careless toying till they lay thickly strewn
along the shore.
One day as her canoe sped over the
waves, it was mysteriously arrested, de.
taiucd as by giants grasp: The efforts
Of her slaves were futile; they frauticaIly
piled their paddles, but the cauoc was as
motionless as stranded shell. Leaning
over the edge of the canoe. she saw be.
meath the water tho smiling face of her
beloved. Extending her arms she begged
him to come up to her, but that no could
not do; he could come back to earth no
more, he said. They talked together q
long time. He told her oil the wonders Of
his caverned houe. and while she listened
to his familiar voice her heart waxea glad
but when he begged her to come to him,