The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-08-30
CHATTER Xxx.

pletion Of GATHERINGS story, which they
We're anxious to hear finished, not only
on account Of its connection with Sono-
ra, but also that Harry and his bride
might proceed on their tour, which had
been deferred the day previous in eonse-
quence Of the confusion attending Nor
mans arrest.
Catherine, whose mind was now more
composed, but whose eyes plainly
showed that she had passed a sleepless
night, seemed much detected. She had
lost that fierce wild manner which had
characterized her before, and she now
appeared TO a much better advantage
Her large and truly magnificent ewes
seemed 10 droop with a melancholy Ian
guor, a. they rested upon the three
young girls before her, and then casting
a look upon Mrs. Summers and Mrs.
Hewitt, would heave a heavy sigh. as
she seemed to be contrasting her posi-
ton with theirs. 'Happy mothersr'
she murmered as she commenced her
narrative.
The big tree which spoke Of in con-
nection with my child was a majestic
oak, which grew in the center of a dense
forest Of cottonwood trees, and whose
branches, spreading out far and wide.
formed a magnificent shade. Here old
FleetfOot had fixed a rude but comforta-
bic seat, for the accommodation of his
only and darling grandchild. She
seemed the only being for whom he
evinced the slightest affection. The
choicest game was always laid at her
feet for her reception, and the longest
scalp Of the pale-face was hung at her
girdle, though she fain would not have
accepted the latter, for her heart was
too tender for an Indian maiden's. An
elegant skin Of the panther was spread
beneath the oak, and here, with the
guitar, singing some Of the songs Of her
mothers land, or the still wilder ones
of her own, she would sit for hours, with
Fleetfoot at her feet listening, wrapt in
silent admiration az the clear rich voice
which made the woods echo, for the In
dians have peculiar love for all kinds
of music, and are never more delighted
than when listening to its sweet strains.
when White Star was about fifteen
summers old, Lucerta was called away
to the happy hunting ground, as they
style what they suppose to be heaven,
and where she certainly went. for She
was a true Christian in heart, though
she was a squaw, born and brought up
IN darkness; still she had an instinct
within her which pointed out the right
path, and whose Straight and narrow .
way she faithfully followed. Next to
my husband and child, she was my tru- /
est friend, and dearly did / love my In (
dian mother Fleetfoot was always
kind to me while she lived, though that
he disliked me was plain to be seen, and
as soon as death closed the eyes of his /
so soon did his hatred towards
me show itself. In every possible way
did he seek TO torment me, even trying
10 turn the affections of my idolized
husband against me. In this, however
he failed, which seemed to embitter
him still more against the hated Span /
lard, as he called me. But White Star
was his pet, his idol. For her he would .
do anything, and she would often talk
TO him and try TO win part Of his love
for her mother, but his answer to all her
pleadings was:
" DON'T speak Of pale-face. Fleetfoot
hates the Spaniardr
''Do not think that / bore his haired
tamely, for I did not, but resented II 70
the fullest extent, for the hot blood Of
my country boiled within my veins.
and had it not been for Lenard, wicked
as then was, ] would have killed him
but thank God was restrained !
"a year passed. There had been but
slight change in our wigwam since the
death Of Lucerta, save that my beauti-
ful White Star had grown thin and
more transparently beautiful. Her
complexion was a clear olive, with eyes
and hair Of raven blackness, and now
and then the clear blue veins might be
distinctly traced beneath the skin. Her
cheeks had lost that bright carnation
tint which they had always worn, and
her eyes were not as sparkling as in
days gone by, neither was her step so
elastic, though she appeared cheerful
ana ever gay. Lenard noticed the
change as well as myself, and feared
that some secret disease had fastened
itseh upon her vitals, and was eating
away the life blood of his darling but /
not so with me, who partly guessed the
true cause. Since the death of 7 ucor,o
Fleetfoot had ceased to visit the bio treo
as formerly, and I had often no+iood
that Many Canoes, a young chief Of tI,o
tribe, was the attendant of NV cbiId 1
He was brave and noble voutb Of
about twenty years, and had aIwavs on
peared like brother to White star
though as they grew up together. T nor'
ceived something more than brotberIv
love, as he watched her every move
ment Every act of his was one of Iovo
He had decorated her little apartment
in the tent with the choicest skins, and
every morning, at the break of day.
would spread the fragrant wild flowers