The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-19
SELECT STORY.
THE INDIAN COUNTESS.

ing eHdCteu Az ARR, C"uAc W. bsaT Sutto
try. He was telI, 1.-the and handsome
with the manners and the hands of AZ
aristocrat. Finding nothing TO do, fol
he was prepared BY education for no la
Dor whereby he could earn a livelihood
and the physical labor Of the dock wai
so much better done BY the negroes, thai
he could not stand the competition, he
finally gave up in dispair. and while he
had money for the few implements
needed, he started for the Oneida coun-
try, where he cut down a few saplIngs
and built himself shelter from the
weather. He endeavored to support
himself bv fishing, shooting and trap
ping, but had made little progress when
he was stricken down with fever. His
end seemed to have come; nothing could
be done. He was alone and helpless; and
commencing himself to the care OF
Heaven, he laid himself down 20 die.
On the other side of the wood near
which he had built his hut, bnt entirely
from his view, there lay an Indian viii
lage. On this afternoon an Indian maid
en-, out berrying, espied the hut of the
stranger, and naturally peeped into it.
Hearing no noise, and seeing no one, she
finally entered and beheld handsome
man lying prone, very pale, and appar-
emily dead. Her woman's heart was
touched with pity, and glancing around
the hut, she noticed the want of all
comforts She saw too, that though in
sensible, he was still alive.
The young girl paused not to think of
his nation or his tribe. Her feet feet
took her back to her wigwam, whence
she returned with milk, rum and a robe
and blanket. With the latter she COW
cred him, and pouring little rum down
his throat, she pillowed his head upon
her lap, and sat still and watched him
there. Presently he opened his fine
eyes, and gave her dim, wandering,
wondering look. But he was faint; he
saw, however, in the large, lustrous,
black, deep set eyes ofthe squaw legibly
written, Thou shalt not die forsaken,
stranger"
She administered to him of the restor
atives she had brought, and sign; fed to
him as we'll as she could that he must
sleep now, and that she would return af-
ser while and see him. He saw in the
Kind, anxious solicitude of his nurse,
that he was cared for-that God had
sent an angel to him in answer to his
prayer.
In compile of hours the Indian girl
returns to hers tranger patient with food
and medicines for the night. She finds
him very weak and feeble, but much
better; she makes him eat something, and
gives him to understand, by eye and
that he must sleep. and she
will see him as early as possible next
morning; she then makes him as conf
Portable as she can, and with a happy
smile and cheerful heart trips back to
her wigwam.
In the morning the Indian girl tells
her mother about the stranger. At first
she is doubtful and suspicious, but she
goes with her daughter to see the stran-
ger, when her heart warns 10 the hand
some and young, but very sick pale face,
and, with true womanly feeling. she
busies herself about the sick man. who
she finds, has a great deal of fever, and
is really i'll. She leaves her daughter to
watch by him, and goes to seek her hus-
band, who comes to him. The cid war
rior pities the pale face, and they remove
him to their own wigwam for better
nursing, where he leaves him to the wo-
men to make him we'll.
In three weeks good nursing brought
him round, and he was a man again in
all but strength. The patient endurance
of the Count. with his quiet, graceful
manners, had won upon the little COM
munisy, and Nanita herself found a
pang in her heart and sigh on her lips
at the mention of his departure. She
had taught him somewhat of their Ian
guage. He felt grateful to his nnrae and
benefactress; while she-Why is il, o.
womanl that the bird that we nurse is
the bird thatwe Ioye?-though she knew
it not as yet, loved him.
The old warrior, after breakfast one
morning. said:
stranger, the time has come when
you should no longer be astranger to US.
You have a name in your own country;
what may it be?"
'Arthur De Lille they call me in my
own country"
That name fell on one heart, engraven
as with an iron pen upon rock forever.
"Then, Arthur De Lille" said the
chieftain, "stay with our people another
moon. Hunt with us, fish with us, go
to our council fires, smoke with us, then
go back toyour own counsry. Ori you
like the red mans life, and will cast
your lot with us, We will adopt you into
our tribe You shall be my son; you
shall be hunter and warrior. Adopt
our customs, and costumes, and we will
give you a wife from our tribe"
at Is we'll said. o chieftain. 1t shall
be so;" and offered his hand.
They smoked pipe together. And
the understanding was complete.
Arthur De Lille grew from consalesc-
ence to robust health rapidly. He walk
ed. he wrestled, he raE, with the young
Indians, where his great hight was of
much advantage to him. His education
in the school Of the athletes, and in
fencing and shooting in Paris, now be-
came of great service TO him. With re-
turning health he developed great ply
sical power, the Indians were proud of
him; he was their equal in all sports,
their superior in many things.
As the time approached for his decis-
ion. De Lille went to the old warrior
and said:
"De Lille wants to go into retreat for