Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-07-17

There was once an old chieftain,
noted for bis idiosyncracies, extensive
possessions, and beautiful daughter.
His palace was an unadorned wigwam,
and his throne a pile Of fur. On his
table was always found choice game
and fish dainty enough for an epicu-
rean. His daughter was queen of the
nation-a coy, winsome maid, with
bronzed cheek and eye of living light.
She was veritable Phyllis, maid of
the woods. She roamed unfettered
and fearless through the dense forest,
bringing down with her tipped arrow
the fieetest bird. There was a spice
of coquetry in this bright little lady of
nature, a charm of inconstancy that
wooed whilst it maddened her dusky
suitors. She was lawless and capric-
ious, bewitching and shy. There was
smile of dark beauty on her brow,
and careless command on her lips
that none dared disobey. She was the
expectancy Of the nation, and ruled it
by her charming whims. She graced
the rude dances and planned their
cherished rambles. In truth she was
a second Laughing Water, Minneha-
ha, who plated mats offags and rush.
es." There were two lovers which her
lady-ship could not decide between,
two that alike attracted her. She ad-
mired both, laughed at their coarse
wit and sanctioned their inelegant
wooing. Her father yielding to every
wish, left the decision with herself. 1t
puzzled this queenly little savage, this
second Minnehaha, to choose her
Hiawatha. At last her quick intellect
devised plan by which chance should
decide and fate act as umpire. She
was to station herself on the bank of
the river and hold in her hand small
bird that was to be unloosed ata given
time The contestants were to stand
together and simultaneously shoot
their arrows, and the one who killed
the bird should claim her hand. The
evening came; bright June evening
with the breeze redolent with the per-
fume of Springs wild flowers. The
river murmured by with a soothing
song, and the swallows dipped their
sable wings in the ripping tide. Myr-
lad June bugs with low, lazy buzz
hummed in the long grass. The gen.
tians spread their blue banner on the
smooth sward, and trailed down to the
reeds and ferns on the waters brow.
The days journey of the sun was al
most at a close and the declining rays
fell slantingly athwart the moss-cover-
ed rocks of the blaff. To the left, on
a pallet Of fur, sat the Chief and faith
er, surrounded by his low browed,
dusky warriors. In the back ground
sat the women with an eager, wistful
expression on their repulsive counten-
ances. Together on jutting rock
that rose high above the others, and
extended quite a distance over the
river stood the rivals. A sullen savage
smile rested on the cynical features,
and from under the darkened brows
cleaned the eyes bright with underlined
fear. Below them stood the young
Chieftainess, a smile Of triumph dimp
ling the red cheeks and sparkling in
the quick bright eyes. The petite
figure was draped in heavy crimson,
aud on the smiling brow was feather
ed crown. She held in her hands the
little bird that carried upon its quiyer-
ing wings the weight of her destiny.
Upon this fragile songster hung her
doom, her veal She pressed it to her
bosom and smoothed its trembling
wings. Soon those little wings would
lie cold and lifeless in death the
twinkling eye that glanced fearfully
up into hers would soon be glazed for
ever. Why should she hush its notes
for such strife2 Why not decide
for herself and let the bird warble on
Gods praises. She glanced at the
rivals. They stood regarding her
jealously, and in that brief moment
there flashed through her heart wild
love for one, and cruel maddening
hatred for the other. Suppose his
arrow should pierce that delicate bird
heart; life would then be joyless, sun
less. She was almost persuaded to
give it up, and clasp to her heart her
chosen, her King, but pride rose up
and stiAed loves wish, and with trem-
ulous voice she counted, one, two,
three, and released the captive bird.
He fitted away frightened, and both
arrows came whizzing toward him.
The rejected ones arrow flew HARM
lessly by, whilst her lovers entered its
delicate wing and broughtit quiverlng
and stricken to his feet. In an instant,
in the twinkling Of an eye, the defeated
rival flung his arms around his sue
cessful peer, and writhing and wrest-
ling they staggered from the rock down
into the still, deep water. There came
a dull sound of heaving waves, and
then all was still. The vanquished
for loves sake had sacrificed life rath
er than behold his idol the bride of
another, and her Hiawatha found
tomb in a yielding, ripping couch.
The maid gave up all whilom gayeties,
and only frequented the still river in
light frail boat. She was found there
by Aurora's first blushing gleam, and
still fingered until beams haunt
ed the water palace and the liquid
grave. She rocked ever in light boat
over the spot where her lover had gone
down. She was his spirits bride,
keeping lone, sad vigil over his tomb.
One night she fingered longer than
was her wont and her father going
down to the water to search for her,
found that a swift angel had touched