Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-07-16
A Romance of the Forest.

Inc IoIloWlhg hccounC OIL tne ccle-
brated Sioux chief Spotted Tail is from
advance sheets of General Brisbin's
book:
During the latter yeHrs Of the war
part of Spotted Tails family remained
for II time at Fort Laramie, and with
them was his favorite daughter yotiitg
girl just budding into womanhood. Tho
fort was then garrisoncd by companies
of an Ohio regiment of volunteer cavalry.
Among the officers of this regiment was
a young man of good appearancd and
pleasant manners, and with whom the
chiefs daughter fell in love. Her pas
sion does fiot seem to have becfi recip-
rocatcd by the voting soldier, and he did
all in his power to convince her he could
not marry her. and, therefore, it would
be wrong in him to pay bis. addresses to
her. But the infatuated girl would not
be convinced, and could not understand
why she, princess, and the daughter of
the most powerful chief on the plains,
was not suitable wife for the young
soldior, Day after day size would dress
herself with scrupulous care, and come
to the fort to see her beloved. It was
pitiable to observe her, as hour after hour
she would sit on the doorstep Of the
young officers quarters, waiting for him
to come out. At other times she would
follow him about the parade ground like
a dog, seeming perfectly happy if she
could only be fear him and enjoy tho
poor privilege of looking at him.
Spotted Tail, hearing of tie strange
conduct of his daughter, and deeply
mortified at her want of sclf.rcspcct,
FASTENED to the fort. and Putting her in
charge Of some kind friends, badc them
carry her off into the Rocky Mountains,
where a portion of his tribe dwelt, and
endeavored in every way to make her
forget her unfortunate love- She went
away meekly enough. but fell into deep
melancholy, from which no effort Of
friends could arouse her. Presently she
refused to take any food, and pinned away
to a mere skeleton.
One day n courier, whose horse was
white with foam, sought the great chief
and told him that his daughter was dy.
ing of a broken heart and wished to zee
him once more before she passed to the
happy spirit land Away over noun
tain and stream hurried The chief, and
paused not for food or rest until he had
reached the bedside of his beloved child.
He found her still alive but fast sinking,
and she bid him sit close beside her and
hold her hcsbless hands in bis while she
told him all her simple story of love and
suffering and broken heart. She said /
Il shall soon be at rest, my father, and
with those Of our kindred who have gone
before lii that beautiful land ] VIII
wait for you, and you will soon como 10
join me, dear father fqeyour locke aro
whitcned with ycufs Of care, you aro
fast growing old aud tired You are q
great cBeif and have yet many warriors,
but the pale faces are more numerous
than the leaves of the forest, and / pray
you to cease from warning with them.
Spare your people, my cllief, rest little
while in peace, and you will have reach
cd the end Of your journey Of life, and
come to join me in the happy home to
which am now going. The pale faces
are his people, and between you and
them | hope war will never come again.
And, o, my father, and my chief, when
| am dcad take my poor. wasted body
and lay it on the hill beside the fort
where learned to love 20 WE'LL" Tho
pulselcss hand grew cold rs the great
chief promised his child all she asked of
him, then the lustrious eyes glazed over,
the thin lips ceased to move, the smile
fed from the wasted face, and the In
dian girl was dead.
The hcart-brolSen chief bid the attend
ants dress tho body of the princess for
burial, and on the shoulders Of stout
warriors it was carried to Laramie and
laid to rest among the pale faces, one of
whose race she had SO fatally loved.
Her grave is still pointed out to the tray
eler, and there it will long remain n
monument Of the saddest story Of tho
plains. Spotted Tail often speaks Of his
dead daughter with aGcctionatc remem-
brancc. and once In great counsel held
with The whites at Laramie he snid
"Werc not the hopclessncss Of resistance
and the dictates Of policy sufficient to
restrain me from acts Of war. the pledge
/ made to my dead child in her dying
hour would cause me TO keep peace with
your people"