Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-28
NO.. $50.
For the Journal
THE INDIANS REVENGE.
BY GIPsEY WILDE.


II is beautiful place; a small clearing
in one of the western territories. In the
back, the Black Hills lo0med up, dark and
gloomy. dressed in dark green pines. and
the giant. icy rocks. which sat like dia-
dem on their frowning brows; and nearer
could be seen the spires and domes Of q
large city, on the shores of . noun
tain lake. On the left, the forest stretched
away in almost unbroken density and
far. far away in the distance could be
seen the smoke rising from burning vol
cano. In front, deep. broad stream,
whose waters were so smooth that every
object was duplicated in its clear depths,
flowed gently on, over its polished pebbles
;; winding in graceful curves among the
hills. giving no sign of the angry whirl-
pool formed by its waters, as they dashed
over the rocks, scarce ly mile farther on.
Bright flowers grow among the reeds and
grasses to the waters edge, and beautiful
vines trail their green leaves over the
rocks that lay along the shore. In the
centre OF this clearing, stood rudely con-
structed cabin, in which lived old LelOup,
the friendly Indian, his wife and one
daughter; dusky, dark-eyed maiden Of
eighteen. the idol of her parents.
A little above the home of old Leloup,
stood an old hut, formerly used by the
miners, but which then stood vacant. To
this hut there came one spring morning,
solitary white man who brought with
him his coffee and bacon and what utensils
were needed for few weeks stay among
the mountains. He was a short, thick
set man of middle age. with. dark
hair, and dark gray eyes; he had firm
mouth and chin, and an air Of su-
periorty, which rendered him noticeable
in any society. Rupert Moreland had
come to the cabin of old Leioup, in
the early summer, and together they had
eaten salt, and smoked the pipe of peace.
He seemed to be an explorer in search OF
gold; most Of his earnings were spent in
the cabin of old Leloup. From the first,
he had shown great interest in the pretty
Winonah. and she had disliked him from
the first moment she had seen his darkly
cynical eyes fixed upon herself. He fol-
lowed her persistently and on every occa-
sion she avoided him.
One day, when old Leloup was out on a
hunting expedition. the women were
busted with household duties, when, glanc.
ing from the door, Winonah saw Moreland
ARRhOoOAluAs AAC CutCICu kuC N00luy 0uO
took his accustomed seat by the wide fire.
nah's dislike, said but little, merely an
swering his questions. Winonah was ST.
lent. Soon Moreland became impatient,
and abruptly stated bis errand, which
was to obtain Winonahs promise to
be his wife. She refused gently but firm.
ly; at this, he became infuriated, and
seized the girl roughly about the waist.
Her mother now came to her aid, begging
the man to release her daughter. She
was repulsed with an oath, but again, on
her knees, entreated him to have mercy;
the next instant she lay dead before them,
pierced to the heart by ball from the
brute's pistol. At the sight Of her moth
er's dead face Winonah tainted. More
land laid her on a rough settee, and then
bore the murdered woman to the brook,
and weighing the body, TO prevent its be-
ing washed on shore, he threw it far out
into the stream, and, with brutal laugh,
returned to the cabin. Winonah was just
returning to consciousness. She was Or
dered to prepare herself for long jour.
ney; he then fired the cabin, and at once
set out. hoping to be well on his way be.
fore the hunters return.
When Leloup returned, he found his
home in ashes. and no sign of his wife or
child to be seen. He. supposing 1t to be
the work Of some prowling Indians, went
to the miners hut to solicit aid.
The hut was deserted. No words can
describe his dsmay. He was unwilling to
believe, yet he could have have no doubts,
as to whom the traitor was; and he went
back 10 where his cabin had SO lately stood.
and there by the smoking pile. vowed to
avenge the wrong. He then began to look
for some trace of the villain. He soon
found the trail. which he knew to have
been made only short time before. and
followed it untiringly until night came on;
he then made his camp for the night, and
having partaken of his frugal supper. ex-
his fire. and waited for the
dawn OF another day, that he might fol-
low, more easily, the trail of the serpent.
For weeks. months, and years, he followed
the villain, now losing all trace of him.
and now coming close upon him.
So two years had gone by. when he
found the place where his dark-eyed
daughter had been buried. Over her
grave he let fall the first tears he had shed
for many a day. Then he picked up his
rifle, and again took the trail of her MUIR
derer. For many more years LelOup fol-
lowed Rupert Moreland, when suddenly
he lost all trace of him. Five years from
the day on which he had begun his long
pilgrimage, he found himself again near
the place where his home had once been.
As he approached the clearing. he saw
human figure leaning against q tree.
short distance from the grass-grown heap.
which marked the spot where his dwell
ing had once stood. As he came nearer,
he recognized the destroyer Of his peace.
His eye lit with savage glee, and his
hand sought his knife, which he clulched
nervously. But soon he grew calmer,
and creeping stealihily up behind his vic
tim, dealt him heavy blow with the butt
OF his rifle. The man fell without groan;
then. STOPPING, Leloup bound him hand
and foot, and calmly awaited his return to
He had not long to wait.
Moreland soon revived, and begged tor
mercy of the man. whom, five years be-
fore, he had so deeply wronged. But lie.
loup was relentless; he bore the wretched
man to where the stream quickened. and
the small whirlpools told OF the deadly
sweeping toward the tnlls: