The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-04
THE HAUNTED STREAM.


In one of the interior counties o
Pennsylvania there lies embosomed. II
wooded uplands, q sinuous and lovely
river, which, from time immemoriaI, ha!
been known as the Haunted Stream
The indians accounted for this name BY
q tradition that ages before, maiden o.
their race, who had been crossed in love,
had cast herself into its waters, and that
ever since her spirit might occasionally
be seen haunting its sylvan shores.
Such at least, was the legend that 9
bold and handsome young boroerel
heard, one bright morning about cen
tury ago, as he stood on the banks OF
this picturesque river with an Indian
companion. The old French war had
then just broken out, and as the frontier
settlements were disturbed with rumors
that the hitherto friendly savsges were
about to assume arms, Lieutenant Ro
chester, for our hero bore commission
IN the provincial army, had been dis
patched on scouting expedition. in
company with friendly Delaware.
ats pretty story, War Eagle
whether it be true or not" said the Dor
derer, Il never saw q lovller landscape,
But hist, what is THAR
As he spoke the faint dip of a paddle
was heard, and hardly hsd the two COM
psnions concealed themselves, when q
light canoe shot into sight around the
bend in the river. In few minutes the
fairy craft was near enough for Rochester
to discern that it was tenanted by a
young and beautiful female richly at
tired in a picturesque Indian costume.
When the canoe was nearly opposite
where the young man lay concealed, q
dexterous stroke of the paddle turned its
prov shoreward, and Immediately after,
with light and graceful step, its fair
occupant leaped ashore,
Rochester was for moment struck
dumb with amazement and admiration.
He had never seen any thing in his
whole life so beautiful as the vision that
now dawned npon him; and, flor awhile
he almost believed that he saw, not a
living creature, but the airy spirit that
haunted the spot. This idea was sus.
tanned bv the extreme fairness of her
complexion, which scarcely betokened
the Indian blood. But the illusion-for
such it was-soon faded. Scarcely had
the MYSTERIOUS visitant advanced half a
dozen steps, when she started and slightly
screamed. Rochester, following the d.
rectlou of her eyes, saw that his compan-
ion had emerged from his covert, and
was creeping stealthily toward her with
evidently hostile intentions.
At hearing her shrek, the savage
leaped to his feet, and drawing his tom
ahawk, rushed upon her. Rochester
dashed forward, but would have been too
late, if the Indian beauty had not fled
from her a;sa,lant, and, by fortunate
chance taken the direction toward our
hero. Thus the savage dare not hurl his
weapon lest he should lnjure his friend.
The fugitive, in her terror, did not see
Rochester at first, but when she did the
instinct OF safety caused her to rush un-
rejecting into his arms, where she lay
llkea frightened dove, helpless and pant
ing.
.'Put up your Ratchet, Delaware" cried
Rochester. This is my prisoner, and L
make no war on women; mucn less,' he
4dded internally, as he gaZed on the
lovely face silently pleading for pro.
lection, "much less on anything SO love
Iy.'
"My brother speaks WELL, replied the
savage chief, reluctantly; "But the
squaw is an enemy, and her people are,
perhaps, even now on our trail
What you say is true enough. no
doubt" answered Rochester, "but |
would rather run dozen risks of being
scalped than do harm to such pretty
bird as this. By my faith, War Eagle,
she is loylier than any girl of the settle
ments. | didn't think your race could
show anything so handsome. Who can
she ba?"
"The War Eagle has heard Of her, for
she is the child OF an ancient foe. She
is called the White Fswn, and is chief
tain's daughter. But the wigwams of
her tribe are far from this, and her pres
ence here betokens no good, for where
she goes "a hundredy warriors follow.
There will be, or has BEEN bloody work
down the Susquehanns. The White
Fawn is in the rear not in the front of
the war.psth."
"You r,ason rightly Delaware" said
the frank borderer; "but nevertheless,
we Christians hold 1t an article of faith
not TO BARN a woman. So, come life or
death, l shall free thi' pretty bird But
first speak to her, II you think she can
understand your lingo. Tell her she
can go where she lists, and that all Jack
Rochester asks is that she shall promise
not to betray us to her people"
During this colloquy the large, dark
ewes of the Indian girl, lustrous as those
OF an antelope, had been turned from
Rochester to War Eagle, and from the
latter back to the former. Once ortwlce
when the chief was speaking, she chung
closer to our hero, as il she comprehend.
ed that the Indian was her Toe and the
borderer her friend. When Rochester
finally announced his intention to set her
free. her ewes cleaned with indescribabie
.snd anticipating War
Eagles speech she pledged herself IN
broken English, te conceal the vl"lnlty
of the scouts from her people, and at the
same time, expressed in what Rochester
thought the most liquid tones he hsd
ever heard her gratitude TO him rs her
preserver.
"Wbite man will 60 awsy-wlll for
oct the Indian but-she viii! never
never forget him, she said with tears in
her eyes, ard, as she spoke, she seized his
hand, by sudden impulse, and kissed it,.
Then biushing at herself, she continued
with dignity. moving toward her canoe,
The young Yenghese brave has saved
the White Fawn's lie, and night and
morning she will pray to the Great
Spirit for him."
With these words she turned away,
and with a:quick,..hgGt step gained her
canoe, which in another moment, shot
into the middle OF the stream propelled
by her sskilful hand. Rochester watch
ed. with n sigh, till he heard the click OF
q rifle beside HIM Turning quickly he
beheld War Eagle abou 10 raise the
deadly weapon and take aim at the tug
tive. 1t was but the work of moment
to strike down the barrel; bu. the savage
/ .:.,r,,.,oJ .ha Indian GIRL eXDOs-