The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-08
she would learn to regret his absence, and
hail his return with gladness.
Il ..... .,.a4 low, han II, fhia old hoanlr

nall MS reIurn WlCn glauueSS.
1t was just here beneath this old beech
trees shade, and gazing up the precipi-
tous activity of the "lover's leap" one
bright morning in the "moon of leaves"
(May,) while the dew drops were yet
diamonds on the grass, and decking with
glittering beauty the trees and flowers
of Cohuttah's forest bowers, that the
Princess Cohuttah was first seen by Don
Pedro, the youngest and best loved of
the brave Cavaliers who had followed the
fortunes of De Soto to the New World.
From the cloud-capped SUBMITS of
Cohuttah's mountains, the SHOWS of win
ter had melted away beneath the warm
influences of the Indian gheezis, filling
almost to overhowing the bosom of little
Sumac Greek, which danced and laughed
in ripping beauty and joy. The lark
carolled high in air, the little sparrow
chirped his grateful praise, the partridge
in the bush responded to his mate, the
squirrel leaped from tree to tree in wild
wood freedom and delight, and the mock
Ing bird-the bird of the, sunny South
catching the universal gladness, trilled
his sweetest, gayest songs.
Glad and gay, too, was the heart of the
maiden, Cohuttah, as she listened to. the
music of the woods, and felt her cheek
famed by the frequent breath of the
perfumed spring. Her rich,. dark beau
ty and her picturesque costume was in
graceful keeping with the spring-time
splendor. Her little feet, which tread
lightly and tenderly the delicate ferns
and MOSES of the valley, we're cased in
richly embroidered moccasins; she wore
short kirtle of crimson cashmere, and
jewel-hilted poinard was secured to her
side by yellow scarf, which girdled her
slender waist. Her dark beauty, and the
crimson and gold of her dress combining
the colors of Spain, she might very well
have been mistaken for Moorish mai
den. Her arms were ornamented with
bracelets of beads and shells; her head
and shoulders were adorned with garlands
of the mountain laurel and other wild
flowers, and by her side gambolled
gentle fawn, whose shy eyes with loving,
wistful glance, sought ever and anon the
bright, dark orbs of his mistress.
'Sancta Marial I have surely met
the beautiful euchantress of this New
World!" exclaimed a voice in accents
strange to the maiden's ear. She looked
up, and high above her, overlooking the
precipice, she distinguished young
brave, whose pale face and long beard
marked him follower of her fathers
friend, the brave and generous De Soto.
The heart of Connisauga's child knew
no such word as fear; beside, although
she understood not the meaning of the
words she had heard, Cohuttah's was
woman's heart; she possessed, too,
woman's quick eye, and could read and
comprehend quite we'll the language of
admiration. She gazed with innocent
and girlish delight upon the graceful
youth, who was making his way down
the steep mountain side, with an agility
which equalled that of her own light
footed braves. The youth assisted his
descent by catching and clinging from
bough to bough of the grand forest trees
which almost arched the little creek, and
finally using the tangled vines of mus
cadine as ladder, he scaled the trunk of
a kingly walnut, and stood within fifty
yards of the adn,iring Indian girl
Holding his plumed hat in his hand, his
bare head, with its long waves of silky
hair, showed to advantage the beauty of
his radiant face. Approaching her defer
entially, the knight made low obeisance
to the forest Princess in acknowledgment
of the power of woman's beauty wherever
found-whether in princely halls, in the
PEASANTS cot, or in the Indians forest
home.
The Princess acknowledged with grave
dignity the knights homage, but quickly
exclaimed: "Mush'ka'l mush'ka' P'-
Qook! lookD with the naivete of the
untutored savage, as beautiful grey
hound, bounding through the woods,
stood beside his master.
"Give, give" cried the excited girl,
using one of the few Spanish words she
had learned from her fathers braves.
Don Pedro led the dog to the maiden's
feet, and taking her hand, gently placed
it upon Carlos head, in token of the gift
bestowed; then, in soft Spanish accents,
he addressed the dog: ave have been
friends, Carlos, poor fellow, dear and
tried friends, but this gentle Sonora will
be more able to care for you than the
rover Don Pedro, for already our devoted
band number only half as many as when
we left the olive and pomegranite groves
of our loved Spain" Then, addressing
the maiden in half-framed Indian SEN
tences, he begged her to be kind "to
Carlos, poor Carlos, good dog, brave
dog" He made her repeat the name
"Carlos" until she had quite caught the
soft-howing accent of his Spanish tongue.
With a gracious dignity which well
became Chieftain's daughter, Cohuttah
invited the knight to return with her to.
her fathers wigwam. There he was
kindly welcomed by the noble Connisau-
ga, who was as much charmed as his