Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-03-16
Snowville Va. March 9th. 1876.
Written forthc HERALD AND TRIBUNE.
"A Texas Story"
By II. s.

On the western wilds of Texas dwell,
Morton with his two children, Helen and
Arthur aud an old negro named
Ned. Mr.. Morton had lost a wife aid
two children while living in the village
of--and being Of a saving disposition,
he emigrated to Texas, and reaching the
frontiers built a neat little cottage and
took up his abode several miles from any
other habitation.
At the time our story commences
Helen was about sixteen and Arthur
twelve years old. The former was tall,
slender. and beautiful, with eyes pos.
sessing a rich brown ~lustre, that glowed
aud sparkled with enthusiasm. Arthur
was dark completed. and very brave for
one 81 young.
The two had beautiied their home by
planting flowers in their yard and garden
which they had gathered from the
prairie.
One afternoon in tie early part of the
spring, Helen started for a stroll to
search for early flowers that were be-
ginning to open. The evening was lovely
being guided by the ''god o: day
Helen wandered on, plucking a flower
here and there and placed into a little
basket which she carried on her arm.
After gathering a great many different
kinds she conc luded to stop and arrange
them into nosegays. She accordingly
found a large fat stone by the side Of a
clear stream of water. Here she Seated
herself and emftying the contents Of b er
basket into her lap she commenced her
pleasant task. She was SO intent upon
her work that she did not notice a so Il
step behind her. At last the dark form
came closer ana closer and Selling bis
opportunity, grasped her firmly by the
arm, which so frightened her hat she
came near fainting. Looking up to see
who the Intruder was she preceived the
dark form of an Indian by her sid e. She
uttered a piercing cry but was soon
hushed by a rough hand bel G placed
over her mouth. Apprehensions of evil
we're now beginning to Turk around her.
Withdrawing his baud from her mouth,
the Iudian in broken english asked her
if her name was He len Morton ; with a
frightened voice she told him it was, at
the same time pointing toward her home.
He thea uttered a shrill kind of wlis>
tie and three other Indians made their
appearance from a clump of bushes that
stood neal. Helen asked him to let her
60 home as it was getting late aud her
father would be uneasy about her.
mot SO fast my pretty maiden l have
been waiting for several weeks for q
favorable opportunity to capture you, and
claim you as my own, for when l first
saw you | was perfectly bewildered with
your beauty and now that | have you,
the great desire Of my heart is accom-
pliShed."
BY this time the other three Indians
had arrived leading ponies. Helen's
greatest fear was now realized I: she look
cd ~anxiously toward her little home, far
in the distance she could SEQ the blue
smoke curling over the house and the
thought, twill I ever cross the threshold
again 7" entered her mind.
Falling on her knees before the
Indians, with blanched cheek and tear.
drops trembling on her long eye-lashes
she implnred them 70 release her saying
at the same time that her father would
recompenss them. One Of tho Indians
was touched by her appeal and would
willingly have set her free. had it net
been for ono who first encountered her.
He declared that be would not let her 90
aud warned her at the peril of her life
that she should be silent. The Indian
mounted his pony and she was lifted to
his arms by n Of the others, and was
soon being borne swiftly over the prairie
with hepe dying out o! her heart.