The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-10-12

crowded the floor; but the prettiest
dancer in the room was one little Indian.
fMinnehaha" she called herself. The
costume was pretty and unique. Deeked
of with profusiOn of bright beads and
feathers, gayly ornamented moccasin
slippers, and the long, heavy plaits OF
black hair hanging far below the own
er's waist. Altogether it was charm
ing, If not an entirely accurate study of
1 an Indian girl.
! AZ think recognize these, sweet
/ Minnehaha, whispered Z" Dundreary, "
taking up one of the long braids as he
! spoke, and drawing the little brown
hand through his arm for promenade,
"Do not be tso sure,'' returned the
maiden in a low tone. GAS you pale
faces are wont to call all dark maidens
'squaws,' should think it might be
difficult matter to pick out one individ-
ually in this assembly,"
"If this one little Indian were less
agreeable and charming in her manner
toward me, | might individualize still
closer, perhaps, and whisper her true
name, only the lady whose eyes shine
behind that mask hates 'red whiskers,'
and would never trouble herself to talk
to a stupid Dundreary!"
"Did Robert Sherwood tell you that?"
The mask was torn off now, and, step
ping out of the crowded room onto the
wide piazza, Rhoda Brent's flashing
eyes looked up into Philip Farnham's
face, demanding an answer.
Confidence for confidence. Did
Robert Sherwood tell you l called all
dark women sseuaws?'"
Then they both laughed in each
others eyes, and the moon shone down
brightly upon them, the sea softly muir
INJURED to them, and the summer night
stars twinkled merrily over their heads.
The 'affair' was all settled quite
amicably between them there; and
when, an hour later, Rob Sherwood
stepped out on to the piazza in quest of
his cousin and his friend, and beheld,
in the shadowy moonlight, Minnehaha's
dark tresses half hid behind Lord Dun
dreary's red whiskers, he came up to
them with a quizzical smile upon his
lips and whistled bar of the "Ten Lit !
tie Indians"
"Robert Sherwood, your cousin,
Rhoda Brent, has promised to be my
wife. In spite of the pains you seem to
have taken to prevent our liking one
another, you see we do, and | hope we
have your good wishes.''
"Ah!" cried Robert, starting back in |
mock surprise, and recklessly quoting |
in melo-dramatic tone: -. |
Bring net to thy lodge strange squaw
From the land OF the DacOtas,
There are feuds-
Here he looked sternly at Rhoda.
Phil laughed, and, taking Rhoda'S
hand in his, replied rs dramatically:
For that reason, if no other,
Would wed the fair Dacota,
That old feuds may be forgotten,
And old wounds be healed for ever;
Give me my wife this maiden,
Minnehaha, Laughing Water.
Let your heart speak, Minnehaha--
Bob continued to quote. Then Rhoda,
GO nothing willing nor reluctant" put
ting her two hands into Pills, answered
with blush and smile:
will follow you, my husband.
All the people at the beach-save Miss
Merton-thought it very good match;
and some declared they had predicted
it from the first day. Mrs. Sherwood
and her son congratulated themselves
upon the success of their well laid plans,
but Rhoda or Phil never dreamed that
they had been made to fall in love with
one another out of sheer contrariness
and pique.
In spite of the chagrin he felt at first,
when giving up his trip to the Adiron
dacks, he had come down to the beach
to be introduced to q "plain, little,
brown, nondescTipt girl,n Phil Farm
ham never regretted having done so.
And, although he still is profound ad-
mirer of the blonde style of beauty, there
is no woman in all the world so dear to
him as his One Little Indian!