The Osceola times., 1878-06-15

approach and stoop their heads TO her
shoulders, a familiarity which no act OF
hers had taught them 10 fear.
The Indians named her "Wauban,"
or "The Early Dawn" from the re-
semblance of her complexion to the
tints of the early morning, and by all
the white settlers and hunters she was
knewn rs "The Rose of Rock River,
from her suggesting the color OF the
Michigan or prairie rose, which then
grew in wild luxuriance all over that
country.
Time passed on, and the herds of Capt.
Graham increased and dotted the wide
prairies. One day in early October, some
half century or more ago, when a large
contract, which Capt. Graham had msde
with the government OF the United
States, for the delivery Of a large mum
Der of beet cattle for the western military
posts, was to be fulfilled, his herd OF cat
tie roaming at large over the prairie
could nowhere be found. Horsemen
we're sent out and secured the country
in every direction from Lake Winnebago
to Pilot Knob, but the animal could no
where be found. After many days spent
in fruitless search, the young Chief We
no. nah visited lockwood farm and
| learned OF the misfortune. Young
Graham casually said to the chief: If
you and your braves will find and drive
home our cattle, you shall have my sis.
ter, Wauban, for your wife, your squsw."
He said this in joke, and with no idea
that We-no nah would understand him
as being in earnest. The Indian soon
departed, and within few days returned,
in company with dozen warriors, driv-
ing before them the lost herds. Young
Graham had forgotten his idle words,
and he, his father and the beautiful
| Wauban herself, warmly expressed their
thanks and gratitude for the service. The
party of Indians, after partaking of the
hospitality of "Rockwood" took their
leave and were not seen for many days.
But the words of young Graham had
sank deep into the heart OF the chief
from that time no week passed in which
there was not found near the door lead
ing to her room, or beneath the window
of the Rose of Rock River" every deli
cacy within the reach of an Indian hun
ter; venison of the richest quality, birds
of every variety, the wild turkey, the
grouse, the partridge and the quail were
abundantly offered. Occasionally We>
nc nah would present himself, bring
ing game and birds Of beau
tirul plumage; and rs the cold
of winter approached and came, he
brought furs, the skins of the buffalo and
the bear; the squirrel, the gray fox and
the beaver; all we're literally offered
and kindly and gratefully received, all
unconscious OF heirpeculiar significance.
This mode of Indian courtship continued
during the winter, and when spring
brought the early flowers, the young
chief, having seen that Wauban always
wore them and was very fond OF them,
, sought them far and near, and the most
beautiful and the most fragrant she con-
seauty found under her window or at
her feet, the chief himself, with a
delicacy characteristic of his race, rarely
being seen in person.
One evening early in Jure Wauban
was awakened by hearing a song beneath
her window in the Ottawa tongue, which
she had learned from her intercourse
with the Indians-a song, the refrain OF
which might be rendered thus:
Awake waubaa, beautiful girl of the woods;
| Awake then, with the eyes Of the iawn,
Thy words are AS sweet AS the song Of the woodland
! thrash,
The next morning, looking up from
her sleep, she saw fastened to an arrow,
which hung in the ceiling, necklace
: of moss agate, wrought in gold; the
arrow had been shot through her open
window, and had penetrated the wall
above her bed. The letters of her
name-W-a.u- b-s-n-had been worked
into the necklace in gold, and be-
tween each letter was beautiful moss
agate. The young chief had learned
from the officers at Fort Mackinaw that
such offerings were not unusual among
the English from the lover to the
owed one. Hence. journeying to the
shores of Lake Superior, he had gath.
cred the stones, selecting the most
beautiful mess-agates, and these, by
the aid Of the officers, had been sent to
New York, had been set in gold, with
the letters OF her name interspersed.
aud had now been offered TO the Young
maiden. A few days later the young
chief was seen approaching the home OF
the Grshams, mounted upon black
horse without white hair In its shining
coat. and leading a pure white pony OF
the Indian breed. The animals were
perfect, and ornsmented with every de-
vice known to Indian taste and ingenuity
In place of the English saddle skins
beautifully dressed and painted with
Indian hieroglyphics were thrown over
the backs OF the spirited beasts The
young chief himself was decorated with
all that, to an Indian fancy, could add to
the dignity, grace and beauty of his
person; deerskn hunting shirt, erna-
mented with emblems, telling the story
OF his lite, his exploits in hunting and
in war brilliant with paint beads and
porcupine quills, covering his person;
he wore moccasins of deerskin and from
his head dropped the feathers of the
golden eagle; necklace of the claws OF
the bear and the wild cat encircled his
neck, while his arms, consisting of bow
and arrows, ride, tomahswk and hunting
knife, were in the most perfect condition
aud CLEANED brightly in the evening sun
No antique statue OF Greek or Roman
sculpture ever presented more perfect
and manly form. He was met, as he ap-
preached, by Captain Graham and his
son, whe received him with their usual
cordial welcome. Sprining to the
ground and throwing his bride to one
of the braves who attended him, he
bowed with grace and dignity to Captain
Graham, and said: "Weno>nah is a
great chief; he has come for his white
| snuaw. where ia WauLan tho tpro;,;a