West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-04-03
An Indian Romance.

In the old times whea Cleveland was
very young, the settlers along the lake
shore had much more communication with
the aborigines than whites. Long rows of
canoes, instead of steamers were wont IL
lie along the shore where the Union Depot
now stands and the railroad runs, and the
traffic was in blankets, beads, venison and
furs, instead OF wheat, iron, coal and pc
uoleum. There were winding paths IN
stead Of streets, and wigwams and log
cabins were the business blocks and dwell
ings. Natural forests were the parks, and
while there was no grand water works. the
Cuyahoga was uncontaminated by vile
sewage.
One bright afternoon in the autumn of
A. ID. IS, there came into the village a
neat-appcarlng squaw, apparently % years
of age, with 1.-the, half-breed boy Of 10,
who either walked beside her or capered on
before. The little settlement was unusu-
ally active upon that day. and the October
sunlight rested upon scene of surprising
beauty The lake and the landscape were
silver and gold and the skies were blue and
amber, and the Indians were gay IN their
holiday attire of feathers and bright
blankets.
The face of the young Indian woman
bore an expression of sad anxiety, that was
quite in contrast with the brightness around
her She did not mingle with the crowds
OF Indians, but sat down near the entrance
TO the principal trading house and while
surveying the motley scene, talked kindly
and soberly with those who spoke to her.
There was something in the appearance
and demeanor of the Indians which showed
that they regarded this as an important day.
Their gay attire, the almost complete alb
sence of weapons among them, their com
parative silence toward the whites, their
freedom and sportiveness among them
selves, all went TO teach the experienced
observer OF Indian character that they
were moved by some uncommon though
undisclQsed purpose.
After her arrival had ceased to attract
attention the young squaw passed quietly
into the store, the boy remaining outside
playing with his red companions. AS soon
as she could do so unobserved, she stroled
as if inadvertently, to the rear of the store
where, in partial concealment she caught
the traders eye He knew from her glance
that her signal must be needed AS he
contrived 10 come close 20 her she commu-
nicated to him the plot Of the Indians.
They will all pretend to go home to-
night but they will not 60 home They
will come back i'm the night They want
your goods. If you will give them up,
they will not kill you, if you fight they
will kill you. / shall be with you.''
Having said this she sauntered slowly
out, with "a face sadder than before. and
resumed her former scat. Soon the boy
came near her, and she whispered 10 him
secretly. He went into the store, where a
number of squaws were pretending to
trade, and stood, as If by mere chance,
where she who sent him stood. The
trader, still busy, came close to him and
whispered the names Of certain white men
of the village. The boy soon slrOlled ont
to his play again, but somehow sport
seemed 20 take him near and into the shops
OF the men whom the trader had men
toned He would give the chief trader's
name secretly, with an intimationof danger
and then go wandering on with his play.
Ing. His mOmentous little task was soon
accomplished, and the shouts Of himself
and his fellows were soon cchOing again i'm
front OF the store Of the chief trader
The sunbeams were nearly as level as
The lake, when the Indian woman, beck
oning 10 her happy prDfege, began 90 lOitcr
toward the trail by which size came; one
heart how light, aud the other oh how
heavy They kept the way until well out
Of sight, then lfet 10 and took a circuitous
course, stopping finally at q wigwam upon
the shore about one mile eastward from
the village
John Morton was the foremost trader in
the village, intelligent, Trustworthy, and "a
leader among his fellow settlers so that
when warning Of danger with thc sane.
ton Of his name went round 90 "a certain
rusty few, there was a certainty of prompt
and ctiectuai response
AZ sundowu the Indians beran 10 de-
part, and by dusk not one remained I'm fbc
village As soon as darkness had scttled
The few who had been warned assembled In
Morton's store for consultation 10 was
not many minutes before % rap was heard
which Morton readily recognized as that of
thc woman Uf whom wc have spoken By
her devotion and fidelity She had saved
him from many dangers and many losses
She was admitted and began 800 once to- re-
veal the Indians plans iu detail ~ was
not their intention To- make % sencra at
tack their designs were only upon Nor.
tons store. They expected 90 find him
sleeping In the little apartment of the
main room, tcrrify him Into acquicscence.
ransack The establishment and carry of