Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-04-22
An Indian Romance.

In the old times wheA Cleveland was
very young, the settlers along the lake
shore had much more communication with
the aborisines than whites. Long rows of
canoes, instead of steamers were wont u
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
troleum. 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 d. 1S-, there came into the village
neat-appearlng 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 resIed 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 CON-
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
undisclosed 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, sine strolled
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 to come close to her she commu.
ncated to him the plot of the Indians.
They will all pretend to go home to-
night; but they will not go home. They
will come back in the night. They want
your goods. If you will give them up,
they will not kill you, if you fight they
will kill you. l shall be with you"
Having said this, she sauntered slowly
-,@l, hofO
| resumed her former seat. Soon the boy
came near her, and she whispered to 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 strolled out
to his play again, but somehow sport
seemed to take him near and into the shops
of the men whom the trader had men
toned. He would give the chief traders
name secretly, with an intimatlon of danger
and then 60 wandering on with his play
| ing. His momentous little task was~soOn
accomplished, and the shouts of himself
and his fellows were soon echoing again in
| front of the store of the chief trader.
The sunbeams were nearly as level as
| the lake, when the Indian woman, beck
oning to her happy protege, began to loiter
toward the trail by which she came; one
heart how light, and the other oh how
heavy! They kept the way until well out
of sight, then lfet it and took a circuitoUs
course, stopping finally at wigwam upon
the shore about one mile eastward from
the village.
John Morton was the foremost trader in
the village, intelligent, trustworthy, and
leader among his fellow settlers; so that
when warning of danger with the sane
ton of his name went round to a certain
trusty few, there was certainty of prompt
and effectuaI response
At sundown the Indians began to de-
part, and by dusk not one remained in the
village. AS soon as darkness had settled,
the few who had been warned assembled IN
| Morton's store for consultation. 1t was
lot many minutes before rap was heard
which Morton readily recognized as that of
the woman of whom we have spoken. By
her devotion and fidelity she had saved
him from many dangers and many losses.
She was admitted and began at once to re-
veal the Indians plans in detail. 1t was
not their intention to make a general at
tack; their designs were only upon Nor
toms store. They expected to find him
sleeping in the little apartment off the
main room, terrify him into acquiescence,
ransack the establishment and carry off