The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-23
An Indian Romance.

TN THE old times when Cleveland
i was very young, the settlers along
the lake shore had much more commu-
nication with the Aborigines than the
whites. Long rows of canoes, instead
of steamers were wont to 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 petroleum. There were winding
paths instead of streets, and wlgwams
and log cabins were the business blocks
and dwellings. Natural forests were the
parks, and while there were no grand
water works, Cuyahoga was unconta-
minated by vile sewage.
One bright afternoon in the autumn
of A. D., Is, there came into the viii
lage neat-appearing squaw, apparently
25 years of age, with 1.-the, half-breed
boy of 10, who either walked beside her
or capered on before. The little settle
ment was unusually 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 an amber,
and the Indians were gay in their holi-
day attire of feathers and bright blank
cts.
The face of the young Indian woman
bore an expression of sad anxiety, that
was quite in contrast with the bright
ness 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, talking kindly and sober
ly with those who spoke to her.
There was something in the appear
ance and demeanor of the Indians which
showed that they regarded this as an
important day. Their gay attire, the al
most complete absence of weapons
among them, their comparative silence
towards the whites, their freedom and
sportiveness among themselves, all
went to teach the experienced observer
of Indian character that they were mov-
ed by some uncommon though undis-
closed purpose.
After her arrival had ceased to attract
attention the young squaw passed quiet
ly into the store, the boy remaining out
side playing with his red companions.
AS soon as she could do so unobserved,
she strolled, as if inadvertently, to the
rear of the store, where, in partial con-
cealment, she caught the traders eye.
He knew from her glance that her sig
nal must be needed. AS he contrived
to come close to her she communicated
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. shall be
with YOU"
Having said this, she sauntered slow
ly out, with sadder face than before,
and resumed her former seat. Soon the
boy came near her and she whispered
something to him secretly. He went
into the store, where anumber of squaws
were pretending to trade, and stood, as
if by mere cha re, where she who sent
him had stood. The trader, still busy,
came close to him and whispered the
names of certain white men of the vii
lage. 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 mention
ed. He would give the chief traders
name Sc cretely with an intimation of
danger, and then go storming on with
his playing. 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 their
way until well out of sight, then left it
and took circuitous course, stopping
finally at a wigwam upon the shore
about one mile eastward from the vii
lage.
n
John Morton was the foremost trader
in the village, intelligent, trustworthy,
and leader among his fellow settlers
so that when a warming of danger with