The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-04-23
Written for the Free Trader.
THE MYSTERY.
BY DIR. STEISWAY.

uWelt IN the dellGnuuI penlnsuiS VI rioi'""
lovely Indian maiden whose name was Guam
diana, and her fathers name Oporto (Bisknlfe'
boohool, very famous on the war.path ana
with the bow and arrow, as well as an expert
boatman Many and many time had Guam
diana accompanied her father over the plains
and through the swamps and down the rivers
of her native Florida with their darker com
pan,ons. For not only was Guandiana OF a
light olive complexion, but her father was
still lighter and had the least bit OF rcsem.
blance to the noble white man, in short. was
decidedly Spanish IN the contour of his phiz.
Now Guandana was not only very beauti'
full and fond of feathers and diamonds and
such trumpery, but had lover who although
of dark copper color and high cheek bones
and piercing black eyes, yet he had noble
form, an eagles gaze, and being perfect IN
every manly sport, he held high contempt
for all suffering and toll, and was always for
tunate in every wild pursuit or on the war
path.
Now 1t Just so happened that Oporto, the
chief, and mis- braves, among whom was wal
hoopa, the lover of Guandiana. not content that
the noble pale face should occupy all of his
lowery land, took occasion to check him &C.
caslonally by various predatory excursions
among their people. And 1t was always OBJ
servable that after these little pastimes
Walhoopa had consplcuously displayed at
his belt goodly number Of longhaired
scalps. Now it CHANGED after one OF these
skirmishes, and Walhoopa had returned vic
torious as usual that he paid a visit to his tar
lady love on the bank of lovely lake called
Wokula, from the famous springs from
whence it drew its wealth of clear, blue wa
ters.
Walhoopa approached the maiden cautious
ly, and surprised her in not exactly poetical
or studied posture, for she was on her knees
beside the clear water, and after gazing at her
pretty self in natures mirror, she would with
her fair right hand take up the limpid waters
and allow the pearly drops TO dist! through
her lovely long fingers, and as the little wave
lets flowed away the maiden seemed lost in
thought
Bat soon her quick ear caught the soft tread
of her lover and she inclined her head just a
little to listen, and when moment later he
bounded towards her, no doubt intending to
clasp the beauty to his throbbng bosom, she
quickly arose, and as a startled bird takes
wing and scars away, so Guandiana spread
forth her fair arms, and bounding some eight
feet out into the lake she quickly reached 8
small island. Nothing daunted WalhOops
dashed after her, and a few mastery strokes
brought him near the island. But his fair one
having reached the shore, tdrned upon him
and as he approached she took occasion to de
LUCE his face and head with showers raised by
her ready hands and deft fingers. At length
amid all opposition, the young brave made
the landing and revenged himself upon the
water spr,te by giving her "A few bear like hugs
and ending by kissing her exquistely beauti
full, saucy mouth. And like wel,behavec
lovers, they took seats upon an immense cy
press log and held long and animated dis
course.
At length the conversation, conducted II
their native tongue, turned upon the late raio
upon the white settlement at Tallahassee
since famous city IN Leon county. Wal
hoopa gave thrilling account of the raid anc
of the fierce battle with the settlers. They
had sat perhaps an hour IN earnest converse
ton, and now Walhoopa was displaying the
trophies at his waist There was among then
a scalp attached to which was long, fair mass
of golden hair, and Walhoopa held il up fol
his lady love to admire. And the beautiful
sunshine fell upon the golden mass, just as {
stalwart young man with rifle in hand made
his appearance on the very spot so lately occu
pied by the lovers. He was quickly followed
by twenty other young men with rifles anc
long knives at their belts
1t was but the work of moment for tn,
foremost young man to raise his rifle to hi
shoulder, and in another instant the young
brave would have lain dead upon the shore o
the island, had not Guandlana, with the in
stinct of her Spanish ancestors, thrown hersel
IN front of her lover.
The young man, with chlvaleric courtesy
lowered his rifle, and to the young brave, Th'
had now risen, he went through with the fol
loving pantonlme: He laid his rifle fiat up
on the ground and held up above his head
long, savage-looking knife, and waving 1t IL
the air he pointed toward the brave and dowI
to the earth at his feet. The brave seemed t
comprehend his meaning, and taking out hi
own knife he waved 1t above his head, ant
with his left hand dropped his pack of arrow
TO the earth
The young white man was Eben Holdings
worth, native OF Three Rivers, Canada East
He was sent south by his parents five year
previous to avoid, If possible, the fell destroy
or consumption, that had cut down all his 81!