Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-02
THEISDIAN'S WHITE WIFE.

relative who resided near the
springs, whose popularity reputed
health giving waters annually attracted
crowds of visitors. The season wsG at
its height. The hotels were filled with
pleasures seekers, while nervous IN
valids sought for more quiet accomo-
dations in private families.
The principal spring was surrounded
bg beautiful grove, underneath whose
ample shade were exposed for sale the
various products of the Indian wo-
mans skillful fingers, which often
commanded an exhorbitant price.
Some of these girls were very pretty
and picturesque in their gpy costumes,
s.Id th cir stands were wen patronized
by tie wealthy visitors.
| was especially attracted by and IN
terested in the inmates of little caon
further up the hill, which consisted of
a stalwart Indian, whom | always
found seated near the door, making
bows an! arrows of the most skillful
workmanship, and his white wife,
really beautiful woman, with flashing
black eyes and skin but slightly
tinged by the exposure OF her out-of-
door life She wore moccaslns en-
broidered with beads, a short gay
skirt, trimmed fringe of feathers, and
a scarlet blanket thrown about her
graceful shoulders. The whole cos
tune became her well, and to me was
strangely fascinating.
Three children, with something of
their mothers beauty and their fathers
grave and taciturn demeanor, played
about the door; but though the mother
provided for their simple wants, |
never observed her caressing or fond
ling them rs mothers usually do. |
have my full share of womanly curlos-
ity, and never before had il been so
thoroughly aroused. Besides, | was
only 1G then nd somewhat romantic
withal, so dreamed Of my heroine,
as fancied her by day and by night,
and talked about her to everyone
whose att ntion | could command or
who seemed in the least Interested.
Among the bosrders in my friends
family was gentleman apparently
about 40 years OF age, though his hair
and heavy beard were thickly sprinkled
with gray. His eyes were dark and
piercing, and his whole manner pecu-.
liarly nervous and restless. Every
day he took his station near the prin-
cipal spring, at the hour prescribed by
fashion for her devotees to imbibe in
the waters, peeripg eagerly into every
beautiful face as il striving to discover
some long lost friend; but invariably
returning home sad and detected, and
remaing for some time in the solitude
of his own room. We all fanced him
slightly demented, and were somewhat
shy of his acquaintance.
To my surprise he listened earnestly
to all my rhapsodies about my beautl-
full friend, and finally expressed wish
to accompany me to her cabin. | CON.
scented, hoping to introduce a good GUS
toner for the articles she and her
husband manufactured, and said, play.
fully as we approached the cabin;
~ believe this woman could tell n
strange story and you must help me to
unravel the mystery"
The little ones darted shyly behind
the cabin, and the Indian gave his
usual grunt rs we entered. My
1rleIu WIS StatSo upon piott
mat, busily plating Il brooch of deli
cate fibres. She looked up at me with
a smile but the moment her eyes fell
upon my companion Il strange express
sion fitted across her features and she
waved us back, imperiously as any
queen might have douei but finding
that my companion stood fixed i'm
movably to the spot her look and tone
changed to intense and imploring sup
plication, and with clasped, appraised
hands she waited out:
raymond Raymond Morris, what
do you here? Oh, will you not leave
me2"
laid my hand lightly upon his ar m,
hoping to break the spell that bound
him, but the muscles were rigid as
iron. The Indian alope was imper-
turbable, only giving utterances, at in
tervals, to short gutteral sound, ex-
pressive of dissatisfaction. stood
trembling with terror, and my beauti-
tut friend bowed her head upon her
hands, while Raymond Morris white
lips strove for articulation,
"Julial My lost Juliet" came at last
Ms from the depths of a breaking heart,
and with feeble, uncertain steps he left
the cabin, walking silently by his
side, for his countenance repealed all
inquiry and forbade the expression OF
sympathy.
Neither of us visited the spring TIL e
next day, but toward evening Ray
mond Morris entered the parlor, and
seating himself before me, without
preliminary remark, said:
"Miss Fanny, | have got favor &c
ask of you. Promise me that you vii
endeayor to procure me another in
terview with the woman we saw yester-
day. / mustsae her again yet would
not go unbidden. | have known hel
in other happier years; she was the
betrothed of my youth, whom | have
sought long and vainly until now. She
told me that she was married. married
to her own free choice-but, O, never
dreamed of this!'
Raymond Morris bowed his pale
face upon his hands, then, raising his
head, said, earnestly:
"You will assist me? Promise me