The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-03-14

"Oh, about YOURSELF, l said, trem-
bling ut my own boldness. Haven't
you had soine little romantic episode
in your life among the Indians ?
have always felt secret sympathy for
them, andyou have been among them
so much"
81 never like to tell of myself" she
said, turning her attention to some
pretty fancy-work she had in hand.
:" for sometimes you must tell things
that look like boasting, and one don't
like to be conspicuous, even to ones
self; but then again"--and she smiled
a little sadly sometimes think |
should be happier if could talk over
the old times, even if there were some
heartache in them"
She placed her work aside, and rose
as she said:
81 have something / wish to show
you first
She went to an old-fashioned cabinet
and from one of its hooks drew a small
package, which she unwrapped, hand
ing me picture framed simply in four
strips of Indian bark.
"Why, yours, of course-and it is
very good-only the dress $50
much"
younger" she said, smiling.
Yes, l was only sixteen when that
was taken twelve years ago"
"But your face has not grown a
minute older" said, bluntly.
"You think so, perhaps, but l know
better / am no beauty, and flatter
myself Iknow just how | look, and,
certainly, my face is not as fair, my
eyes as blue, or my cheeks as red as
they were then. Still, plain as | was,
! was always a favorite with the
Indians. More than one brave, more
than one chief, has offered my father
horses and wampum and land in eX-
change for me, even when L was
scarcely more than a child-and when
| grew older l was never allowed to 60
anywhere unattended. The picture
you hold in your hand was painted by
an Indian"
How strange p said, with a secret
admiration of the delicate work.
"Why stranger" she said. There
is a great deal of talent, even genius,
among them, if it could only be culti-
waited. They are much like other peo-
pie; poverty and ignorance keep them
down."
Then she plunged into the story:
"When l was a child there was a
rumor rife that some Indians of Mad
River had murdered one of the agents
under peculiarly aggravated circum-
stances. Nobody could prove it for a
certainty, though it was probably true.
One night several white men belong
ing to the post surprised IA small camp
of that tribe, and not only tortured,
but murdered them, with their chief.
Just then some soldiers rode up,
headed by my father. The murderers
then had the chiefs son, lad of only
ten years, under torture. My father
not only eXpostulat5d, but arrested the
ngleaders-there were five Of them
and, speaking kindly to the boy, who
had thrown himself upon the old
chiefs body, he did everything that
could be done under the cir
cumstances, and sent him
to his tribe under guard. Meantime,
the men who had practiced such need
less cruelty were tried and punished
but eventually set at liberty. One year
from that day not one of those guilty
men was living, save Il sutler who had
taken almost superhuman precautions
to keep out of harms way. One 10y one
they had been singled out, some al
their hearthstOnes, some on their routes
of business--one after the other as they
took precedence 10y age-till only
Gregory, the storekeeper, was left.
lone day heard great hue ant
cry. My father had sent me 70 one o.
the lieutenant's quarters on Some sim
pie errand was well grown girl o
twelve, and tall for my age, Looking
up, ! saw a cloud of dustT in the dis
tance, and heard pistol shots in quick
SUCCESSION. / ran back TO my fathers
, quarters, but before / reached them
saw an Indian lad covered with BLOOD
and flying before a small army of pur
, suers. His strength was evidently fail
, ing, for he ran unsteadiiy, and il
another moment had fled into TIE quar-
ters where we lived, My first impuls
was TO shield him, and l tried first t,
, lead, then to drag, him into the house
but the effort was unayailing. lie wa
? too weak to move and his pursuer
were upon him, apparently thirsting 70
T. his blood, and crying out, Shoot tn
s Indian devil 2
"Finally-it was all could do
, stood my ground anu covered the bo
4 us well rs / was able. They dared no
r fire for fear of wounding me, an
4 presently my father came out, disperse
the crowd, and had the boy carried il
j. doors, where the surgeon attended {
: his wounds"
Did he die?" asked, as she pauseC
e looking into vacancy.
h "No, he lived; though the only ma
O who had been spared. as vet, of all VIII