Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-11-10

! y
squaW."
In vain mother tried to convinc,
him that father was not in earnest
and the pale faces did not sell thei
daughters: that Helen was not suit
ed to grace an Indians wigwam
and that she could not possibly
spare her.
He stood stoically in the oper
doorway, with his blanket wrapped
tightly around his tall. 1.-THE form
When she had finished, he turned
to Helen, and said, commandingly
"Get ready-squaw no know
father say sop
AT which she began 10 cry, and
Chitaqua looked blacker than be-
fore; bnt he showed no signs of re-
lenting.
Things began to look rather dubi-
Gus, and it is doubtful where the
controversy would have ended, if
father had not taken it into his head
that he wanted drink, and come
to the house for the purpose of get
ting one.
He took in the situation at a
| glance, and while he advanced to
the chief and saluted him kindly,
gave us look that reassured US and
dried Helen's tears.
Leading Chitaqua into the front
room, he conversed long and ear
| nestly with him, and the result was
favorable, although father paid
dearly for his folly in Joking an In
dian.
The chief and his son departed at
the head of their braves with money
enough to buy any duSky beauty of
| the tribe; and although Chatekee
cast many regretful glances at Hell
en-, his father regarded the money
lovingly, and evidently thought
fair exchange no robbery.
While we were all too much re-
lieved to regret the price paid-al-
though we did not know for many
days how much it really was-father
was rather sore about the result of
his joke, and could only answer
with comical, doleful twist of the
mouth, to Helen's eager questions
81 paid him all you were worth,
you jade, you. L think | had better
have let him have you."
The days passed and the Indian
war broke out.
Chitaqua had unearthed the
hatchet, and in full war dress was
on the war path at the head of 800
braves.
Every hour beheld them coming
nearer and nearer our home, and at
last, after securely fastening every
door and window and removing our
nIr1n nj mt hn
story of the mill, which could be
easier defended than the house and
barns.
One night-a long and horrible
night | shall. always remember
away in the distance we could hear
the shouts of the eXultant savages,
and see the red glare of the burning
cabins deserted by their owners.
We knew our time was fast ap-
preaching. Soon stealthily, meas
ured footballs muffied by the thick
grass, fell upon our waiting ears,
and a line of savages, brilliant in
war paint even in the dim moon
light, advanced into the opening
and approached the house.
We recognized the leader by the
proud, measured step. 1t was Chi
taqua!
Going straight to the housedoor,
he inscribed curious figures upon it,
while his braves stood in respectful
silence, so unlike their late eXult-
ant fury that we could hardly be-
lieve them to be the same beings.
Every clubhouse was visited in |
the same silent way, and marked |
with the same mysterious symbols. |
Then he turned his attention 10 |
the mill, while his braves at a sig |
nal, stood silently on a slight emf
nence awaiting his return.
After inscribing the same mystic
symbols on the principal entrances
to the mill, he retreated until he |
was in full view of the window
where we stood, and motioned fa-
ther to join him.
Without the least show of hasita-
ton, father, leaving his rifle in our
hands, opened the door, and ad-
Vanced to his side.
At this mark of confidence, Chita-
qua's stern features relaxed, and he
met him with Outstretched hand,
saying: "White brave much good,
trust Chitaqua-cure great chief.
No kill you ~ and then proceeded
to tell in his own quaint, broken
how the marks he had
placed on the buildings were letters
of command to his braves, and pro-
lection to us, when waving us dig
nitied adieu, went away down the
river, and we could soon see the
glaring evidence of their fiendish
work away in the distance, as some
luckless settlers cabin lighted the
sky.
But Chitaqua spoke truly. AL
though we stayed at the mill until
all danger was over, for fear of sun
fOrseen consequences" we saw ma
ny war parties, some of which came
into our clearing with eX-
exultant, fiendish yeIls of fury, but
departed instantly in Obedient ST.
lence at the sight of those mysteri-
Gus, fantastic figures, which, al
tho they conveyed to our enlight-
ened minds no intelligent meaning,
told the painted savage the will of
his chief, and he obeyed.
Many years have passed since
then, and the wilderness is convert
ed into fruitful farms and busy viii
lagos. OF Chitaqua's powerful tribe
but few remain, but on the doors of
the old cabin may still be plainly
seen the means by which the chief
repaid his debt of gratitude.
The EK-Empress CGriottd.
Home Journal. II
Every now and then the world
Oses sight of those who once played
L part in history, but who are con-