Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-24

PAey Va tut DakOldS WAS uldue up eli
THIS occasion, in which were the
parents of Winona, herself, and her
two brothers. On the day of the
visit to the lake, her brothers made
the young warrior some costly pres
ents; encouraged and flattered by
these tokens of esteem, he again of
fered himself to Winona-only to
again meet with an irrevocable refu
sal. This angered the father; for
he was naughty and not used to be-
ing detied by mere woman. His
ire became awful. In fit of rage,
uLgovernable, he caught his child in
his strong arms, and, looking her in
the face said madly:
II say you shall wed the warrior !;
no more of this foolishness. Before
the sun sets, even this very day and
here, shall you marry him. Hear
me; my word is law! ~
"You leave me no choice,n said
she, 81 told you did not love him,
and | would not live with him. /
wish to remain unmarried since you
have driven the hunter away from
me, but you will not permit it. Is
this the love you have for me? Yes,
you have driven him that loves me
away from our village, and he now
wanders alone in the forests; he has
no one to build his lodge, no one to
| spread his blanket and wait on him,
when he comes home weary and hur :
CRY from the chase. But even this
is not enough you would have me
rejoice when he is far away, and to
unite myself with another. Never ~
The old warrior, had he not been
completely angered, would surely
have been struck with the sound
ness of the maiden 5 argument, and
sad though defiant attitude. But Of
these he took no notice only reck-
oning on the fulflment of his wishes.
1.-THE daughter of the warrior is
beside herself. Before the sun sets
Winona must marry the hunter; or
| with this hand will cleave in two,
the false heart that beats for a cow
ard ~
Untimidated, Winona defended
her absent and victimiZed lover:
Father, no man dare call the hun
ter coward to his face. Two did
so; they died on the spot. Rather
than prove untrue to the hunter l
prefer death |"
Her brothers plead with her. Told
her of the pain which she was caus'
ing the old parents.
1.-The eyes of our old father are
flashing with scorn at your actions.
Winona, think; you must wed the
warrior-if not fairly, why, then
foGlly."
Eyes it is by foul. love a young
hunter-one who would gladden. the
heart of any Indian maiden. My
love is returned. The moon heard
our vows and the oak sung them in
our ears. The hunter asked for my
hand. In scorn my parents refused
him. | talked for hint was of
no use. Oh, | have suffered J The
grave will soon end Winona's trou-
bles. To day my parent told me that
ere that bright sun sinks to rest, lie
will kill me with his own hands, un'
less l wed the warrior. have gone
| to former friends they have turned
away Oh, brothers, have gone to
you and instead of untying the knot
that holds me prisoner, you have
| drawn it tighter. SC0l Winona's
| spirit shall be free ~
The brothers were much affected.
They loved their beautiful sister
But knowing fathers word is the
law, they dared not fail to adhere to
it.
"Winona. heed your parents. Go
back to the village as he warriors
| wife"
"Winona has spoken. She shall
never again see the village of the
| DakOtas."
The Indian girl was heart'broken.
The world was dreary enough to her
now. She was doomed to death, or
to that which was worse than death
to her. She sat gazing at the hur'
rying men she understood all they
were preparing for the wedding.
Her father would keep his word.
She arose aud silently commenced
winding her way to the top of the
cliff. She gained the summit of the
rock. Far below stretched the level
lake. There she had once rowed
with the hunter. Five hundred feet
beneath her it lay in all its beauty.
The feast was ready. The father
called for Winona; she answered
not. A search commenced, but it
proved futile. Winona saw them
preparing to leave the place. Then
she stepped forward to the very
brink OF the cliff on which she Was
standing, and called to her parents
far below. A light breeze bore her
voice along the water, and her ptr-
ents heard the words:
l NEaraWal oh critpl uarpflfN