The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-03-14
THE son OF A KING.

Sometimes she was positively hand
come, and sometimes very plain-can
you underestimate? never could.
/ had known Miss Minty Robarts
from my childhood. She wrote poetry
and cultivated pinks. All ! that was
a lovely garden Of hers, just opposite
the barrlcks. and where could be seen
glimpses of the blue river. How often
have / sat on the rose-embowered porch
and listened to the band, headed by
their handsome and accomplished
leader, John Brigson. To look at him
alone was q pleasure. Tall, straight,
svarthy, with flashing black eyes,
straight eyebrows, and red, sensitive
lips Under the thin mustache, and a
hard as taper and delicate il shape as
that.ot any lady, ne was always the
cynosAFBM every eye.
Miss Mfhfy had great many Indian
relics. She was ten years my senior,
and seemed old TO me. The captain
was in the regular army and a martinez
still, though retired from active SER
vice.
DAiiss Robarts was generally called
plain by the people of Wallburg. They
did not see her when her eye flashed
RS she spoke of her life on the frontier,
nor the lovely rows of ivory-white
teeth when she smiled over some
pleasant recollection. She always
dressed in blue-blue wraps, blue
dinner-dresses, blue of darker shade
Cor the street-and she was splendid
horsewoman.
The old captain was very quiet,
though military in all his ways and
thoughts, and forever poring over old
musty books. In one hand he carried
Il cane, and his left arm was propped
by crutch. Everybody honored him
because he had done his country good
service, and the old man liked to fight
his battles over again with whoever
could be found to listen.
Once when l was there old Josiah
Pegford, who prided himself on being
one of the "melishy," made a rash
speech.
"Them red Injuns is the despisa-
blest things in all creation! he said,
his narrow brows contracted into
countless wrinkles. 81 sh'd think
your father'd despise 'em."
"My father never despised the In
lians," said Miss Robarts, kindling in
flash, her checks as red rs roses; "hC
is too just for that. People hate them
without reason. I've lived among
chem and ought 70 know. My father
had Indian friends as noble as amy
white man could be-"
Law sakes! you du take up for 'em
don't YEP" said Josiah, looking mt heI
admiringly. "Wall, now, they do say
Brigson, over har, the leader of the
band, S got Injun blood in him.
s'pose that's what makes him such ;
favorite of the ladies'"
l happened to be looking at the cap
tain's daughter, and saw a slow rec
flush creep all over her face and up e
the very roots of her fair hair.
81 have not the acquaintance Of thu
band leader" she said, in a high, granC
voice, turning away
" Course not; cap'in's daughte
couldn't associate with sich,' said TIN
old man, in his grave fashion. but
du declare for his singing in churcl
kinder sends the cold shivers over me
and they du say some operate chal
has offered him--well q sort of LITTLE
fortin if he will go with him and SIM
in opprey."
Again l was looking at Miss Rob
arts, and l saw her turn as pale a
death.
"Of course we can't expect to kee
him here, for he's man of uncommo
parts. Kind o queer why he eve
come here, too, in a small garriso
town like this"
"How people do hate the poor Ii
dians" said Miss Robarts, with spark
ling eyes, after her visitor had gone.
You have lived among them, hay
YOU not ?" l asked, determined, wit
the audacity of girl of eighteen, {
get at her story-if story she had an
to tell
"I was born in Indian Territory.
she made reply, "and my nurse IVA
an Indian woman"
"How strange" | said.
"Oh, dear Miss RObarts, please te
y me something's" l asked.
She looked up with wide-opene
eyes. / thought She seemed startled
II "What do you mean? Tell yo
h something about what-whoT 81
said,