National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-18


country bordering on the Atlantic ocean was
one continuous wild waste, with nothing
save stinted pines and scrub oak to greet the
eye Of the unfortunate wanderor who might
he travelling this way, there was = kind of
half civilized Indian who lived at Indian
Field, at tho head Of Shark river and was
known to tho inhabitants around as Indian
VIII. Ills old cabin was a halfNcivilized
looking affair, composed of mortar, stone,
logs, and hides, the latter formerly covering
the animals that were so unfortunate as TO
fall beneath tho fatal point of his index
finRer-for legend has IL that VIII was gifted
with n strange power: whenever an animal
or fowl became the object Of his desire all he
had to do was to point Mt IL with his index
finger, and tho same would fall dead, as II
stricken by u bullet or a ilint-hesdCd arrow.
According to Indian fashion, Will was
married man; his squaw came, SO it Ia said,
from the western section Of Now Jersey, and
like himself, was from tho old Delaware tribe
of lndianswhos early history is enshrincd in
quite halo of glory. Will was, despite his half
civilized life, a true Indian, possessing all the
stoicism of his race. and tho same Indifference
to the taking of human life, when IL in any
way confictcd with his whims. Hannah,
like all Indian wives, Of the two--sho and
her husband-.hud tho hardest time of IL.
She dressed the game and cleaned tho fish,
and, in fact, done all tho work there was to
be done in and around the cabiu while her
lord and master Indian viii, was OF on fish
ing excursions, or In tho forests Of stinted
pines, pointing his finger ut a limping rabbit,
opossum, or quail, as 1t CHANGED to be.
One day Indian VIII was out on hunting
expedition, and left Hannah, who was sick
with tho measles, TO get along tho best she
could in the lone cabin. In u little patch
just back of the cabin viii had managed to
get up sufficient gumption to plant some
beans, and at tho time to which we refer thoy
were ripe and ready for picking. As / said
just back, Hannah had the measles; her
appetite was not of that kind that made
what she had been eating heretofore pal
atable; she hardly knew what she did want;
she haukered after something, aud in an
unfortunate moment her eyes rested on the
beans; they were Just what she wanted so,
without caring, OF at least needing the conse-
quences, sho picked them and put thcm in the
iron pot in company with bit Of opossum. Tho
fro was soon blazing on the rude hearth,
over which hung the sooty crane, from which
was pendant the iron pot containing the beans
and opossum. Hannah ate heartily Of the
savory dish, and the results were, as far as
her feelings were concerned, decidedly bene-
fetal; but, as far as her future welfare was
concerned, it was otherwise. The legend
saith naught of the extent of time VIII was
absent, but, at all events, when he returned
he noticed, the first thing of ALL that some
one had been in his bean patch and annihi-
lated all hopes of his anent the anticipated
feast. Hannah was still under the influence
of her pleasant repast, when she was con-
fronted by her Infatuated lord.
"Who," no exclaimed, has eaten my beans ?"
Poor Hannah, with stoicisms pecu liar to
her, race replied, 81 did,"
"Then you shall die" exclaimed her saw
age mate; 81 will drown you !"
Poor Hannah made no reply, ssve q psnto-
mimic ono, which was tho embodim ont of
resignation.
Indian Will was unrelenting. lie COM
manded his dusky spouse to direct her foot
steps to the neghboring river which was in
ull view Of the cabin, and followed with
strident gait close behind her. Arriving at
the waters edge, he seized tho unrcsistinR
offender, and, with apparent ease, plunged
her head under the element. After holding
her there for number of minutes he drew
her head out, when she gave few gasps
indicating that life was not ex
tinct. Will again plunged her
as before, and when he again drew her ou
poor Hannah was dead The place where sh,
was drowned is still known as Deep Hole
Meath a gnarled willow in the immediate
neighborhood, he buried her, with her fee
toward the west; by her side he placed pom,
|
might have something to eat while on hel
journey to tho happy hunting ground. Thii
| being done, the savage went about his bust.
ness, perfectly uncOnCerned, but in all proba.
bility panied somewhat to know that in the
future no would have to be his own servant
Time passed on, know not how
many weeks it was, when Hannah's
brothers began to wonder why they
! did not hear from her, or why she did moi
pay them a visit, as it had been her wont il
times passed. Among themselves they rot
| to talking over the matter one day, when il
was decided among them that the brother,
who rejoced under tho un-Indian name O
Jacob, should pay visit to ludian Field and
| ascertain how matters stood. Jacobs journey
was on foot, so ii necessarily took him
number OF days to accomplish the task. Ar.
irving at Wills cabin, he found him Just
preparing some game for the appeasement o.
his gastric longings.
Jacob was sur prised-that is, in the sense
that an Indian is surprised-to see the mate
of his sister in such an ignoble occupation
and asked Will where Hannah was.
II drowned her." replied win, because
she ate my beans"
"She was my sister," reioined Jacob, land
| il falls on me TO avenge her death, so YOU
must prepare to die. Let the struggle be
tween us take place by yon bank, SO that the
same water that beheld Hannsh's death may
also witness thine"
"Will Hannah's brother permit me to eat
and join with me in the feast, ere we embrac
in the death struggles"
BE it So" replied Jacob, and both sal
down and eat Of the food while their respect
i've faces betrayed no signs of the ominous
thoughts that were burdening their minds.
During the repast not word was spoken
by either win or Jacob. The ceremony was
eventually over, when the two walked in
single file, VIII leading the way, until they
came near to the place still designated as tho
Deep Hole; here they stopped and for a
moment stood face to face Jacob was the
first to move; he rushed forward, and in an
instant they closed in on one another
Tho struggle for mastery lasted for some time,
but at last Wills foot came in contact with a
stubble and down he went, with Jacob at the
top tho latter then pulled from his belt a
long keen knife, with which he intended to
+ fulfill his mission. Jacob had his victim as
it were, pinioned TO the ground, and at his
mercy, but being, us it We're controllo by q
spirit of maguanimity, he said;
''lle who brought Hannah to an uutimely
end can now cast his eyes to the west, and
! for the last time gaze on the setting sun"
VIII avaied himself of tho opportunity,
and when doing 50, Jacob, thinking, his vic
tim secure, began iumblug around his belt
for u bit of Indian weed, for no became pos
scsscd with an irresistible desire 10 exercise
his mOlars, aud in an Rnguarded moment WIN
relieved his arm from confinement and sciI-
ing q Pine knot dealt Jacob powerful blow
in the temple aud over he toppled, as lifcless
as a dofunct herring,