Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-04-05

| You are much mistaken about
her, Pedro; she loves me to distrac-
tion."
| "Very likely, nov, but reckon it
won't always be so. You don't ex-
pect to remain in these woods until
you die ?"
"No, thank heaven another twelve
months will see me clear of them
forever"
And what are you going TO do
with the Berry Hunter when you
leave P"
what makes you ask that ques-
tion ?"
"To know whether you are going
to take her
TO YOUR HOME
when you leave this locality"
mo, don'tintend to. Hundreds
have married-the ceremony is only
a farce-married squaws before and
left them whenever they pleased"
"And you intend to do the same
by Berry Hunter ?"
Certainly. Do you think / would
be fool enough to take home a wife
like Berry Hunter Oh! no; not
by any means"
"Then you had better change your
tactics and leave the Indian girl hon
orably alone That is all that have
got to say, and-what in the name
of thunder was that ?"
His quick ear had heard slight
rustling in the bushes, and in mo-
ment after there was plunge in the
lake.
1T was only cussed OTTER" he
continued, as he proceeded to ar
range the wood upon the fire"
An otter How quickly he would
have changed his opinion if he had
seen the form of BERRY Hunter, ;" as
she crawled upon the shore at a lit
tie distance, and darted along the
homeward trail, almost as swift and
noiseless as the wind. She had lis.
tened to every word-knew that she
was to be made wife and then de-
serted-knew that all the promises
of her white lover were lies! All!
if there ever was hell raging in a
human bosom-ever brow blacker
than thunder cloud, it was hers,
as she rushed toward her wigwam
with her fingers playing convulsive-
ly with her long knife.
But the next day, when she met
Estalez, she was as calm as a sum-
mer morning. She yielded to his
embraces-she returned them with
interest-she showed her love SO
warmly that il he had any doubt he
was more than satisfied now.
"Come," he said "tell me when
you will be my wife ?''
"Let the pale-face be at yonder
rock" she replied, pointing to a
distant one, ''before the sun has
drank up the dew. There let him
remain until the Berry Hunter has
come. She will not be long. Then
she will answer"
And so it was decided, and the
gray of morning found the white
man at the trysting place. But the
hours crept along, Il
AND HE WAS YET ALONE.
The sun rose and began beating
all around him. Something must
have detained the Indian girl, he
fancied, and determined to wait yet
longer. Suddenly, however, he was
aroused by a startling hiss. He turns
ed, and saw large rattlesnake
crawling up the side of the rock. He
was unarmed, and there was not
even a stick for defense near. He
would have descended. but was met
by another. For moment he stood
overpowered by fear. Then he saw
the scaly monsters crawling up to.
ward him in every direction-knew
that the hot sun rays had lured them
from their hOles-knew that he was
standing over their den, and thous-
ands upon thousands were surround
ing him.
"Oh my God, what shall do ?l
burst from his lips in the terrible
agony Of the moment.
A wild, ringing, almost 6endish
laugh rang upon his ears, as II in
reply, and looking up, he saw "Ber-
ry Hunter" standing on rock high