Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-24
An Indian Romance.

n. II. Folsom in hmericUs Ca Recorder.
Choice was a stalwart young warrior OF
the Uchee tribe. Six feet in his moccas-
ms, strong of limb, with naughty air and
lofty mien, he was the beau ideal of an
Indian warrior. But he loved a dusky
maiden whose hand was claimed by
rival. The girls father, who was an
suit of the rival, he being the scion Of
another powerful member IF the savage
nobility. Choice took his disappointment
to heart, and his hollow eyes and haggard
cheek betrayed his heart sickness. During
the progress Of the negotiations regarding
the purchase ofthe territory by the whites,
the Indians held big pOwwow. Choice
drank with the rest, and when his rival,
under the influence of the fire water,
vauntingly bcasted his conquest, Choice
struck him in the face. This was an in
jury that could be repaired in but one
way, duel, in which one or the other
must perish. The two warriors retired to
a lovely glen, shut in on all sides by alb
rupt cliffs, and there under the shadow Of
the dwarf pines, they engaged in
mortal combat. With cleaning knives
uplifted, with muscles rigid, and cleaning
ewes that flashed with the baleful light OF
the most bitter hatred, they stood for an
instant, each seeking an advantage over
his adversary. Choice made feint which
put his rival on the defensive, and just as
he was gathering himself for q lunge at
the heart of his antagonist, wild shrek
reused the frightened echoes, and threw
the boaster off his guard. The next me
ment Choice buried the cruel, keen blade
of his weapon in the swarthy bosom Of
his foe, who fell and expired without a
groan. GlancIng toward the south he be-
held the innocent cause OF the tragedy
standing on the verge of the cliff, and
gazing in the most horror stricken man.
ner on the bloody scene. His passion was
gone, as he realized the terrible cOnse-
quences OF his tragic deed. Looking up
ward again be beheld the maiden warning
him by frantic gesticulatlons to fly for his
life. Mechanically he turned and dashed
through the tangled copse, hastily
rinsed the blood from his knife and
hands in the clear water of a little stream
that traversed the sunless gorge, then
clambered up the hillside toward the
north. Reaching the summit, he turned
70 gaze on the form Of his lost love for the
last time. but instead Of the weeping
maiden be beheld a half dozen plumed
aud painted warriors. There was
chorus OF wild yells, the whistle OF several
bullets, and with an answering whoop OF
defiance Choice turned and plunged
into the lonely sOlitudes OF the
pine desert. Several months passed,
during which timo be remained In
this secure retreat. When youth he
had learned the names and virtues Of va
rious plants. and he now turned his atten-
ton 10 the study Of the healing art. When
the treaty was finally concluded and the
Uchee Indians took up their long march
toward the far West, Choice remained,
taking up his residence with the whites,
making Col. Wells place his headquarters.
He soon became famous as "Chofe,
the Iniun Doctor" and treated with
considerable success, the whites and
blacks on the plantations. He became an
inveterate topper, but was not at all vic
ious. lie would sometimes visit Bucna
Vista and TalbottOn, get on big spree.
and on such occasions was often pretty
badly used. When sober he was, even up
10 his death, n man Of commanding aspect
and cheerful temperament. His medicines
are now made the basis OF certain pro-
prietarv remedies. and his "Chofe root,D
AZ Il Is known in South Georgia, 10 an In
valuable remedy for cholera infantum, ana
kindred affections. He died some i've or
six years ago at an advanced age. He
was a. near as could be estimated, at
least IS years old. He died nssSr old Fort
Perry, and sleeps with ais fathers in the
land OF his birth, which Is a boon that has
been granted 70 few OF his fellows.
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