The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-30
The LONE GRAVE OF TIE
SHENANDOAH.

IAN Dismal story taken from th' Weld BOOK Of
Dom Plat
The old stone tavern known through gen
srations as the Indian Queen, that stands on
turn Of The road down the mountains from
Sherryvilie to Nj, Of the Shenandoah
Valley, enjoys a landscape castle might be
proud Of. That this is the Indian Queen
runs on tradition and general consent, for
The old-fashioned sgnboard that creaks in
front lost long since the work Of art that
pictured forth the name. Nothing remained
on the enc side but dim crown Of feathers,
nearly obiterated. and two staring eyes on
che other, that, put together by the curious
observer, failed to make up that imaginary
creature known 10 tradition and dime novels
a Her Majesty Queen Pocahontas.
Virginia's little romance Of that Tx Is
shout az dim as the signboard Pocahontas
did live and wa, the daughter of a chief.
But all else is the fringe work OF fancy,
that, like the sign, would have long since
faded out but for useful purpose thu 70
nance serves and that is, the manner IN
which cur loved ancestors had Of account
ny IOT-NclI, say uIuHeIucS thhC apH'"'''
from tine to time among the noble Virgin.
ians. They were considered tia descend.
ants of Pocahonta,.
To return, however, to my story: Tha
REV from the rude porch OF the inn is ex.
ceedingy beautiful, for it contains one OF
she loveliest portions Of that lovely valley.
The green meadows and rich fields, with
groves and CLEANS of water, dotted by white
farm houses half hid in orchards, were all
framed in by mountains, the SUBMITS Of
which seemed tn melt into the blue of heaven,
leaving the eye in doubt as to where the
rounded rocky or wooded tops ended and
the clouds began, The sulphury smoke OF
battle had obscured these fields, and the
mountains had echoed back tho mounting
cannon Of combatants but at the time our
little romance opens no harm had been done
10 the valley itself Armies had marched,
fought and retrcated-generally, up to that
time, the dear old flag had hurried inglori-
oCslv out of the row-but no great injury
had ~ me to the work of the farmer or the
beauty Of nature.
The summer sun was sinking in the lazy
west with distant rumblings of artillery
telling of a far of combat, as a girl, soma
twenty years OF nge sat In rocking chair,
IN tie wooden porch Of the tavern, rocking
softly to and fro and gazing dreamily upon
the view before her. Her appearance
yns such rs 10 attract attention. In dress,
Bearing and expression there was refine.
ment that indicated one city bred, rather
than OF rural local origin. She was exceed
ingly attractive, with claim to beauty that
came under the head Of handsome rather
than pretty. Her face at rest indicated
,Iaore force Of character than that which
ordinarily falls to the sweeter sex. The per-
feet oval ended in a pronounced chin, while
.he slight aquiline line OF her nose made that
chin aggressive. But for the full red lips Of
the perfect mouth, and large dreamy eyes,
the pale face would have been too severe to
excite other than feeling Of admiration
The expression depicted from time to
time, as the feelings changed, had widor
sange than is usual to such a cast of coun-
finance AS her eyes wandered over the
beautiful view her face was one to admire.
When little three year-old daughter Of
the stone tavern toddled to her and rested
its little head upon her knee, the long silken
tringes Of her tender eyes fell upon it as her
slender hands stroked its curly locks-and
her face was one to love. Afterward when she
gazed at a brigade Of Union soldiers pitch.
my their tents on the meadows below, scorn
and hate gave her a face TO fear.
A movement below made her start, as II
10 leave her chair. Then, after half rising,
she settled back and began again the monot-
nous rocking. A cavalcade of officers
was riding up the road, as il coming to the
Indian Queen.
AT the head OF this little escort rode q
tout, middle aged gentleman, in the uni
form of brigadier general of the northern
rmy. Mounted on superb horse, he sat
With the ease Of an experienced rider his
nigh rounded shoulders holding a GRIM
resolute head, that under other than a mill
tary hat would have been repulsive in its
severity. There was lace not TO be trifed
With, as the historic annals Of war and di-
p2omacy have put 10 record
Hating in front Of the tavern, the officers
dsmounted, and as the orderlies led the
aorses to the stable, they as cended the steps,
and gaining the porch instinctively lifted
heir hats to the girl before them. Shs
rarely recognized tho sslutation, then CON