Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-06-26
ATOHAFALIA.
By Olenda. Written for the
PIONEER Press.

souri, many years ago resided the
Brules, branch of the Dakota fam
lily. A beautiful maiden, the only
daughter of the ruling Sachem, was
wooed and won by young Dakota
Sioux chief The father was OPP
posed to the wedding and the lovers
eloped. The would-be bride while
en- route to the young chieftians peo-
pie, being engaged in solitary prayer
for deliyerance, one evening was at
tackled and slain by a grizzly bear.
The following lines are supposed to
recite the scenes Of her elopement
and tragic death:
Far in the romantic land OF the West,
Where the rockies left their ragged crests.
And the rarbid waters Of the Missouri
swell,
A princess was she, the sachem's only child
Who, in c0quetry and flirting her leisure
beguiled.
Her admirers numbered a dozen sachems
But from all Cupid's darts she turned in
scofn.
Presented. himself at her sires royal tent,
TO smoke the calumet in the council of
state,
And adjust tribal differences occurred of
late.
Atchafalia was admitted near her fathers
seat,
Arrayed in royal robes, picture to greet;
I That babe princely heart throb quickly
in the breast,
Il While unconsciously he equally the maid
ems possessed.
L And e'er from his royal host did depart,
He revealed the thoughts of his much bur-
Ii dened heart;
But the stern fathers imperious command
Cruelty refused the young suitors demand.
Poor Atchafalia, lovesicl and forlorn,
/ Resolved in flight her fate should be
thrown;
! passed,
And hill and valley was covered with grass.
The birds were singing among the trees,
I And amid the wild flowers the hum of bees;
The whole tribe was ambling DER natures
meads,
When She and her lover gave rein to their
steeds.
4 The Brules quick eye the fleeing lovers spy
4 While Ger the prairie like swallows they
n ny;
Give chase, he cries i'll paternal grief,
And onward like a hurricane his warriors
j. sweep.
All day long till the sun went to rest,
l Behind the hills in the golden West;
Y The maiden and lover side by side,
over the plains codtinue to ride.
4 At eve they halted in the nearest gulch,
I forest and partake of their parfiesh lunch,
But cloud of dust far in advance,
Disturbs the repose of the improYised
camp.
So mounting their steeds in darkness COM
passed,
They sped their way toward the mountain
In the mountain gorge at dawn of day,
The Brule warriors intercept their way
| sThe brave young chief on deliverance bent
Strikes dead his man, and they fly through
To liberty on the broad plain beyond,
Where quickly now a safe retreat is found.
And they halt beneath the deep forest
While plans for the opening future are
Atchafalia steps deeper in the thicket to
pray,
And thank the great spiritf for guiding the
way.
But ah! Cruel fate, huge grizzly bear,
Lay concealed HARDLY in his cruel lair;
When swift as an arrow out he springs,
i And the forest with the cries of Atchafalia
rings.
The young Sachem conscious of her cruel
fate,
Flies from the spot to his native heath;
His charger falls dead at his tepe door,
And he falls senseless upon the matted
floor.
Thus tragically ends the lovers strife,
A true picture of Aboriginal life.