Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER I.

of June 1876. a young girl stood leaning
against the trunk of tree gazing into the
waters of the beautiful Lake Quinsigamond.
Her head rested heavily on her hand, as il
weighed down by the burden of despair.
Suddenly she started, uttering a slight cry,
then sank back against the tree with sigh
of relief as she recognized a tail young In
dian who approached her.
All is it you, Ninigret?'
Yes, Millicent; fear not, there is no foe
near; and if there were l would protect
you. Why do you tremble SO ?"
Is it strange tremble at heleast noise,
when the sound of footstep or the rust
ling of leaf may mean instant death to
me2 The forest is full of enemies. They
lurk in every by-path. Behind every bush
or fair spreading tree may be seen their
leering faces. What, then has Door cap
tive girl TO expect of their mercy?'
Do not | and those of my tribe here pro-
tect your Have | not already saved you
from death at the hands of rowing In
diam"
You have; perhaps only for a worse
fate. Death, indeed, would be no worse
than future of such captivity; for though
you will save me from the violence of
the red men. neither you nor your asso-
ciates viii iberate me. All, Ninigret
why are you so in the power of that tyrant,
Philip Why will you not brave him, he
is so far from here now, and take me to a
white settlement? promise you no harm
shall come to you. You shall return I'M
hurt to your people"
Do you not remember that Wattasa-
eompanum has promised to keep you in
safety until Philip is ready to have you
ransomed? Have YOU forgotten the SOL
emn rites by which he boun himself the
day they brought you to us2 Wattasa-
companum is good chief, true Indian,
who will not break his promise"
Then. Ninigret, l appeal to you, who
have no promise for me, to help me to es-
cape to my countrymen."
cannot do that but | will take you
to a place of safety, though it may be a
long, long journey from here. Say, Milf
cent. will you come with me?"
Go with you, Ninigret, in any direction
other than to awhile settlement" replied
Nillicent. turning her wondering blue eyes
full upon him. Even if such thing were
possible, where would you take me? Where
and how in this time of war;"
Beyond the reach of the present strife,
until Philip has driven the white men
from our country. | cannot take You to
the whites, for they will soon be swept
from the land. They are much broken up
already. Philip is mighty chief, and has
powerful friends among the Indians"
Can it be soT No, no; the Indian may
do harm and cause suffering, but surely the
white race cannot be exterminated."
Yes, it can, Millicent; as when, in the
he alf fIn
causing it to disappear from the dark earth,
so will the white men vanish from this
country, leaving the red men in posses
SION"
81 cannot believe it. Yet how can poor
creature like me, captive in the forest,
cut off from all communication with her
friends, know what is the real state of
affairs outsider In the long months since
| was taken captive rumors have come to
me of one town after another being de-
stroyed or abandoned. Alas what else
may not have happened? Yes, it is doubt
less true. my God is it then to be my
fate to be held i'll lifelong bondage, with
out friend to whom | can turn ?"
II will be your friend; come with me.
will take you away from here, where you
are so unhappy. will make home for
you. We will live together. You shall be
my wife"
Your wifer' and Millicent, deadly pale,
chung closer TO the tree.
Yes, why not2 am brave and strong /;
l would guard you from all evil, and would
make YOU happy. What better have you
to hope? Why await Philips pleasure
You say you have no rich friends to ran
som you. If not, he will marry you him
self, and he would not be as kind as |. He
is hard master"
Il marry you, or Phllpf the young
yirl murmured with a look of dreary terror
on her face then, as if to herself, " In fairy
tales. as child, l read of maidens marry
ing kings. and wished / were the heroine
of such a tale: but little did l dream that
such king might some time be offered me
for a husband" And she dropped her
head upon her arm.
"Do not look 80 unhappy. Philip is, in
truth. no husband for you but lam differ
ent. and do not hate the white race as he
does. He is fierce warrior, while wish
but to live in peace. TO have you Tor my
wife" The Indian drew nearer to Mill
cent. His dark hand stretched forth to
prasu her slender white wrist, his black
eves flashing with entreaty. am not
like the others of my tribe You see about
here: | am more civilized; | speak your
language: | have the last year embraced
vour religion. l vowed to you | would not
Inv hands upon one of your race to hurt
them whiIo YOU were amongst us. That
have saeredly kept this vow you well
know; but you do not know what it has
cost me at times. when have seen the bit.
fer cruelty shown by your race toward
mine. All this l would do willingly fol
YOU; will you not then be my wife and
love me little2"
The Young Indian spoke with modesty
and manliness so remarkable IN son o
the forest that Millicent was impressed
with his manner, and IN her reply tried u
show consideration.
You are an exception to your race, Mn
igret. and have always acted honorably to
ward me. l thank you for all you have
done. and. if God ever restore me to my
countrvmen, will show my gratitude il
more substantial form than mere words
Marry Won never can; think of it calmly
and YOU will see that it is impossible sucf
marriage would only bring misery TO u
both"
You scorp me l see," Ninigret said
quickly, growing angry. l tell you w
should be happy"
Won must never mention this subject 4
me-"
mYou cannot put me of so easily. Wha
do care for the kindness you may show
ME after YOU leave here? But You will no
leave here very soon, let me tell you, I'M
less YOU marry me. In that case you shall
escapein few days. :.
Then | shall never escape. replied Mil
licent, bright fash of determination sui
husing her fair face.
ssYour only answer then is Nor
"No: / will never be your wife.
And I say you shall. Farewell! w
will meet again" And all the latent saw
ACE nature cleaned forth from his face a
he swiftly and noiselessly disappeared int
the forest.
Nillicent. overcome with emotion, sanl
l;stlessIy ON the ground, where she re
manned for some time with her hea'
bowed upon her knees, regardless of tn
beauty of the scene about her. Above, tn
sky was cloudless. deep impenetrabl
blue. as seen through the heavy foliage O
the grand primeval forest, At her fee
stretched the calm, smooth lake, dotte'
here and there with tiny islands. so thickl
wooded that they looked like escaped bit
of the forest floating on the CLASSY surfac
of the water. For miles stretched the lin
of the shore, here straight, there graceful
curying. and everywhere heavily over
hung by majestic trees. After time sh
raised her eyes. and, stretching her han