The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-09-09
biting frost, out Of danger.

found the only occupant OF The
f,rest lodge to be a very aged In-
dian. His face was wrinkled, bis
form bent, and the light covering Of
hair upon bis head as white rs the
crystals that danced in the winter
winds outside.
The old mau spoke English very
clearly, aud seemed glad I had come.
He revived the fire, wrapped a
blanket of wolf skin about my shoul-
ders, aud at once set about prepar-
ing some warm food and drink. Az
ter thawing out and partaking of the
red hermit's food, we sat cross-leg-
god like Turks and smoked our
pipes. The Indian was inclined to
be reticent at first, but when he
learned that | was from the Upper
Mississippi he became interested
"You have been up and down the
great river he interrogated.
"Many times" returned.
"You have seen the great bluff on
the suorise side of Lake Pepiu, then.
maiden rock!'
Yes"
"Time aud again. 1t is q famous
rock. Every boat that passes up or
down the river contains peopls who
gaze upon the great bluff and think
OF Winona, who killed herself for love
by leapiug from its crest to the stony
base below. All the pilots tell the
story over and over again Of the
tragic eud Of the pretty Indian girl"
The old man shook lis head slow
ly
81 have heard tho story he said
thoughtfully, "but none Of tie pale
faces have it right"
"How do you know 7"
81 was there at tho time, and do
know"
"TLen is the tradition not true :"
"The bravo girl did leap from the
high rock
You must be very old"
'Better than 100 summers he
answered rubbing his thin hand
across his deeply fnriowed brow
Il was a young brave then, only q
boy, bat | have forgotten nothing"
"You say the whites do not bave
the story Of the glrl correctly pre-
served, SO will You tell it TO me so
that may know the truth of the
Lovers Lcapl'
Yes" the old Indian said and
laid aside his pipe.
"Winona was the daughter Of
Dakota chief,and as bright and love.
ly MS tho fairest flower Of tho prairie.
Many of the Dakota braves loved the
pretty little squaw, and 30 did ono
pale face trader called Seco, who
had n trading poGt two rifle shots
below the bluff The trader offered
the chief much money and beads ful
Wiuoua and tho chief said the squaw
should go to the the tepee Of Seco
and be his.
"Winona hated the trader, aud
loved a young Chippewa brave nam.
ed Little Coon, and she said iu her
heart if she could not go in peace
with the Chippewa sho would 20 to
her death.
Just at that time the Dakotas
and Chippewas went to war and il
was no longer safe for Little Coon to
visit The home of Winona. He
could not stay away from the pretty
sqnaw, so he went down the Pepin
lake in canoe covered with tree
top and by the shadows OF the
night.
"Winona answered Little Coon
coll when he cried out like the little
duck.
"One night she told her lover
that the chief had sold her TO the
Prairie Chicken, or Seco. the trader,
and that her father had said ON the
next night she must go to the tepee
of the paleface to be his squaw.
She moaned pitifully, aud said she
would throw herself to death from
the high bluff before she would go
to tho trader.
Little Coon asked her to fee
with him, but she said no, for then
both herself and lover would be
trailed TO certain death, for the Da~
kota warriors hated the Chippewa
braves.
They talked long and laid plan
to deceive the chief and hor people